The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (June 7-12, 2026)
iMAPS to Highlight Single-Cell Soil Analysis at WCSS 2026
Session 304007 Part 1 | Frontiers in Soil Analysis: From Single Cells to Nanosensors
How can we move beyond knowing “what is in the soil” and begin to understand “what soil microbes are doing in situ”?
As part of the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS 2026), the iMAPS Consortium will highlight Session 304007 Part 1, a dedicated forum on emerging technologies for soil analysis, microbial function discovery, and ecosystem-level interpretation.
Event at a Glance
Session: 304007 Part 1
Theme: Frontiers in Soil Analysis: From Single Cells to Nanosensors
Date & Time: June 9, 2026 | 13:30–15:15
Venue: Hall 8, Room 820 | Nanjing International Expo Center
Booth: Ramanomics Technology Platform | Booth C09
About the Session
Soil is one of the most complex microbial ecosystems on Earth. Yet traditional approaches often tell us more about which microbes are present than what they are actively doing.
This session will bring together invited speakers from leading institutions in China, the United States, and the Republic of Korea to discuss new technologies that connect soil microbial identity with in situ metabolic function.
The forum will explore how single-cell analysis, Ramanomics, nanosensors, AI-assisted interpretation, and downstream cultivation or sequencing can help reveal the functional potential of soil microbiomes.
Convenors
Prof. Jian Xu
Single-Cell Center, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Prof. Li Cui
Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Prof. Yuting Liang
Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Scientific Topics
The session will feature discussions on:
• Single-cell Raman analysis
• Soil microbiome functional profiling
• Microbial resource discovery
• Soil nutrient cycling and ecosystem sustainability
• Nanosensor-enabled soil monitoring
• Function-first approaches for soil microbiome research
The iMAPS Perspective
For the iMAPS Consortium, soil is not only a habitat, but also a living metabolic system.
By integrating in situ metabolic phenotyping, Raman-based single-cell analysis, AI-assisted interpretation, and downstream cultivation or sequencing, iMAPS aims to support a function-first framework for microbiome discovery.
Through this effort, iMAPS is working toward a global network of Microbiome Metabolic Observatories (MIMO), designed to advance soil health assessment, microbial resource mining, and sustainable land management.
Join Us in Nanjing
We warmly invite colleagues in soil science, microbiology, ecology, agriculture, and environmental biotechnology to join Session 304007 Part 1 at WCSS 2026.
Visitors are also welcome to stop by the Ramanomics Technology Platform at Booth C09 for on-site demonstrations and collaboration discussions.
