Kirkham Conferences are topical meetings where an off-the-record forum encourages scientists to make organized, in-depth explorations of disciplinary and interdisciplinary subjects of soil physics in ways seldom possible at national or international meetings.

These conferences are held every four years and can be held almost anywhere in the world, preferably in coordination with a related national or international meeting. Each conference focuses on a special topic and provides timely development of newly emerging research ideas and inquiries. Attendance is generally fewer than 50 people.
Scope & Objectives

Provide timely impetus to the development of newly emerging critical research.


Bring together active researchers in soil physics and related sciences to promote communication and interaction.



Enable participants to exchange ideas during the course of the meeting regarding the continued evolution of programs that enhance, develop and communicate knowledge of soil physics and its application to the global environment.
Guidelines:





Kirkham Conferences are completely off-the-record. Written papers shall not be required; speakers shall not be quoted; and the recording of lectures by tapes, etc., and the photography of slides are prohibited. All steps possible should be taken to promote completely free discussion among participants. The outcome of the conference shall be publicized only in broad outline.



Conferences should be planned to serve a real and valid need not now filled by other technical meetings. Reporting new, unpublished and even incomplete concepts and results should be encouraged.



Conferences should be devoted to soil physics topics in which experiment, theory and application are of major importance, and they should not only educate but also stimulate further discussion and innovation.
History:
"In all fields of society jumps in progress have been realized through the accomplishments of exceptional men and women. It is appropriate that society honors and thanks such people in one way or another. Don Kirkham (1908-1998), inspired and supported in an unparalleled unselfish way by his wife Betty, was such an exceptional man. He influenced in the past century more than anybody else the developments in the field of soil physics. The discipline, innumerous individuals, and society have profited beyond measure from his wisdom, energy, and charity. It is most appropriate that his students, friends, colleagues, family, and the Soil Science Society of America decided to commemorate this unique couple in a lasting way. Shortly after Don's death in 1998, they established the Don and Betty Kirkham Soil Physics and the Kirkham Conference Programs within the Soil Science Society of America, as a permanent tribute to this unforgettable couple. From the beginning, Donald R. Nielsen, from the University of California in Davis, and a student of Don Kirkham, has been a key person in the realization of the Programs. It is the profound desire of all those, who took part in the establishment, that these Programs shall foster soil physics, and inspire future generations of soil physicists in the spirit, and to the memory of Don and Betty Kirkham".

A meeting of some key players in the development of the Kirkham Conference.
Left to right: Bob Horton, Don Kirkham (front), Don Nielsen, and Rienk van der Ploeg.