Over 120 researchers from every continent attended the conference.

It represents one of the leading international scientific symposia in the field of serpentine ecology, bringing together botanists, zoologists, microbiologists, physiologists, geneticists, geologists, soil scientists and other applied specialists studying the ecology of ultramafic rocks and soils.

A notable aspect of the ICSE conference is the multidisciplinary nature of ultramafic biota research, including diversity, ecology, evolution, physiology and applied research in phytotechnology and conservation.

Photo 1: Conferences at ENSIC, Nancy

The various sessions were dedicated to the following specific themes:

• Geology, soils and biogeochemical cycles.
• Biodiversity: taxonomy and systematics
• Ecology and evolution.
• Conservation and restoration.
• Ecophysiology, molecular biology and genetics.
• Discovery and monitoring of metal hyperaccumulation.
• Plants of other substrates with edaphic challenges.
• Agromine and phytotechnologies, remediation.

The conference was also an opportunity to discover the city of Nancy, some of whose districts are classified as UNESCO heritage sites.

Photo 2: Place Stanislas

In the middle of the conference, a mid-conference tour took participants on a serpentine discovery tour of the Vosges region, with a look at typical serpentine soils and the vegetation of the Vosges serpentine flora.

Photo 4: Vosges excursion. Bergenbach serpentine site

Photo of the group

Finally, at the end of the symposium, from June 17 to June 20, 2023, a post-symposium excursion was organized to the ultramafic zones of the Inner North-Western Alps, Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont, Italy. Magnificent mountain landscapes!

Photo 6: Sites in the Italian Alps