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Science communication in Slovenia – A response by the Jožef Stefan Institute, the National Institute of Chemistry and the University of Ljubljana
The three oldest and largest scientific research institutions in Slovenia – the University of Ljubljana, the National Institute of Chemistry and the Jožef Stefan Institute – received the ‘Science communication in Slovenia’, published this August, with great interest. They welcome and support the efforts of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation to improve science communication. However, we believe that the document does not address the science communication field in a sufficiently comprehensive way, which is why we are expressing our concerns and putting forward a number of proposals.
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University of Ljubljana improves its ARWU ranking and maintains its position in the World University Rankings
The University of Ljubljana was ranked between 501st and 600th place on the latest international ARWU (the ‘Shanghai Ranking’), which was published in August. This represents a move up from the ranking it achieved in 2023, when it was between 601st and 700th place, and a return to the position it last reached in 2020 and 2021. The ARWU features 1,000 universities, with more than 2,500 taking part in this year’s evaluation process.
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SMUL Conference – The importance of knowledge and the university in society
On Monday, 7 October 2024, the Academy of Music hosted the first international conference of the University of Ljubljana Global Alumni and Associates Network (SMUL), entitled The importance of knowledge and the university in society: comparative international perspectives and new opportunities for cooperation. The event was held under the honorary patronage of the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO.
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Ethical Artificial Intelligence for Access to Justice
In the past decade, and especially with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, online dispute resolution (ODR) systems have grown rapidly, particularly in resolving consumer disputes arising from the e-commerce sector. These systems offer a cost-effective, faster, and convenient alternative to traditional court proceedings. However, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into ODR has raised significant ethical concerns, particularly around accessibility, accountability, and fairness.
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This year’s Dr Uroš Seljak prizes and commendations are awarded at the University of Ljubljana for the third year: 10,000 US dollars for the best academic papers by students in Slovenia
On Thursday 3 October, the Dr Uroš Seljak prizes and commendations were awarded for the best scholarly essays produced by first- and second-cycle students in Slovenia. This is the third year of the awards. The aim of the awards is to encourage students to publish and become more involved in research work. The invitation to enter the competition is announced every academic year by the University of Ljubljana and the American Slovenian Education Foundation (ASEF).
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Freshers’ welcome and the official start of the 2024/25 academic year
On Tuesday 1 October, the University of Ljubljana and its Student Council held their traditional event on Kongresni trg to welcome new students to the academic community. It was addressed by Professor Gregor Majdič (Rector), Nejc Tacer (Chair of the Student Council) and Assistant Professor Rok Žnidaršič (Deputy Mayor of Ljubljana), who were also joined by the deans of the 23 faculties and three academies that make up the University of Ljubljana, which is the oldest and most successful higher education and academic research institution in the country. An excellent musical atmosphere was created by Leopold I. in Drügi and Dan D.
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Round table on the role of the university in times of social unrest and uncertainty
Representatives of the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans met to discuss the role of universities at times of unrest and uncertainty at a University of Ljubljana round table titled ‘The University in a Time of Social (Dis)Order: Regional Perspectives’. It took place within the four-day international ECREA conference and as part of the NOO ULTRA project.
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Improving the Quality of Life in Arid Areas with a System for Generating Electricity and Fresh Water
In parts of the world where water is increasingly scarce, it is crucial to establish effective and sustainable systems for energy and water supply. The interdisciplinary project PV-W2WFresh is changing the way we think about solar energy and water scarcity, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6 and 7) by promoting clean energy and water availability in rural and underserved regions. This cutting-edge research combines concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) technology with an innovative evaporation desalination process, creating a system that not only generates electricity but also provides a continuous source of clean drinking water.
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Summer school for students - Space science and technology: challenges in space and on earth
During the summer school for prospective students, on Saturday, August 31, the participants visited Planica to know the Nordic Center in Planica up close, and they also got to know the new interdisciplinary, international master's study program Space Medicine (SpaceMed), which will be held in Slovenia in the future winter, III. semester of master's studies, performed for the first time.
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New methods for removing algae from drinking water
How to remove algae from drinking water? Since traditional methods, such as coagulation and sedimentation, are usually ineffective, Prof. Dr. Matevž Dular from the Laboratory for Water and Turbine Machines (LVTS) at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, together with colleagues from Yangzhou University, sought a solution in the use of ultrasound and advanced carbon-based materials.
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How to Reduce Drop-out Rates in Music Schools?
What factors contribute to music school drop-out, and which impact it most significantly? What creates an optimal supportive environment for a child to persist in music school? Researchers from the University of Ljubljana, Academy of Music: Dr. Ana Kavčič Pucihar, Dr. Katarina Habe, Dr. Branka Rotar Pance, and from the University of Maribor, Faculty of Education, Dr. Maruša Laure, addressed these topics in their paper "The key reasons for dropout in Slovenian music schools - a qualitative study," published in the Frontiers in Psychology (2024).
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Wild animals are a good indicator of environmental pollution
Wild animals are a good indicator of environmental pollution that affects the entire ecosystem. Therefore, the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Ljubljana, in collaboration with the Faculty of Economics and the Biotechnical Faculty, has decided to conduct a study to examine the amount of toxicants in the tissues of certain animal species in Slovenia.
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UNI.MINDS Festival 2024 is here!
Join us at this year's UNI.MINDS, Slovenia's largest festival for building innovation community, which will take place from 14-22 October 2024.
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Comprehensive Overview of Plasma Electrolytic Polishing
Additive technologies are increasingly used for the production of metal components as they allow for efficient shape customization in a short time and with reduced material consumption. However, the lower surface quality of printed parts limits their direct industrial use. The growing demand for post-processing of metal parts produced by additive technologies highlights the potential of PeP technology as an environmentally friendly and efficient polishing method.
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Developing sustainability communication is the key to a better future
Sustainability communication is becoming increasingly important in addressing pressing environmental and social issues. If done effectively, it can contribute to the faster adoption of sustainable practices and the improvement of public awareness. In doing so, it should not only focus on avoiding greenwashing but also on how to effectively engage stakeholders in complex sustainability challenges.
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Sustainable Use of Soil with E-MOTIKA
Tillage machines are a necessity in agriculture, but they compact the soil and do not allow smaller farmers and growers to till and weed in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. Researchers from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana, together with project partners on the Accelerated Vegetable Hoeing project - "MOTIKA," addressed this challenge by developing a hoeing machine specifically for smaller farmers and crop growers.
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Student-driven innovative solutions addressing organisational and business challenges in the international EUTOPIA TeamWork program
On 19 July, 42 students from the University of Ljubljana successfully completed the EUTOPIA TeamWork programme.
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LIFE Lynx project - preventing the extinction of the lynx in the Dinaric Mountains and the South-Eastern Alps
How to save the Eurasian lynx population in the Dinarides and the South-Eastern Alps from extinction again? This is the challenge that the LIFE Lynx project, in which the Biotechnical Faculty of UL participated as a partner, has successfully tackled. Before the start of the project, there were 20 adult lynx in Slovenia, which were threatened by inbreeding. A total of 14 animals were introduced from the Romanian and Slovakian Carpatian Mountains, 9 of them in Slovenia and 5 in the Croatian Dinaric Mountains. This not only saved the population, but also set an example of good practice for all future attempts to reintroduce lynx or similar large carnivore species in Europe.
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New Erasmus+ project at the University of Ljubljana - Teaching Artificial Intelligence
As coordinating institution, the University of Ljubljana was successful in one project application in the category Key Action 2: Collaborative Partnerships in Higher Education (KA220-HED).
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Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Successful in MSCA Doctoral Networks Call
The University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, has been successful in the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks call with the project UPCYCLE – Dissemination of Advanced Conversion Routes for Hard-to-Recycle Biogenic Waste. As part of the project, 15 doctoral candidates will be trained, three of whom will be based in Slovenia. The project is coordinated by Politecnico di Milano, with UL FS participating as a partner.
