Thursday, 23 October 2025 Strengthening Cooperation with the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies

Last week, UP FAMNIT had the pleasure of hosting Prof. Tatjana Rubina from the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU).

Professor Rubina works in the fields of information technology and mathematics education. At her home institution, she teaches courses such as Advanced Mathematics, Numerical Methods, Mathematical Statistics, Software Project Management, Software Testing, User Interface Design, and Web Technologies.

In addition to her teaching activities, she is the Head of the Institute of Computer Systems and Data Science at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology of LBTU. She also participates in the evaluation of study programmes in information technology, computer science, electronics, and telecommunications at universities across Latvia.

During her visit, hosted by the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies at UP FAMNIT, Professor Rubina delivered several lectures and presentations. She contributed to the Monday Seminar in Computer Science and Informatics, and held guest lectures for courses such as Human-Computer Interaction and Multimedia Design.

Her visit significantly contributed to strengthening the collaboration between UP FAMNIT and the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, particularly in the areas of knowledge exchange, research cooperation, and the development of innovative teaching approaches in information sciences.

Wednesday, 22 October 2025 Postdoctoral Position – Linear codes and special classes of functions

The UP Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT) invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to work on the research project “Linear codes through special classes of functions – relationship and design," led by Prof. Dr. Enes Pasalic and funded by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS).

Tuesday, 21 October 2025 Disability Inclusion: Insights from Lived Experience, Research, and Practice

At this Tea Time, research psychologist and consultant Jeanette Hadaschik (MSc) will share insights on disability inclusion, drawing from her own lived experience, academic research, and practical involvement in creating more inclusive work environments. The talk will introduce key concepts, such as ableism and the social versus medical model of disability, illustrating how they influence participation and belonging in education, work, and daily life. Jeanette will also share insights from her own experience contributing to disability inclusion initiatives at Maastricht University, including the UnliMited Network and the Disability Inclusion Group, and discuss what can help institutions move toward greater inclusion.

Jeanette works as a behavioral science and disability inclusion researcher and consultant at Evidentia Behavioral Insights. She is also an external PhD-candidate in psychology at Maastricht University (Netherlands).

The event will take place on 27 October at 4 PM in the lecture room VP3 at UP FAMNIT.

Friday, 17 October 2025 LISTENING TO WILDLIFE: BIODIVERSITY ASSESMENT WITH PASSIVE ACOUSTIC MONITORING

The University of Primorska will host a guest lecture by Dr. Carolline Zatta Fieker on Monday, October 21, at 11 a.m. in the Epsilon lecture room (Livade 1.0, Izola). Dr. Fieker, a researcher from the National Institute of Pantanal Research (INPP), Brazil, will present passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) as an innovative tool for biodiversity assessment. Drawing from her studies in the Brazilian Pantanal, she will showcase practical applications of this method and highlight recent advancements in acoustic technology and analysis. The lecture is open to students and staff of UP.

Thursday, 16 October 2025 Autumn graduation ceremony for doctors of science at the UP

On Thursday, October 14, 2025, the UP held its autumn graduation ceremony for doctors of science. The Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and Development at the UP, Prof. Dr. Štefko Miklavič, together with the deans of the member faculties and mentors, promoted 12 new doctors of science, who joined the ones who had completed their doctoral studies at the UP.

On this day, the following were promoted:

• Dr. Jesenko Hadžihasanović
• Dr. Marianna Gergely
• Dr. Nika Pavletić
• Dr. Meta Lavrič
• Dr. Monica Bertok Vatovec
• Dr. Jovan Mitrović
• Dr. Jernej Pleša
• Dr. Janja Zorko
• Dr. Benjamin Osmančević
• Dr. Leilani Štajer
• Dr. Karin Šik Novak
• Dr. Matic Sašek.

Meta Lavrič who defended her doctoral thesis at UP FAMNIT entiteled »Experiencing storytelling: Developing and sharing written stories as an intervention to strengthen mental health in gatekeepers « under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Vita Poštuvan

Doctoral dissertation summary

»Experiencing storytelling: Developing and sharing written stories as an intervention to strengthen mental health in gatekeepers«

Psychological storytelling interventions include creating, receiving, and sharing stories, yet research is inconsistent about which components are used, leaving gaps in knowledge about how these interventions work. 10 correctional officers who had experienced suicide in the course of their work participated in our intervention and study.

We examined perceived effects of each element on well-being and mental health and developed a Model of Processing and Integrating Experience in Storysharing, highlighting mutual story-sharing as key.

Thursday, 16 October 2025 New course at UP FAMNIT brings ethical perspectives to environmental, conservation and animal studies

A new course, Introduction to Environmental, Conservation and Animal Ethics, is being implemented at UP FAMNIT by esteemed Professor Carolyn Stephens.

The course offers students an in-depth introduction to the concepts and principles of environmental, conservation, and animal ethics, exploring how ethical frameworks shape research, policy, and decision-making across these fields. It also examines the historical development of ethical ideas in the context of global environmental change and the biodiversity crisis, as well as current trends in international ethical standards and policy frameworks.

Under Prof. Stephens’ guidance, students will engage with key topics such as environmental and animal ethics, land and ecosystem ethics, climate ethics and justice, and the integration of ethics and rights in environmental and conservation contexts.

Professor Carolyn Stephens is an environmental epidemiologist and ethics expert with appointments at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University College London, and the University of Primorska (since 2024). Her research focuses on equity, environment, health, ethics, and human and environmental rights worldwide. With over 25 years of teaching experience in international development and environmental ethics, she has worked extensively in countries such as India, Liberia, Brazil, and Argentina. She has led international research projects, advised UN agencies, serves on the editorial boards of five peer-reviewed journals, and has held executive roles in global organizations including the International Association of Ecology and Health and the Health and Environment Alliance. Professor Stephens also sits on the International Ethics Advisory Board of the EU’s BEPREP programme and has been recognized with the UK Royal Society Kohn Award for Public Engagement in Science and the Mayor of London’s Academic Excellence Award.

Thursday, 16 October 2025 MANAGING RESEARCH DATA IN THE ERA OF OPEN SCIENCE

You are invited to join the seminar and roundtable organized as part of Task 5.6: "T4EU Open Science in the T4Europe Area" The events will take place on October 22, 2025, at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania, and online via Microsoft Teams.

The event will take place in a hybrid format: on Teams and in person

13:15-15:00 The European Open Science Cloud: Vision for the Future and Core Challenge

We explore the evolving strategic directions of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), with particular emphasis on the key dimensions of interoperability—semantic, technical, and legal. Furthermore, we examine the specific case of the CLARIN-LT repository, highlighting the mechanisms through which it supports linguistic resource sharing and compliance with open science principles. Finally, we present national practices and policy initiatives in Portugal and Slovenia that align with EOSC objectives, illustrating how local infrastructures and governance models are adapting to broader European standards and ambitions.

Speakers :

• Dr. Ana Slavec, UP
• Prof. Rūta Petrauskaitė, VMU
• Dr. Darius Amilevičius, VMU
• Patrícia Carvalho, UCP
• Assoc. prof. Jurgita Vaičenonienė, VMU
• Prof. Saulė Milčiuvienė, VMU

15:15-16:45 Round table discussion: Building Capacity for Data Stewardship and Governance

This round table will focus on strengthening data stewardship roles and governance frameworks within research institutions. Participants will discuss the development of skills and training for data professionals, the implementation of FAIR principles, and the alignment of national practices with EOSC standards. Key challenges such as legal, ethical, and technical responsibilities in data management will be addressed, with the aim of identifying practical strategies and collaborative approaches to build sustainable capacity in data governance.

Moderate:   Dr. Ana Slavec, UP

Participants:

• Uroš Sergaš, UP
• Patrícia Carvalho, UCP
• Prof. Saulė Milčiuvienė, VMU
• Davide Franch, UNITS

Wednesday, 15 October 2025 Participation at the SMART2025 Conference in Reggio Calabria

Before the start of the new semester, between September 28 and October 2, 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Karla Ferjančič and Aljaž Kosmač attended the international SMART2025 conference, the fourth edition in the SMART conference series. This year, the event was held in the picturesque city of Reggio Calabria, Italy.

The conference brought together researchers from around the world working in the fields of subdivision, geometric and algebraic methods, isogeometric analysis, and related applications. Special emphasis was placed on new and emerging research areas that bridge theoretical approaches with advanced computational and engineering methods.

Tuesday, 14 October 2025 Two UP employees among this year's Zois Award winners

Today, October 14, 2025, this year's recipients of the highest national awards and recognitions for outstanding achievements in scientific research and development  (Zois and Puh awards and prizes, and the Ambassador of Science of the Republic of Slovenia) were announced in Ljubljana. Among the Zois Award winners are two UP employees – Prof. Dr. Tomaž Pisanski is the recipient of the Zois Prize for lifetime achievement in the field of discrete mathematics, and Prof. Dr. Urban Bren is the recipient of the Zois Award for significant achievements in the field of biomolecular simulations.

The recipients were announced by the chair of the Slovenian Committee for the Awarding of Prizes and Awards for Exceptional Achievements in Scientific Research and Development, Prof. Dr. Nataša Vaupotič, and the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr. Igor Papič, also spoke about the importance of awards and recognitions. The announcement took place today, and the awards will be presented at a ceremony in the Gallus Hall of Cankarjev dom on November 9, on the eve of Science Day, which will be celebrated for the first time in Slovenia on November 10.

We sincerely congratulate the winners and look forward to celebrating the new holiday!

Prof. Dr. Tomaž Pisanski, UP Famnit, UP IAM, IMFM

is awarded the Zois Prize for lifetime achievement in the field of discrete mathematics

Prof. Dr Tomaž Pisanski is a renowned researcher in discrete mathematics, a field that studies discrete structures such as integers, graphs and statements in logic that do not vary continuously, but have distinct, separated values. By establishing and developing the world-famous Slovenian school of discrete mathematics, he has significantly influenced the development of this field. He founded and led the Department of Theoretical Computer Science at the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics, contributed to the founding of the University of Primorska, established and co-edited three scientific journals, including the Slovenian leading scientific journal Ars Mathematica Contemporanea, and founded the Slovenian Discrete and Applied Mathematics Society.  He organised several international scientific meetings and also chaired the Organising Committee of the 8th European Congress of Mathematics in Portorož. In the history of mathematics, he researched Jurij Vega and Ivo Lah.

Prof. Dr. Urban Bren, UM FKKT, UP FAMNIT, IOS

is awarded the Zois Award for significant achievements in the field of biomolecular simulations

Prof. Dr Urban Bren uses computer simulations to study how various chemicals affect human health and develops new, more selective diagnostic methods. He was the first to demonstrate that the chemical reactivity of substances is a good predictor of their potential carcinogenicity. He is also involved in the search for natural compounds that could inhibit cancer development – with the long-term goal of creating dietary supplements that would help prevent the disease. Additionally, he studies the impact of microwave radiation on the risk of developing cancer or neurological diseases. Using advanced computational tools, he designs new therapeutic agents, such as more effective antiviral drugs and safer painkillers

Photos: Matjaž Tavčar for MVZI

Monday, 13 October 2025 PLAC priložnosti is coming to Koper - an educational and career festival where young people explore their future

The educational and career festival "Plac priložnosti", organized by the PiNA Cultural and Educational Association, the University of Primorska, the Employment Service of Slovenia (Koper Regional Office), and the Istria Counseling Center, is back.

• Friday, October 17, 2025
• Bonifika Hall, Koper
• From 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The festival offers young people a unique opportunity to meet a wide range of secondary schools, faculties, universities, and organizations from all over Slovenia — all in one place. They’ll be able to talk to representatives face to face, explore opportunities for further education, exchanges, training, and other possibilities.

A variety of institutions and organizations will be presented, including:

• Universities: University of Primorska, University of Ljubljana, University of Maribor, University of Nova Gorica, New University, EMUNI University, Alma Mater Europaea University, Sigmund Freud University Ljubljana.
• Secondary and higher education schools: Srečko Kosovel Sežana School Centre, Rogaška Slatina School Centre, Secondary School of Construction, Geodesy and Environmental Protection Ljubljana, Grm Novo mesto College of Rural Management, and others.
• Organizations and institutions: Employment Service of Slovenia, EURES network, Community of Higher Vocational Colleges of the Republic of Slovenia, Koper Adult Education Centre, Mjob Student Service, Institute for Youth, Culture and Tourism Koper.

A special feature of this year’s event is the European Avenue, where visitors will learn about programs offered by the European Union for young people — from study and volunteer experiences to opportunities for employment and education abroad.

Among those presenting will be Eurodesk Slovenia, EUROPE DIRECT Koper - Capodistria, the CERV Contact Point, and the Employment Service of Slovenia (EURES network).

The festival is intended for: final-year primary school pupils, secondary school students, parents, teachers, school counselors, university students, and anyone interested in discovering the world of education up close.

More information: www.plac-priloznosti.si

Welcome! 

Monday, 13 October 2025 Successfully held HCI SI 2025 conference

Today, the HCI SI 2025 – Human-Computer Interaction Slovenia conference took place at UP FAMNIT. Celebrating its tenth year, the event is organized by the Slovenian Human-Computer Interaction community (ACM Chapter Bled) and brings together HCI researchers and professionals from both academia and industry across the Alps-Danube-Adriatic region.

In addition to UP FAMNIT, 32 participants are joining from the following institutions:

• University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Computer and Information Science
• University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering
• University of Maribor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• Jožef Stefan Institute

The keynote speaker was Prof. Dr. Jürgen Ziegler, a full professor at the Faculty of Computer Science, University of Duisburg-Essen, where he conducts research in the field of intelligent interactive systems. His main research interests include human–computer interaction, human–AI collaboration, recommender systems, social media, and information visualization.

In his keynote lecture, Prof. Dr. Ziegler discussed how intelligent systems create uncertainty in user experiences and outlined user-centered strategies to address it. He used recommender systems to illustrate principles for enhancing user understanding, increasing control, and supporting effective human–AI collaboration.

The Slovenian HCI community began in 2008 as an informal group of researchers focused on human-computer interaction. The group’s main event is the annual HCI SI conference. In 2019, it also became the ACM SIGCHI Chapter Bled, bringing together researchers from different Slovenian universities and institutions to encourage collaboration and support the growth of HCI.

More about the community: [About | HCI Slovenia] More about this year’s conference: [HCI SI 2025 – CALL FOR PAPERS | HCI Slovenia]

Thursday, 9 October 2025 Researchers' call: Consider the risk of wildlife-spread diseases during ecosystem restoration

Researchers are urging adaptive ecosystem restoration, which implements key considerations for minimizing the zoonotic disease risk otherwise associated with restorations. A study, led by the University of Helsinki and involving researcher Prof. Elena Bužan from UP FAMNIT, is providing practical guidance for restoration project stakeholders. The full article, published in the journal Nature, is available here.

Ecosystem restoration projects aim to restore biodiversity and associated compromised ecosystem services. Evidence is persuasive of the increased risks of zoonotic diseases with degradation and disturbances. However, the scientific literature on the mitigating effects of ecosystem restoration on zoonotic spillover is scattered, inconclusive and challenged by the lack of a conceptual framework and practical guidance.

»There is a strong need for an adaptive process offering practical guidance on how to conduct ecosystem restoration to maximize biodiversity and ecosystem services while minimizing the risk of zoonotic diseases potentially induced by these restorations«, explains University of Helsinki professor Frauke Ecke.

One Health-based adaptive process

To maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of ecosystem restoration, the researchers urge for a One Health-based adaptive process that includes key considerations for ecosystem restoration assessment.

»The process is founded in stakeholder engagement and co-creation. Ecosystem restoration projects need to develop targets for environment (diversity, climate, land use), animals (species community structure, pathogen and disease prevalence, vectors and reservoir abundance), and humans (cases of disease, exposure)«, says Ecke.

Failure to follow the approach may jeopardize global efforts to reverse worldwide biodiversity decline.

Climate change must be considered in restorations

Climate change can modify the cause-and-effect relationship of restorations. Meanwhile, environmental contaminants can bias the restoration outcome.

»When habitats recover from restoration, climate change can result in changes of species assemblages with knock-on effects on presence and abundance of reservoirs, non-reservoirs, vectors, and pathogens as well as zoonotic risk«, explains Heidelberg University professor Joacim Rocklöv.

For more information about the study contact Prof. Elena Bužan.

The study was performed as part of the Horizon Europe Project BEPREP (Identification of best practices for biodiversity recovery and public health interventions to prevent future epidemics and pandemics). For more information about this and other ecosystem restoration projects, and elucidation of the link between biodiversity recovery and disease risk, see the project’s homepage.

Foto: Tim Hofmeester

Thursday, 9 October 2025 MATCOS-25 – The Middle-European Conference on Applied Theoretical Computer Science

The MATCOS-25 conference – The Middle-European Conference on Applied Theoretical Computer Science – was successfully held on October 9 and 10, 2025, at the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT). The two-day event was organized by the Andrej Marušič Institute of the University of Primorska (UP IAM) and UP FAMNIT, in collaboration with the research institute InnoRenew CoE.

The conference united practical application and theory within applied theoretical computer science. Topics included algorithms, data structures, optimization, artificial intelligence, machine learning, graph theory, and computational geometry.

"As in previous editions, this year’s program also included short presentations in addition to regular papers – a well-established practice that promotes broader participation and greater exchange of ideas. The program featured 20 regular and 14 short contributions. The conference welcomed more than 50 researchers from Slovenia and abroad – including **Hungary, Austria, Sweden, Poland, France, and Canada,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rok Požar, Chair of the MATCOS-25 Organizing Committee.

This year’s keynote speaker was Prof. Dr. Michel Bierlaire from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, where he also serves as the Director of the Transport and Mobility Laboratory. Prof. Bierlaire delivered a lecture titled Predicting Human Behaviour with Optimization.

In his talk, he emphasized that choice behaviour is central to many real-world applications, especially in areas such as transportation planning and marketing. Classical choice models, based on random utility theory, assume that individuals choose the alternative that provides the highest utility. However, these models require the explicit enumeration of all possible alternatives, which becomes impractical when the choice set is large or complex.

For more information about the conference, please visit the official website: matcos.iam.upr.si/en/

Tuesday, 7 October 2025 We welcomed students from Pietro Coppo Secondary School

Today, we hosted 25 students from Pietro Coppo Secondary School's Computer Science Technician program. First, we prepared a workshop on career advice regarding further education.

Later, during the 'Full Body Motion Capture' workshop, they learned the basics of capturing full-body movement using advanced technology. They learned how to use motion capture systems for animating characters in movies, video games, and virtual reality. Through practical exercises, they experimented with various motion capture techniques and gained insight into post-production and the application of data in digital environments.

Monday, 6 October 2025 ŠtartUP – A perfect kick-off to the 2025/26 academic year!

We have successfully wrapped up the fifth edition of the social-sports event Štart UP. Once again, the first Saturday of October was dedicated to relaxed mingling between first-year students, returning students, and the professional services of the University of Primorska (UP) – all those who have been, and continue to be, an invaluable support to students  throughout their studies at UP.

In addition to the academic members and institutes of UP, the university’s centers and units  also presented their work, showing students how they connect university activities with the wider community. A special role was played by the UP Tutors and the International Office, which introduced students to various opportunities abroad, especially in the context of UP’s participation in the European University Transform4Europe .

This year, more than 50 exhibitors joined us, enriching and diversifying our ŠtartUP even further. Thanks to their generous donations of gifts, the traditional ŠtartUP raffle  was once again a big success. As in previous years, the event carried a strong charitable note: each exhibitor confirmed their participation with a symbolic contribution, which was donated in full to the charity Palčica Pomagalčica, specifically to the Catch Your Dreams  fund for students in need.

We also remained faithful to our green commitment to sustainability. Everyone brought their own cup or bottle for drinks. At the Sustainability Corner, two second-hand clothing shops  – 2.0 Skica and Fashion Finds Koper – presented their work. Through their activities, Naja and Barbara highlighted the pressing issues of fast fashion and explained the many benefits of second-hand clothing for the sustainable development of our planet.

This year we were also joined by representatives of the company Tosama. Within the framework of their project Zdravko, which promotes wider access to hygiene products, they engaged participants with a quiz to raise awareness of the importance of providing sanitary pads in public spaces.

The program was further enriched by the Society for Advanced Defense and Martial Arts Methods (DNOBM), the Pobegi-Čežarji Volunteer Firefighters’ Association, and Vertigo – Center for Aerial Acrobatics and Dance. The KO-MET Association once again ensured plenty of sports fun with frisbees.

As tradition dictates, participants enjoyed a delicious lunch of bobiči (traditional corn and bean stew), which they could also take home after the event.

This year’s ŠtartUP was attended by more than 500 students, welcomed by over 100 staff members and association representatives. Together, we managed to organize one of the largest student events at the University of Primorska, marking a truly enriching start to the academic year.

We wish all students a successful start, progress, and completion of the 2025/26 academic year!

Monday, 6 October 2025 Join BIKE-HEI trainings: Empowering staff and students for green & digital innovations

O BIKE-HEI projektu

About the project BIKE-HEI “Boosting Innovative and Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship of HEIs” projectaims to improve business opportunities for innovative and knowledge entrepreneurs by using Artificial Intelligence in the area of Environmental Protection, Climate Action and Green Economy, promoting entrepreneurship and spin-off support services in HEIs and strengthening the HEIs’ role in the regional innovation ecosystem.

The BIKE-HEI Training Programme on Sustainable Innovation and Entrepreneurship aims to empower students, academic staff, and non-academic staff in higher education institutions (HEIs) with the knowledge and skills needed to foster sustainability-driven innovation ecosystems. Trainers include experts from the University of Alicante, University of Primorska, Saarland University, and Mariupol State University, offering real-world insights and interactive teaching.

Developed by a consortium of European universities, this interdisciplinary course covers key topics such as:

• Foundations of the green transition
• Sustainable start-ups
• Green communication skills
• Resilient management
• Digital tools for greener workplaces
• Sustainable academic practices (e.g., events, travel, catering)

• TRAINING FOR ACADEMIC STAFF (brochure) | LEAFLET -   "Enhancing Innovation and Entrepreneurship"   (Registration 25 September - 13 October / Course start: 20 October)
• TRAINING FOR NON-ACADEMIC STAFF (brochure) | LEAFLET -   "Empowering Sustainable Workplace Practices"   (Registration 25 September - 13 October / Course start: 20 October)
• TRAINING FOR STUDENTS (brochure) | LEAFLET -    "Driving Sustainable Innovation"    (Registration 25 September - 13 October / Course start: 20 October / 2 ECTS)

You are invited to review the training contents and register. Registration for all three trainings is open until October 13th!

Friday, 3 October 2025 Third symposium on Gender equality for an inclusive university and society - Call for participation

In 2021, UP adopted the UP Gender Equality Plan 2021-2027  (with an accompanying action plan). Within its community, UP builds and promotes interpersonal relationships based on the inclusion of diversity, as understanding and coexistence with those who think differently are the cornerstones of a critical (academic) community that respects human rights and has zero tolerance for discrimination and intolerance.

The UP sees regular and professional reflections on the current situation and possible improvements as key moments that ensure that the plan is not just a dead letter on paper, which it systematically implements through regular consultations on equality, justice, and gender inclusiveness  in the academic environment, which take place at the level of the entire UP. The third consultation will take place in December 2025, and you are  invited to submit your contribution.  

BRIDGES OF EQUALITY: GENDER EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN ACADEMIC SPACE AND SOCIETY

12 December 2025 | University of Primorska   

We invite you to contribute to a one-day symposium on gender equality for a more inclusive society. A wide range of disciplinary, theoretical, methodological, and epistemological approaches and perspectives are encouraged.

Some indicative topics for the preparation of short presentations:

• Gender equality and gender in theory and practice (theories and ethnographies of gender)
• Gender equality and (in)equalities (social, economic, generational, etc.)
• Gender equality and binarity (non-binary identities, transgender, intersex, etc.)
• Gender equality and language
• Gender equality and intersectionality (race, ethnicity, class, etc.)
• Gender and national minorities
• Roles and positions of genders in science
• Creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive academic space
• International and comparative studies of gender equality
• Gender equality and scientific disciplines
• Gender equality across different domains (universities, education, healthcare, business, media, private and public spheres, etc.)

The symposium will take place on 12 December 2025. Interested participants on the symposium, are asked to send the following information no later than 6 October 2025  to tadej.praprotnik@fhs.upr.si:  

• Title of the contribution (in Slovenian and English)
• Abstract (in Slovenian and English)
• Author’s name and surname, institutional affiliation, and (institutional) e-mail address (if there are multiple authors, please include information for each author) in Slovenian and English
• 3–5 keywords (in Slovenian and English)
• Length of submission (title, abstract, and keywords): 200-250 words (in both languages together 400-500 words)

The symposium will take place on 12 December 2025 and  will be held in Slovenian and English.   Presentations may be prepared as short discussion papers, PowerPoint presentations, or posters.

For additional information, please contact: 

• tadej.praprotnik@fhs.upr.si,
• lialola.kotnik@fhs.upr.si  
• alenka.janko.spreizer@fhs.upr.si 

Scientific Committee of the Symposium: Tadej Praprotnik, Lia Lola V. Kotnik, Alenka Janko Spreizer.

Thursday, 2 October 2025 Memorandum of Understanding between UP FAMNIT and the National Pantanal Research Institute (INPP)

UP FAMNIT,at the initiative of the Department of Biodiversity, has signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the National Pantanal Research Institute (INPP) from Brazil. The agreement opens new opportunities for joint research projects, student and staff exchanges, and further strengthens the already established collaboration with the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT).

INPP is a federal scientific research institute, established in 2014 with the aim of supporting the sustainable development of the Pantanal region – one of the largest and most biodiverse floodplains in the world. The institute connects research institutions from Brazil and abroad, focusing on the development of sustainable models for natural resource management and the transfer of scientific knowledge into practice.

In recent years, cooperation between UP FAMNIT and Brazilian partners has become increasingly stronger, particularly within the Erasmus+ programme and bilateral research projects. Students from both universities have already participated in exchanges and professional training. 

The establishment of this cooperation was also made possible thanks to the active role of researcher and doctoral candidate in the Conservation Biology program at UP FAMNIT, Martin Senič, whose research on the ecology of the Cracidae family and other selected groups of vertebrates in the Pantanal region is conducted in close collaboration with researchers from UFMT and INPP, who have also supported his work through the awarding of a research scholarship. Through his efforts, Martin has significantly contributed to strengthening the ties between institutions, enabling the expansion of joint activities. Consequently, collaboration between UP FAMNIT and Brazilian partners has grown increasingly close in recent years. Thanks to the Erasmus+ program and bilateral research projects, additional opportunities have opened for academic and practical exchanges between students of both universities.

As part of the new agreement, academic and research visits are also planned. In October 2025, UP FAMNIT will host Prof. Dr. Marinêz Isaac Marques, expert in an entomology expert and research coordinator at INPP and professor at UFMT, Prof. Dr. Karl-L. Schuchmann, also a professor at UFMT, an ornithology specialist, biogeographer, and tropical ecologist who is especially specialized in Neotropical birds, entomology and research coordinator at INPP, and Dr. Carolline Zatta Fieker, a researcher specializing in ecology, ornithology, fire ecology, and vertebrate bioacoustics. The guests will contribute as lecturers at the international summer school Science, how to write and talk about it, which will take place at UP FAMNIT in Izola from 13 to 27 October 2025.

The signing of this framework agreement represents an important step towards expanding the international research collaboration of UP FAMNIT and provides opportunities for the development of interdisciplinary research, exchanges, and new joint projects that will contribute to a better understanding and sustainable management of one of the most valuable ecosystems in the world.

The photos below show glimpses from the field work in Brazil.

Wednesday, 1 October 2025 Important notice - Introductory meeting for first-year students Data Science

According to the instructions of the coordinator, we would like to inform first-year students of the Master’s program in Data Science that the introductory meeting will take place at 11:30 via the following Zoom link: 

https://upr-si.zoom.us/j/5389732484?pwd=bUxySzZhRkFmUjMrekozdFE5NTBwUT09

Wednesday, 1 October 2025 The 19th generation of students is entering the new academic year at UP FAMNIT

UP Welcomes Freshmen at the Traditional Freshmen Reception, this Time Live at Campus Livade 1.0 in Izola.

At the reception, the Rector of UP, Prof. Dr. Klavdija Kutnar, addressed the students and wished them:
“ Do you remember your first day at secondary school? It all seemed full of challenges, and yet you overcame them. You made it then, and you will make it now. We are certain of it. For now, take that leap into the new academic year, a new challenge, a new chapter. You have made it this far – and we know you will keep going strong!” (The full speech is available via the link .)

At UP FAMNIT (in Koper and Izola), freshmen, along with the coordinators of their study programs, followed the introductory greeting, which was also attended by the Dean of UP FAMNIT, Prof. Dr. Ademir Hujdurović , via live broadcast. Afterwards, they continued in lecture halls with presentations of key information for the start of the new academic year. After the meetings with coordinators, there was a presentation of the Student Council, UP FAMNIT tutors, and the UP APZ.

Freshmen officially step through the faculty doors for the first time on October 1st – but at UP, foreign students were already welcomed last week during orientation days.

The activities marking the start of the new academic year will continue on Saturday, October 4th, when the event Štart UP – a sports and social event for all UP students will take place at Obmorski Park Žusterna. Various university organizations and local groups will present themselves, accompanied by a music program and prizes for completed activities at different stations.

Some Statistics

At UP FAMNIT, we have already welcomed the 19th generation of students, the largest so far.

Official enrollment data for the academic year 2025/26 will be available in about a month. According to unofficial data, 1072 students have enrolled at the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Information Technologies. International students come from 31 countries.

This year, 395 students enrolled in the first year for the first time. Of these, 786 are enrolled in undergraduate study programs, 232 in master's programs, and 54 in doctoral programs in the first year.

We wish all students a successful, interesting, and fun academic year!

Friday, 26 September 2025 20th Anniversary of the European Researchers’ Night

This year again, UP organized numerous activities as part of the European Researchers’ Night, which took place on Friday, 26 September 2025, at several locations in Koper, Izola, Piran, and Rodik. The project oooZnanost! – Fake news and conspiracy theories? Let’s empower (ourselves for) science! is funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions through the call HORIZON-MSCA-2023-CITIZENS-01-01: European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools 2024–2025. On 26 September 2025, Europe celebrated the 20th anniversary of the European Researchers’ Night in 25 countries and more than 460 cities.

Among the workshops organized by FAMNIT were:

• Exploring Statistics Through Play — children discovered the basics of statistics through games: data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Pop-it — using the popular fidget toy, participants learned the rules of the NIM game and playfully explored mathematical concepts.
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Record Them — a workshop on how to collect data on wildlife using the SRNA app and camera traps.
• Wildlife Detective: Revealing Invisible Wild Animals Around You — presenting modern methods such as environmental DNA to detect and monitor animal species even when they are not directly visible.

Thursday, 25 September 2025 DIGI-MAT: This year we talked about cryptography

From 23 to 27 September 2025, the training titled DIGI-MAT: Teaching Mathematical Content Using Digital Tools – Cryptography was held at UP FAMNIT. The program was delivered in a hybrid format: two days in person at the faculty (a total of 15 hours) and one introductory session via Zoom (1 hour).

The event was attended by 10 education professionals. Participants deepened their knowledge in cryptography and the use of digital tools in teaching mathematical content. The training counted for 1 point in the professional development system for educators.

We thank to all participants for their engagement and active participation, and to the instructors for their expert guidance.

Wednesday, 24 September 2025 21st Applied Statistics International Conference 2025

From 21 to 23 September 2025,  Koper hosted the 21st Applied Statistics International Conference, held here for the third time. The event brought together researchers and professionals from across the globe working in data analysis, data science, and statistics to showcase their most recent findings and exchange expertise. A total of 110 participants from 18 countries attended the conference.

The keynote lectures were delivered by Els Goetghebeur, Professor of Statistics at Ghent University, and Tamás Rudas, Emeritus Professor of Statistics at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest. The scientific programme featured invited talks, oral sessions, and poster presentations of accepted contributions. The main two-day conference (Monday and Tuesday) was preceded by a workshop day on Sunday. MORE

Wednesday, 24 September 2025 WEDNESDAY, 1ST OCTOBER – MEETINGS OF FRESHMEN WITH COORDINATORS

Dear freshmen!

Your first Academic year is about to start and we are warmly inviting you to take part of the activities of the first day! The meeting with the study programmes coordinators will take place on 2 locations: in Koper (Glagoljaška 8, Koper) and in the University campus Livade in Izola (Livade 6, Izola):

KOPER – students gather at 9:30 in the park in front of the faculty, and from 10.00 to 11.30 there will be meetings with the study programme coordinators:

• Mathematics (Slovene) and Mathematics in Economics and Finance: in classroom Famnit-MP1 (1st floor),
• Computer Science (Slovene): in classroom Famnit-VP3 (2nd floor),
• Biopsychology: in classroom Famnit-VP2 (1st floor),

IZOLA - students gather at 9:30 in front of the campus, and from 10.00 to 11. 30 there will be meetings with the study programme coordinators:

• Conservation Biology: in classroom Livade-FAMNIT 3 (3rd floor),
• Agronomy: in classroom Livade-Botanika (2nd floor),
• Bioinformatics (Slovene): in classroom Livade-Epsilon (ground floor).

At 11.30 students are invited to attend a joint presentation of the Student Council UP FAMNIT, Student Organization UP and Sport UP:

• Koper (Glagoljaška 8, Koper): classroom Famnit-VP3 (2nd floor),
• Izola (Livade 6, Izola): classroom Livade-FAMNIT 3 (3rd floor). 

We kindly ask you to come on time, as the meetings will start at 10.00 with the official welcome from the rector UP.

During the Orientation days at UP foreign students will meet with study programme coordinators. The meetings are for students enrolled in English programmes (Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Mathematics), but also for students enrolled in Slovene programmes (Biopsychology, Mathematics in Economics and Finance, Conservation Biology, Agronomy). More information: https://welcome.upr.si/en/arrive/orientation. You are kindly invited to apply, if you haven't so far.

All courses will start on Thursday, 2^nd October – please check the schedule here (https://www.famnit.upr.si//en/student-pages/timetables). Students should check the schedule daily. If a change of the schedulle occurs, Student Services arranges the change in the schedule. At the same time they publish the notice (in ŠIS, section Notices), but only for changes on the same day and the following 2 days.

Soon you'll receive the first NEWSLETTER FOR UP FAMNIT STUDENTS, through which the faculty will inform you about current events, career opportunities and other events during the academic year. If you do not want to receive news, you can unsubscribe.

On Saturday, 4th October in Žusterna Seaside Park, Koper, will take place ŠtartUP, a sports and social event organized by the University of Primorska. All information is available here: https://www.upr.si/en/students-up/activities-at-the-start-of-the-academic-year/start-up-. All students are kindly invited to join this event.

See you soon!

UP FAMNIT professors and staff

Wednesday, 24 September 2025 UNDERGRADUATE STUDY: Course schedules for Autumn Semester 2025/26

We would like to inform you that the course schedules for all study programmes for the Autumn Semester 2025/2026 are published on our website (https://www.famnit.upr.si//en/student-pages/timetables). Lectures start on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 and last until Friday, 16 January 2026.

On this website you can also find a short clip that will show you how to check the course schedule.

First, we would like to inform you that until October 17, all classrooms at the Trg Brolo 12 location (B7, B5, B6, B3, B2) will be unavailable. All courses that were scheduled to take place at this location during this period have been relocated to other classrooms. Please check the schedule carefully.

During this period, some external classroom (Rotunda, UP FM, etc.) will be in use. All students will be informed later regarding access.

Important information about the course schedule:

• Please check all weeks in the schedule, because weekly schedules can differ.
• The schedule might change until Tuesday, 30 September. Please check the schedule again before the beginning of the academic year. All changes from Wednesday, 1 October will be published in the Notices (ŠIS, section Notices). We would like to emphasize that Student Services will publish the notice about the change only for changes on the same day and the following 2 days.
• In some undergraduate courses, students are divided into groups for laboratory work. Students will receive the information about the group on their student university e-mail no later than Tuesday, 30 September or on their personal e-mail if they are enrolled in the 1^st year of study.

We would like to inform you:

• BP2, BP3: the course Psychology Practicum is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later,
• BP2, BP3: the course Selected Biopsychological Topics in the English Language is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later,
• VB: Practical training is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later.

Freshman will have meeting with the study programme coordinators on Wednesday, 1^st October. All information is published on our website. All lectures and tutorials start on Thursday, 2^nd October.

Students of the 2^nd and 3^rd year start with lectures and tutorials on Wednesday, 1^st October (acording to the course schedule).

Meetings with study programme coordinators for students enrolled in English programmes (Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Mathematics) as well for foreing students enrolled in Slovene programmes (Biopsychology, Mathematics in Economics and Finance, Conservation Biology and Agronomy) will take place during Orientation days at UP (for more info please check: https://welcome.upr.si/en/arrive/orientation).

In the beginning of October, study programme coordinators will meet all 2^nd and 3^rd year students. Exact terms will be published in the notices of Student Services.

Student Services UP FAMNIT

Wednesday, 24 September 2025 POSTGRADUATE STUDY: Course schedules for Autumn Semester 2025/26

We would like to inform you that the course schedules for all study programmes for the Autumn Semester 2025/2026 are published on our website (https://www.famnit.upr.si//en/student-pages/timetables). Lectures start on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 and last until Friday, 16 January 2026.

On this website you can also find a short clip that will show you how to check the course schedule.

First, we would like to inform you that until October 17, all classrooms at the Trg Brolo 12 location (B7, B5, B6, B3, B2) will be unavailable. All courses that were scheduled to take place at this location during this period have been relocated to other classrooms. Please check the schedule carefully.

During this period, some external classroom (Rotunda, UP FM, etc.) will be in use. All students will be informed later regarding access.

Important information about the course schedule:

• Please check the schedule for every week, because weekly schedules can differ.
• The schedule might change until Tuesday, 30 September. Please check the schedule again before the beginning of the academic year. All changes from Wednesday, 1 October will be published in the Notices (ŠIS, section Notices). We would like to emphasize that Student Services will publish the notice about the change only for changes on the same day and the following 2 days.

Terms for the meetings with the study programme coordinators with the 1^st year students:

• Mathematical Sciences – Slovene (PMA): Wednesday, 8 OCtober at 15.00 in Famnit-MP2 (Glagoljaška 8, Koper, 2^nd floor);
• Computer Science (PRIN): Thursday, 2 October at 13.00 in Famnit-MP4 (Glagoljaška 8, Koper, 2^nd floor);
• Nature Conservation (PBI):  Wednesday, 1 October at 14.30 in Livade-Epsilon (University campus Livade Izola, Livade 4, ground floor);
• Biopsychology (PBP): Thursday, 6 October at 13.00 in Famnit-MP6 (Glagoljaška 8, Koper, 2^nd floor);
• Psychology (UPSI): Monday, 6 October at 13.00 in FHŠ-Levant1 (UP FHŠ, Titov trg 5, Koper, 4th floor);
• Data Science – Slovene (PZ): Tuesday, 1 October at 11.30 in Famnit-VP2 (Glagoljaška 8, Koper, 1^st floor).

Meetings with study programme coordinators for students enrolled in English programmes (Mathematical Sciences, Data Science) as well for foreing students enrolled in the Slovene programmes Biopsychology and Psychology will take place during Orientation days at UP (for more info please check: https://welcome.upr.si/en/arrive/orientation).

In the beginning of October study programme coordinators will meet 2nd year students. Exact terms will be published in the notices of Student Services.

We would like to inform you:

• PBP2, UPSI2: the course Master Thesis – seminar is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later,
• PBI1: Practical training is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later.

Student Services UP FAMNIT

Thursday, 18 September 2025 Computer Science Students Once Again Gaining New Knowledge and Ideas at the Second FAMNIT/HTW Dresden Hackathon

Between September 15 and 18, the second hackathon in collaboration with the University of Dresden – HTW Dresden (Mechlab) took place at UP FAMNIT. As part of the hackathon, young computer science enthusiasts, together with the experienced Prof. Dr. Toralf Trautmann from the Automotive Mechatronics Lab and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Branko Kavšek from the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies (UP FAMNIT), developed new functions designed to assist both drivers and vehicle automation.

Dr. Trautmann shared his expertise in automotive software development and technology with the students, who later split into teams and delved into the assigned projects, testing and presenting them on the final day.

At the end, Gregor Ahlin , a Computer Science student, shared his experience with us. Throughout the event, he discovered and learned new techniques he had not encountered before:
"This is my second time at a hackathon. This year, as part of the hackathon, we're also going to Dresden for the first time. The end product — at least for our team — is to have a good user interface that a remote teleoperator can use to stop the vehicle in case of any issues with the autonomous system. We're going to develop a user interface that allows the teleoperator to monitor the vehicle’s cameras, data from the lidar, location, video, speed, and more."

Dr. Trautmann was also very impressed with the successful execution and final results of our students' work. He believes the event has opened doors for further collaboration.
" I was impressed by the students' strong participation in the Hackathon. They were highly motivated and completed the first stage of the project in just two days. The final presentation is coming up, where we will review the initial solution. Next week, we will implement it in our test area and evaluate its performance in real-world scenarios," he added.

Thursday, 18 September 2025 4th Biological-Psychological Student Conference (September 18–20, 2025, Koper)

The conference, organised by students for students, took place from September 18 to 20, 2025, in Koper. The aim is to bring together students from different faculties and fields of study, enable them to present their original work, and thus promote science in all its forms. This year’s conference brings together 60 students from various programs and faculties – FAMNIT, UL Faculty of Arts (Psychology), UL Faculty of Arts (Hispanistics), UM Faculty of Arts (Psychology), UL Faculty of Education (Cognitive Science), and Sigmund Freud University – Ljubljana branch (Psychology).

The biological-psychological student conference consisted of two parallel modules: the biological module and the psychological module. The biological module covers study programmes in biology, environmental science, nature protection, and related fields. The psychological module includes study programmes in psychology, biopsychology, psychotherapy, and neuroscience. 

Psychological works were divided into three parts: as an empirical work, a systematic literature review or as a presentation of an interesting topic/project/seminar. Students from other study programs (e.g., educational study programs) participated if they applied with research, based on biological or psychological topics.

The heads of the Scientific Committee of the Bio-Psychological Student Conference are pleased with both the participation and the exchange of knowledge among the participants: “We are delighted that this is already the fourth conference where students of biology and psychology can share their knowledge and experience. We are also pleased that each year more and more participants from other Slovenian universities apply,” they added, while also extending an invitation to the fifth edition.

MORE

Wednesday, 17 September 2025 Open Position: Project Staff for AI Projects SLAIF and KCUI

Work location: Koper (occasional travel within Slovenia)

Employment: Full-time / 3 years

Start date: Immediately

Description:  Operational implementation of activities at the University of Primorska, with a primary focus on organizing AI-related training and educational events.

Key responsibilities:

• Organization and execution of trainings/workshops/conferences for companies, the public sector, and academia (planning, logistics, invitations, registrations, KPI monitoring, evaluations).
• Setting up and maintaining a co-working space (procurement and setup of basic equipment, e.g., GPU workstation, A/V equipment for trainings; coordination with procurement and IT).
• Managing project documentation: financial and content records, preparation of contributions for periodic reports, and ensuring traceability of results and indicators.
• Participation in the implementation of a pilot use case (defining the use case, ensuring data access, preparing the pilot workflow, and user support).
• Dissemination and communication: preparing news and content for the website and social media, participating in “AI Industry Days,” and coordinating with the project manager.
• Internal and inter-partner coordination: preparation of meeting materials, minutes, and coordination with the work package leader at the University of Primorska.

Required competencies:

• Completed at least level VII/2 (Master’s degree – Bologna 2nd cycle) or level VIII/1 of education; preferred fields: computer science/informatics, technical or organizational sciences; other relevant fields with proven experience are also considered.
• Excellent organizational skills and experience in organizing events/trainings.
• Excellent command of both Slovenian and English, including written and spoken proficiency.
• Independence, accuracy, reliability, and ability to work in a multi-institutional environment and with industry partners.
• Digital literacy.

Desired competencies:

• Experience with EU projects (Horizon Europe/EUROHPC) – logistics, reporting.
• Understanding of basic AI/HPC ecosystems and user services (onboarding, helpdesk, documentation, UX feedback).
• Preparation of educational materials, working with participants of diverse profiles (SMEs, public administration, students).
• Basic knowledge of GDPR and principles of the EU AI Act.
• Experience in collaboration with industry (pilot implementations, requirements gathering, evaluations).

Application deadline:October 10, 2025

Interested candidates should contact: marko.tkalcic@famnit.upr.si

Friday, 12 September 2025 Conference of Slovenian Mathematicians in Koper (September 12–13, 2025, Koper)

The Slovenian Mathematicians' Conference has begun in Koper, taking place from September 12 to 13, 2025, and is organised by the Mathematics Committee at DMFA, with co-organisation by UP FAMNIT. The event is attended by 76 experts from the field. There will be two plenary lectures at the conference, given by Andras Batkai (PH Voralrberg) and Bojan Mohar (UL FMF). In contrast, the rest of the conference will be divided into research-application and educational sections, as well as a section for young doctoral and postdoctoral students. The research and application section and the section for young people present the most important achievements in Slovenian mathematics in recent years (including applied mathematics) and the research work of successful researchers of the younger generation. The pedagogical section is dedicated to the presentation of professional topics related to the teaching of mathematics and physics.

The conference will also include a Friday round table discussion on the shortage of mathematics and physics teachers . The following speakers will participate: Ljupčo Todorovski (Head of OM FMF), Miha Lovšin (Head of the Sector for Human Resources Development in Education), Tatjana Hodnik (UL PeF), Timotej Maroševič (Physics Teacher at Gimnazija Vič), David Gajser (UM), and Rozalija Volk, master's student at UL PeF and former mathematics teacher. MORE

Friday, 12 September 2025 Open position – Lab technician in Molecular Biology

InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM is seeking a well-qualified and highly motivated individual to work in the Engineered Living Materials (ELM) laboratory at the InnoRenew CoE department.

In the ELM laboratory, we work at the interface of microbiology, materials science and chemistry. The technician will be employed at the InnoRenew CoE, Andrej Marušič Institute, University of Primorska under the supervision of Assoc Prof. Anna Sandak. It is expected that the technician will contribute to the projects ERC ARCHI-SKIN (GA #101044468), EIC REMEDY (GA #101185862), and other ongoing activities.

We are searching for an enthusiastic, self-initiative and independent candidate who can help us make our lab even better and more productive.

Goals and Tasks

The candidate’s main tasks will be to:

• Daily maintenance of laboratory equipment and devices.
• Preparation of microbiological media, buffers and other materials.
• Coordination of purchasing, storing and inventory of laboratory materials and chemicals.
• Participation in the execution of laboratory practice and research projects for students.
• Execution of experimental procedures (given the protocol) - knowing how to work sterile is of great importance.
• Regular interactions and communications with the laboratory head dr Karen Butina Ogorelec.

Essential requirements/skills:

• Bachelor's degree (BSc) in Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or a related field.
• Experience with molecular biology (DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis etc).
• Aseptic work for cell cultures
• Proficiency in English, both written and verbal.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Good communication skills, and the ability to work in a team
• Experience with Good Laboratory Practice,
• Basic knowledge of bioinformatics
• Proficiency in Slovenian is an extra asset.

What we offer:

1-year contract with an option for renewal. The first three months of employment will be considered a probationary period. During this time, the performance and suitability for the role will be assessed to determine if the employment relationship should continue.

Competitive salary with possible performance-based raises

Opportunity to work on a prestigious ERC and EIC projects

Employment opportunities, admissions policies, activities, services, and the facilities of the UP IAM do not exclude any person based on race, color, age, sex, gender, religion, national origin, or disability. In processing your application, the GDPR will be respected and your information will not be shared outside of the relevant staff at the UP IAM. By submitting your application, you agree that the data you provide be reviewed by them.

How to apply

The applicants should send:

Curriculum vitae (including short descriptions of all prior education, qualifications, and research or work experiences)

Motivation letter for this position (maximum one A4 page)

Transcripts from previous degrees

to this email address: coe@innorenew.eu. In the title (subject) of your email please write: Lab technician in molecular biology. All materials should be in English and submitted in PDF format no later than September 12, 2025.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For further information about the research topic, please contact Assoc. Prof Anna Sandak, PhD (email address: anna.sandak@innorenew.eu).

UP IAM reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, extend the application period, and consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

Application deadline: September 12, 2025

Expected start date: October 1, 2025

Friday, 12 September 2025 Results of the Election for the Director of UP IAM

On Thursday, 11 September 2025, the UP IAM Researchers' Assembly of Researchers held elections for the position of Director of UP IAM. The Election Commission has completed its work and, in its final report, confirmed a voter turnout of 69.3%, with 70 eligible voters participating in the election.

A total of 68 votes were cast in favour of the candidate, Prof. Dr. Vito Vitrih.

As the sole candidate, Prof. Dr. Vito Vitrih received 97.1% of the votes and has been elected as Director of UP IAM.

A formal resolution on the election results will be adopted by the UP IAM Scientific Council at its regular session, scheduled for 22 September 2025. At the same time, the Council will propose to the Rector of the University of Primorska to appoint Prof. Dr. Vito Vitrih as Director of UP IAM for the next term of office (24 December 2025 – 23 December 2029).

We sincerely congratulate Prof. Dr. Vito Vitrih on his re-election and wish him continued success in leading the institute in the upcoming term.

Thursday, 11 September 2025 The 12th PhD Summer School in Discrete Mathematics has concluded successfully

The 12th Doctoral Summer School in Discrete Mathematics took place at UP FAMNIT between 7 and 13 September 2025. The event was co-organised by UP FAMNIT, Institute Andrej Marušič (UP IAM), the Slovenian Discrete and Applied Mathematics Society (SDAMS), and the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics (IMFM), in collaboration with the Center for Discrete Mathematics at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education (UL PEF).

The scientific meeting attracted 72 participants, who engaged in a rich programme of lectures and discussions about their research work. In addition to Slovenian participants, attendees came from the following countries: France, Poland, the Netherlands, Croatia, Bosnia, Hungary, Italy, Brazil, Crete, the Czech Republic, China, Iran, Serbia, Belgium, Great Britain, Slovakia, India, Germany, Australia, the USA, New Zealand, Spain, and Egypt.

Once again, the main lectures were delivered by leading names in the field of discrete mathematics:

• Aida Abiad (Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands): Eigenvalue bounds for the independence number of graph powers and their application to coding theory
• Bence Csajbók (Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary): New directions for direction sets
• Cristina Dalfó (University of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain): Factored lifts of graphs and their spectra: The Abelian and non-Abelian cases
• Luke Morgan (University of Western Australia): The linear dimension of permutation groups

Reflections from Aida Abiad, Associate Professor and head of the Algebraic Combinatorics group at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e): "The 12^th summer school on Discrete Mathematics, held at the beautiful city of Koper (Slovenia), has been a great success, once more. The two minicourses offered have been very useful for students and staff to learn about two important mathematical tools (the container method, spectral graph theory). Also, the invited talks gave a glance of current research being pursued in the field of discrete mathematics. But maybe the highlight of the school was the student talks, where one could see students at their best, showcasing their latest results in a very appealing way. Also, the 'best student talk award' brought a healthy competition atmosphere and a motivational feeling. And last but not least: the organized daily sport activities were very well received by the students (and staff!); they contributed to the team bonding and added a healthy and fun component after a working day. "

As in previous years, students competed for the Best Student Talk award. The committee, consisting of  Giusy Monzillo, Luke Morgan, and Russ Woodroofe, decided that the winner was Nils Van de Berg for his presentation titled "Counting cospectral graphs made via switching."

     
                              Giusy Monzillo, Luke Morgan, Nils Van de Berg (winner), Russ Woodroofe

The two minicourses were delivered by Sebastian Cioaba and Rajko Nenadov. 

Among the students who gave 15-minute presentations were also UP FAMNIT alumni Jelena Glisic and Mirza Redzic. Mirza is currently a PhD student at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, while Jelena is pursuing her PhD at Charles University in Prague. She also shared her thoughts on the experience:

"I’m very glad that Famnit organises this conference—it’s a great opportunity to return and reconnect. The conference is a great chance for PhD students to meet and see what others are working on. The topics are very diverse—many are from algebraic theory, which Famnit is also known for, but there are talks on other areas as well. We had two mini-courses that were quite interesting and introduced some useful ideas. The invited lectures were fascinating, and there were also many student presentations. It’s a great opportunity for everyone, especially for those presenting their work internationally for the first time—as it was for me. The atmosphere is very friendly and relaxed. Since many participants are students, the pressure isn’t overwhelming."

   
                                                                          Jelena Glisic

The event was supported by ARIS – the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (MVZI).

You can access the Book of Abstracts.

Wednesday, 10 September 2025 Visit from Gimnazija Vič

Today, 33 students and 2 teachers from Gimnazija Vič visited UP FAMNIT.

After a welcome address, we began with the workshop "Games in Nature", led by Assist. Prof. Dr. Barbara Boldin. In an engaging and accessible way, she demonstrated how animal decision-making in various situations can be represented using mathematical games, while also introducing basic ideas from game theory.

In the next workshop, "From Snakes and Ladders to Stock Prices", Assist. Dr. Ana Zalokar from the Department of Mathematics explained the connection between the board game Snakes and Ladders and stock price movements.

We thank the students and their accompanying persons for their visit and invite them to attend our future events as well!

Wednesday, 10 September 2025 Soundtracks of Our Lives: How Age Influences Musical Preferences

Prof. Marko Tkalčič and Assist. Arsen Matej Golubovikj from the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies at the University of Primorska's FAMNIT have co-authored a new international study titled Soundtracks of Our Lives: How Age Influences Musical Preferences. This research was carried out in collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Bruce Ferwerda from Jönköping University and Assoc. Prof. Alan Said from the University of Gothenburg.

Drawing on 15 years of music-listening data from over 40,000 Last.fm users—and encompassing more than half a billion plays—this longitudinal study tracks how our musical tastes evolve over the life span. Findings reveal that while younger people tend to explore a wide array of contemporary hits, musical taste becomes increasingly nostalgic and personal past the age of 40. Music from youth gains prominence, even as listeners continue to discover new artists.

The study also highlights that older listeners develop more specialized and unique preferences compared to the broader, more homogeneous tastes of younger users. These insights are especially significant for the design of music recommendation systems, suggesting the importance of tailoring recommendations to long-term listening trajectories and nostalgia-driven patterns.

The paper was presented at UMAP ’25, the 33rd ACM Conference on User Modeling, Adaptation and Personalization, held in New York City (June 16–19, 2025).

For companies or individuals behind a recommendation system, such as Spotify's suggestions for new music to its users, the study's findings present important challenges and opportunities. This type of lifelong analysis of listening habits hasn’t been possible until recently, simply through the fact they haven’t been around for long enough until now.

Monday, 8 September 2025 Erasmus+ Call Published for Co-Funding Staff Mobility for Teaching in 2025/26

The University of Primorska (UP) has received CMEPIUS funding to co-finance staff mobility for teaching in the amount of €18,000. The call for the 2025/26 academic year has been published, and mobilities must be completed by 30 September 2026.

Mobilities can take place in Erasmus+ program countries (EU, Liechtenstein, Turkey, Serbia, North Macedonia, Norway, Iceland) at higher education institutions with which UP or UP FAMNIT has a bilateral Erasmus+ agreement (Annex No. 1).

Teaching requirement: at least 8 hours per week.

Application deadline: 22 September 2025.

Only complete applications will be considered (completed online application + Mobility Agreement for Teaching in English).

Detailed information and all annexes are available on the FAMNIT website and the UP website.

For any questions, please contact the UP FAMNIT International Office at: international@famnit.upr.si

Friday, 5 September 2025 PhD position –The role of interplay between senses for the acoustic perception of the built environment

Expected start date:  October 1, 2025.

InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM is seeking a well-qualified individual to work on a PhD research project at the department in Izola, Slovenia. The successful candidate will be employed full-time at the University of Primorska and will be required to enroll in the PhD study programRenewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments at University of Primorska.

The mission of InnoRenew CoE is to understand the various aspects of the built environment that affect our health and well-being. We do this through interdisciplinary research and innovation that incorporates new technologies and utilizes our state-of-the-art research infrastructure.

The user of the building is at the center of our research interest. To capture their response to different environments, we try to replicate different environments under controlled laboratory conditions. By systematically confronting users with such environments, we aim to identify and understand the perceptually relevant aspects of building design. The methodological challenge in this context is to achieve a high degree of ecological validity and fidelity of the reproduced environments. The primary research goal of the PhD student will be to integrate multisensory exposure (visual, vibration, … ) into the design of listening tests – all with the aim of better understanding the complex interplay between the senses in relation to the acoustic perception of the built environment.

Goals and Tasks

Our state-of-the-art acoustics laboratory is currently conducting listening test using spatial audio technologies (binaural, HOA Ambisonics) that integrate vibration reproduction (VED). Participants answer questionnaires, and perform cognitive tests, while we monitor their physiological responses to the different exposures. A further step in the research is to consider the multisensory nature of the exposure, which provides insight into the complex interplay between the senses. In particular, we are interested in the relationship between visual and auditory stimuli and how they influence our perception of the built environment. The PhD student's task will be to develop an advanced framework for auditory testing by extending the current listening test infrastructure with VR reproduction technologies.

The candidate’s main tasks will be to:

• prepare and execute a research plan,
• review existing approaches related to the research topic,
• organize and perform laboratory experiments,
• suggest, develop and evaluate innovative building solutions.

The successful candidate will be involved in the preparation of scientific publications and presentations at renowned conferences to extend the impact their research. Additionally, the candidate will prepare at least one research project proposal to further extend the scope of the studied topic.

Essential requirements/skills

• master’s Degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Civil Engineering, Computer science, Physics, Acoustics or any related area,
• high motivation for studies and working within interdisciplinary research projects,
• excellent communication skills in written and spoken English,
• ability to formulate and communicate new research ideas (research proposal preparation, scientific publications, prototype scientific instrumentations, software tools),
• high interests in acoustics and digital signal processing,
• experience with acoustic measurements and the joy of mastering measurement equipment and procedures,
• basic programming skills (python, Matlab, R or similar) with the motivation to grow the skills,
• ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary international research environment,
• fulfill the requirements for doctoral students at the University of Primorska. For more details, see: https://www.famnit.upr.si/en/education/doctoral/renew-mat; https://www.famnit.upr.si/en/education/enrolment

What we offer:

• 3 years contract with a trial period of 3 months,
• monthly salary,
• no PhD tuition fee,
• opportunity to participate in ongoing prestigious European projects at the institute.

Employment opportunities, admissions policies, activities, services, and the facilities of the UP IAM do not exclude any person based on race, color, age, sex, gender, religion, national origin, or disability. In processing your application, the GDPR will be respected and your information will not be shared outside of the relevant staff at the UP IAM. By submitting your application, you agree that the data you provide be reviewed by them.

How to apply

The applicants should send:

• Curriculum vitae (including short descriptions of all prior educations, qualifications, and research or work experiences)
• Motivation letter for this doctoral position (maximum one A4 page)
• Transcripts from previous degrees
• List of publications (if applicable)

to this email address: coe@innorenew.eu In the title (subject) of your email please write: Acoustics for better buildings. All materials should be in English and submitted in PDF format no later than September 10, 2025.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For further information about the research topic, please contact Assist. Prof. Rok Prislan, PhD (email address: rok.prislan@innorenew.eu).

The UP IAM reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, extend the application period, and consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

Application deadline: September 10, 2025

Monday, 1 September 2025 Summer School titled: "Science How to Write and Talk About It"

The Department of Biodiversity, in collaboration with international colleagues, is organizing an international summer school titled "Science – How to Write and Talk About It". You are warmly invited to join!

Since the summer school will take place at the beginning of the academic year, when some of you are returning to regular studies, the activities will be scheduled in the late afternoon hours (and possibly on some weekends). This way, everyone interested will be able to participate.

Students who successfully complete the summer school activities will not only gain valuable experience in scientific writing and presenting but will also receive 3 ECTS credits, which can potentially be recognized as part of your regular study obligations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SUMMER SCHOOL

Are you interested in learning how to better structure, write, and effectively present scientific work? Then this summer school is an opportunity that will help you achieve that goal.

The summer school is at an advanced level, primarily intended for master’s and doctoral students, as well as recent graduates and early-career researchers in the fields of biology, nature conservation, and related sciences. Motivated senior undergraduate students are also encouraged to apply.

Over the course of two weeks, participants will learn about:

• preparing scientific articles, posters, and oral presentations,

• designing tables and graphs for papers and posters,

• public speaking skills and conference presentations,

• structuring and writing undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral theses.

In addition to lectures, individual consultations will support participants’ independent work, and the program will be enriched with research seminars conducted in the Brazilian Pantanal.

October 13–27, 2025
Livade 6, Izola, Slovenia

Lecturers:

• Prof. Dr. Karl-Ludwig Schuchmann
• Prof. Dr. Marinez Isaac Marques
• Dr. Carolline Zatta Fieker
• (Federal University of Mato Grosso, Brazil)

Coordinator:
Asst. Martin Senič (University of Primorska)
Contact: martin.senic@famnit.upr.si

Minimum participation fee:

€30 for UP and other T4EU students / €60 for others
3 ECTS | Language: English | Limited to 15 participants

Applications are open to motivated students and early-career researchers who wish to improve their academic skills and confidence in writing and presenting scientific content.

Applications open on Friday, August 29, 2025, and close on September 15, 2025.
A motivation letter must be submitted with the application.

More information, including the registration form, is available here.

Full programme.

Friday, 29 August 2025 UP / Orientation Days 2025

Before the start of the new academic year, UP will host Orientation Days on 29 and 30 September. The event is designed for degree-seeking international students as well as exchange students joining UP from partner institutions. Orientation Days offer a chance to meet fellow international students, discover the new academic and social environment, and connect with the people who will shape their study experience.

The welcome gathering at Koper’s Taverna will feature addresses by Vice-Rector Prof. Michael Mrissa, President of the UP Student Council Lana Erjavec, President of ESN Primorska Emilija Toth and a representative of the Municipality of Koper. Across the two days, students will receive practical information about studying and extracurricular opportunities at UP, take part in a basic Slovenian language course, and explore some of Koper’s key sites. The programme will also include support and guidance from student tutors and ESN Primorska representatives.

Thursday, 28 August 2025 UP FAMNIT Hosted the Summer GAP Days 2025

Between August 25 and 29, UP FAMNIT hosted the Summer GAP Days 2025.

The event brought together 31 participants from eight countries – in addition to the host country Slovenia, attendees came from Croatia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, Romania, Hungary, and India.

A special session at the GAP Days recognized Prof. Leonard Soicher's research contributions.

GAP ("Groups, Algorithms, and Programming") is a computer system designed for research in discrete algebra and, more broadly, discrete mathematics. The GAP Days event brings together developers and experienced users who actively contribute to the ongoing development of the system while deepening their understanding of its functionalities and future directions.

The program included workshops on the basics of using GAP and on the Digraphs package, as well as presentations of new packages and recent developments. The core of the event focused on collaborative development work, with an emphasis on improving the system itself and its extensions. Presentations played a supporting and complementary role, while the main focus was on hands-on collaboration and the exchange of technical knowledge.

The University of Primorska organized the Summer GAP Days 2025 in collaboration with the University of Ljubljana.

Friday, 22 August 2025 FAMNIT hosted an International Workshop on Graph Theory

From 18 to 22 August 2025, the Departments of Mathematics at UP FAMNIT and UP IAM, in collaboration with the Slovenian Discrete and Applied Mathematics Society (SDAMS), organized the Koper–Leipzig Workshop on Graph Theory. The event, open to participants by invitation only, brought together renowned local and international researchers as well as early-career scientists working in graph theory, with the aim of strengthening international collaboration and advancing joint research in the fields of structural, algorithmic, and extremal graph theory.

The workshop hosted 20 researchers and students from eight institutions:
UP, FIŠ Novo mesto, Leipzig University (Germany), KAIST (Korea), Institute for Basic Science (Korea), Czech Technical University in Prague (Czech Republic), University of Warwick (United Kingdom), and University of Waterloo (Canada).

The program included four survey lectures on selected topics in structural and extremal graph theory, while most of the time was dedicated to collaborative research. At the start of the workshop, participants presented open research problems and were then divided into four working groups, each focusing on different challenges within graph theory. Regular daily meetings provided opportunities to present progress, exchange ideas, and discuss new conjectures and unresolved questions.

Prof. Martin Milanič, a member of the Organizing committee, highlighted the success of the event: “We are very pleased that distinguished researchers from abroad accepted our invitation, and also our students gained a lot through establishing new contacts and working with them." Assist. Prof. Sebastian Wiederrecht (KAIST, Korea) added: "The workshop was highly successful in both bringing together a diverse group of excellent researchers and in creating an inspiring environment. Another opportunity to gather at the University of Primorska is eagerly anticipated by everyone."

The Koper–Leipzig Workshop once again demonstrated that international collaboration is essential for advancing mathematics and that joint research fosters the creation of new ideas, knowledge, and opportunities.

Tuesday, 19 August 2025 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation of Edit Földvári-Nagy

We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Phenotyping Scotch pine wood with near-infrared spectroscopy (Fenotipizacija lesa škotske borovnice s pomočjo bližnje-infrardeče spektroskopije) of the student Edit Földvári-Nagy enrolled in the doctoral study programme Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments (in English).

The presentation will take place on Wednesday, 27 August 2025 at 9.00 at InnoRenew CoE in the room Pseudotsuga (Livade 6A, 6310 Izola) and via MSTeams:

https://teams.microsoft.com/v2/

You are kindly invited!

Thursday, 14 August 2025 ŠtartUP – a sporty and social start to the academic year 25/26 for all UP students

The University of Primorska invites all its students – all levels and years of study – to the ŠtartUP – sport and social event, which marks the beginning of the new academic year.

• Saturday, October 4, 2025

• 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

• Žusterna Seaside Park, Koper

The event offers an opportunity for learning, networking and socializing. More than 50 local associations, institutions, organizations and companies will present themselves and offer entertaining and interactive activities at their stands.

When you register on the day of the event, you will receive a stamp collection card. By successfully completing activities at the stands, you will collect stamps – and for the number of stamps you collect, you will receive a practical promotional gift.

The location is perfect for relaxing in the sun, so bring a picnic blanket or beach towel. Lunch and coffee will be provided for registered participants.

The list of participating organizations is constantly updated on the official subpage of the event > HERE

REGISTRATION for UP students: https://forms.office.com/e/HqUFrEePnV

_______

ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT

When you arrive, please go to the registration desk where you will scan your QR code. After filling out a short digital form, you will receive:

• a temporary ŠtartUP / OpenUP tattoo (this is your accreditation for the event).
• All UP students will receive an OpenUP T-shirt (*The T-shirts can also be picked up later at your faculty).
• a card to collect stamps with the logos of all exhibitors.

_______

SUSTAINABLE EVENT

As we support sustainability in our organisation, we ask you to bring the following:

- a water bottle (flask or water bottle) for hydration and

- a container for lunch (you can also use it to take food home if there is any leftover).

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SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow the event on social media using the hashtag #ŠtartUP2025.

Connect with us, share your impressions, and tag us in your posts!

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

TikTok 

Tuesday, 12 August 2025 Assist. Prof. Tilen Genov joins rare whale research in St Vincent and the Grenadines

Assist. Prof. Tilen Genov from UP FAMNIT’s Department of Biodiversity is currently in St Vincent and the Grenadines, taking part in an international research expedition focused on whales and dolphins—most notably the elusive dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima), one of the least understood whale species globally.

The expedition, led by Assoc. Prof. Jeremy Kiszka from the Florida International University, brings together researchers aiming to better understand the occurrence, abundance, social structure, ecology, and vocal behaviour of dwarf sperm whales. Data is also being collected on a variety of other species, including spinner dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, Fraser’s dolphins, and sperm whales.

Assist. Prof. Genov plays a key supporting role in the project, with primary responsibilities including operating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) for aerial observations and contributing to the study of social structure in dwarf sperm whales. He also assists with general fieldwork, contributing to a multidisciplinary team effort. The researchers are using drones, hydrophones, and photo-identification techniques to study these rarely seen marine mammals.

This research not only seeks to advance scientific knowledge but also to support future conservation efforts by providing much-needed baseline data on a species still shrouded in mystery.

We look forward to new findings from the research team that will continue to uncover the secrets of these deep-diving ocean dwellers. 

Friday, 8 August 2025 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation of Amina Selmanović

We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Chemo-Enzymatic Functionalization of Wood Extractives for Applications in Wood Protection of the student Amina Selmanović, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments (in English).

The presentation will take place on Thursday, 28 August 2025 at 13.00 via MicrosoftTeams on link:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YjhjYTZlOTMtYTRhZS00M2RlLTk0ZjctNjJlOTJiODhhYzlj%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22d417466c-382a-4a6e-9027-42d919759187%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2262fee227-218a-448e-b9e8-b30eafdcff55%22%7d

You are kindly invited!

Friday, 1 August 2025 UP projects featured at the citizen science exhibition

On Thursday, July 31, 2025, the exhibition "Discover, Participate, Explore – Citizen Science in Slovenia" opened on Krakovski nasip in Ljubljana and will be on display until August 31, 2025.  Guided tours will also be available on August 7 and 21.

The interactive outdoor exhibition presents the best examples of slovene citizen science and, with 30 projects on 22 posters, takes visitors through current research projects in which all residents can participate – not just scientists.

Citizen science is a form of scientific research in which anyone can participate as a non-professional researcher, regardless of age, education, or professional knowledge. The only important thing is that they are driven by curiosity and a desire to contribute to scientific research. Citizen science enables people to actively participate in scientific research at various stages of the research process: from planning research to observing phenomena, collecting data, analyzing results, communicating discoveries to the world, etc. This makes science more inclusive and open to the public.

Among the projects presented, there are five projects in which the UP is participating:  

• Searching for alien flatworms in Slovenia
• STEP CHANGE – Srna
• Development of wood composites with higher impact noise protection to improve quality of life
• Servite monastery – old maternity hospital in Koper
• Protection of bronze monuments in a changing environment
• Looking for Cowslips

How can I participate?

Searching for alien flatworms in Slovenia

If you have encountered flatworms from the turbellaria group while gardening or engaging in other activities, please do not touch them (you can lift them with sticks), record your observation (take a photo and, if possible, catch it), and report your find to:  ploskicrvi@upr.si,, via the Facebook group “Tujerodni ploski črvi v Sloveniji”,the form > HERE, or by landline (05 663 58 07; on weekdays).

More

STEP CHANGE ‒ Srna

The SRNA app helps recording the presence of selected wild mammal and bird species in Slovenia. In addition, the app includes a visual quiz to test mammal identification skills, a field guide to help with the recognition of animal species. It also enables communication with researchers. You can participate by downloading the app and starting to enter your animal sightings whenever you encounter them in nature, whether during a challenging climb or a walk in the woods!

More

Development of wood composites with higher impact noise protection to improve quality of life

Citizen researchers took part in a listening test in which they were exposed to impact noise and vibrations. Initial findings show that people can actually perceive loud impact sounds in objects as vibrations, which also makes these sounds more annoying. Based on these findings, it will be possible to improve the acoustic comfort of the living environment. You can participate by signing up for the test and sharing your impressions.

More

Servite monastery – old maternity hospital in Koper

Today’s inhabitants of the Istrian-Karstic region know the Servite Monastery in Koper as the old maternity and pediatric hospital (between 1946 and 1997). People linked to the building - former employees, women in labour, those born there - can record their memories of the building in a memory book. First in a paper one, since 2024 also in an online one.

More

Protection of bronze monuments in a changing environment

Bronze monuments develop different patinas depending on the substances used, rainwater and other environmental factors. To preserve these monuments for future generations, it is crucial to understand the processes of material decomposition. By collecting photographs from citizen researchers, scientists and restorers can better understand the wear of bronze and decide on the most appropriate method to preserve and protect cultural heritage. Thus, you can upload a photo on a dedicated webpage.

More

Looking for Cowslips

Did you know that cowslips have two types of flowers and can only reproduce if pollen from one type of flower is transferred to the pistil of another? In nature, the ratio of the two flowers is supposed to be approximately the same, but a European study conducted in collaboration with citizen scientists has shown that this balance is disrupted in some areas, which may pose a local threat to the species. 

Take photos of cowslips in nature and share them at: https://nurmenukk.ee/sl 

More

The exhibition was prepared by the Citizen Science Network, which brings together individuals and institutions that run various projects, organize events, share knowledge, or provide space for research. In 2023, the Central Technical Library of the University of Ljubljana (CTK) launched the website citizenscience.si, which features a selection of the best Slovenian citizen science projects. Today, the network connects more than 60 partners.

Wednesday, 30 July 2025 Important projects at UP acquired between May and mid-summer 2025

In the months from May to July, projects were approved at UP that follow UP's key strategic orientations and support important research areas.

UP FAMNIT and UP IAM have acquired the following projects:

HORIZON-RIA

•  Slovenian AI Factory – SLAIF   (partner, UP lead dr. Marko Tkalčič, UP FAMNIT)

EuroHPC JU announced six newly selected sites to host new AI Factories across Europe, bringing the total number to thirteen. The Slovenian AI Factory (SLAIF), which includes a new EuroHPC AI-optimized supercomputer hosted in Slovenia, is one of the selected proposals. The project will be co-funded by the EuroHPC JU and the Republic of Slovenia (through the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation). AI Factories are dynamic ecosystems charged to promote innovation, collaboration and research in the field of AI. The Slovenian AI Factory (SLAIF) will enhance Slovenia’s AI capabilities by integrating a cutting-edge AI-optimized supercomputer with a dynamic AI ecosystem, supporting industry, research, and public institutions. The supercomputer will replace the current Vega EuroHPC system by 2027, ensuring continued excellence in computing and storage infrastructure for industry and science. It will deliver 10 exaflops (Eflops, 1018 floating-point operations per second) in mixed precision for AI applications and 100 petaflops (PFlops) in double precision for HPC tasks. Designed with sustainability in mind, it will be powered by renewable hydroelectric energy, reducing environmental impact while ensuring that Slovenia remains at the forefront of AI-driven scientific discovery and innovation. Additionally, the supercomputer’s cloud infrastructure will allow companies to integrate AI capabilities seamlessly into their operations, with a second-phase hardware upgrade planned for 2028–2029 to extend its lifespan and maintain technological competitiveness.

MORE

ARIS – postdoc positions open

•  Extension of Erdös-Ko-Rado Theorem to Transitive Permutation Groups  (leader at UP dr. Klavdija Kutnar, UP IAM & UP FAMNIT) CALL
•  High-Dimensional Actions of Classical Groups in Galois Geometry   (leader at UP dr. Michel Lavrauw, UP IAM & UP FAMNIT) CALL

Consortium for Organic Farming of Slovenia – KEKS (partner, led at the University of Primorska by Dr. Dunja Bandelj, UP FAMNIT)

The consortium will operate under the leadership of the University of Maribor (UM) and in collaboration with the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana (UL BF). The project is part of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) and is funded under intervention IRP38: Consortia of knowledge institutions in support of the transition of agriculture towards green, digital, and climate-neutral practices.

Wednesday, 30 July 2025 The SPOZNAJ project exhibition presents Slovenian open science.

Between July 29 and August 18, 2025, the SPOZNAJ project exhibition will be on display at the Mala loža in Koper, presenting open science to the wider public in an accessible and visually appealing way. It shows how open access to scientific content can encourage innovation, strengthen trust in science, and enable more informed social decisions. The exhibition was created as part of the SPOZNAJ project, which connects research organizations throughout Slovenia with the central goal of bringing science closer to people. Through diverse content and examples from the Slovenian research environment, it shows how open science works in practice – both within research institutions and in collaboration with local communities.

The exhibition also features a special presentation of the UP project Pro-Coast (PRO-COAST – A PROactive approach for COmmunities to enAble Societal Transformation), which is being carried out at UP FAMNIT. The aim of the project is to develop an operational framework based on social-ecological systems (SESF) to address complex socio-ecological issues related to the dynamics of coastal ecosystems and biodiversity loss.

The exhibition will move from Koper to Ljubljana, where it will be on display from September 1 to October 1 at Gallusovo nabrežje.

The aim of the SPOZNAJ project, of which UP is a part, is to introduce the principles of open science into scientific research work and to adapt the operations of twenty public research organizations and CTK in accordance with the principles of open science, which has numerous advantages - easier access to research results, greater transparency of research, better cooperation between researchers and institutions, and increased trust in science.

Tuesday, 29 July 2025 Research Visit from Tilburg University

In July, we were also visited by Prof. Dr. Edwin van Dam from Tilburg University in the Netherlands, who stayed with Giusy Monzillo from the Department of Mathematics at UP FAMNIT as part of a research visit.  

"The purpose of my visit was to continue a fruitful collaboration with Giusy Monzillo and Safet Penic, which began one year ago, focusing on imprimitive graphs and their algebras of idempotents. Although it was a short stay, it was quite productive from a research perspective, and I thoroughly enjoyed the place, the food, the climate, and the company of Famnit colleagues. I hope to come back soon, possibly for a longer period," he adds.  

Thursday, 24 July 2025 Research Visit from Utrecht University

Professor Hans Bodlaender from Utrecht University visited Professor Dr. Martin Milanič from July 21 to July 25 and shared some of his experiences with us.

"Martin Milanič was one of the organizers of the conference, where I also gave a lecture. He later invited me to visit Koper the week after the conference. This visit led to a fruitful collaboration on scientific research, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Martin invited me back this summer, and I was very pleased to accept.

We are currently working with a group of five on a question that originated from an earlier paper written by Martin. We have made some progress and have been discussing our findings on the whiteboard, brainstorming together. I found this week to be very productive.

I also want to mention that I truly enjoy my time in Koper; it’s a wonderful city. The good food and great company enhance the experience even more.”

Monday, 21 July 2025 How Does the Invasive Goldfish Affect Native Dragonfly Species?

A new study from the Department of Biodiversity, led by Assoc. Prof. Jure Jugovic in collaboration with Assist. Prof. Martina Lužnik reveals how the presence of the invasive goldfish (Carassius auratus) impacts dragonflies in sub-Mediterranean ponds.

Researchers compared ponds with and without goldfish and found that their presence in karst ponds threatens both the diversity and abundance of damselflies! In addition to reduced species richness and numbers, dragonflies in goldfish-inhabited ponds show changes in body shapes and defensive structures of their nymphs (e.g., longer spines); a higher resistance of large predatory species (e.g., Anax imperator) that can successfully withstand the presence of fish; and a complete absence of some sensitive dragonfly species, such as the willow emerald damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) and the white-legged damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes).

Since ponds in karst areas are crucial habitats for many aquatic organisms, the widespread presence of goldfish, confirmed in as many as 33% of ponds (Lužnik et al. 2022), poses a serious threat to biodiversity. 
These findings highlight the significant ecological consequences of introducing non-native species and the importance of preserving natural, fish-free habitats.

The full article is available in the journal Hydrobiologia: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-025-05926-x

Monday, 21 July 2025 PUŠ call - students investigated modern methods for mitigating the damage caused by wild boars to agricultural land

As part of this year’s PUŠ call (Problem-Based Learning for Students in the Work Environment),students investigated modern methods for mitigating the damage caused by wild boars to agricultural land. The PUŠ public call for the Work Environment from 2024 to 2027 was published by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and is co-financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus.

The purpose of this call is to engage students in project-based activities that help them acquire both general and profession-specific competencies, facilitating their transition to the labour market. This initiative aims to strengthen collaboration, networking, and the transfer of knowledge between the higher education system and the working environment.

Our students participated actively in all phases of the project, ranging from fieldwork and laboratory analyses to developing bioinformatics software pipelines. At Eurofins Environment Testing and Research, the company involved in the project, students conducted various analyses, gained practical work experience, and had hands-on practice in an accredited laboratory. Regular group meetings were held where students discussed their ongoing work and potential challenges. The findings were also presented to the broader scientific and research community at the 14th European Vertebrate Management Conference (EVMC).

Additionally, students showcased their results publicly at the Faculty of Environmental Protection in Velenje and the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Information Technologies.

To highlight their project activities, the students prepared a short video and created a collage of their work.

Friday, 18 July 2025 Launching UNI-SI, Festival of Slovenian Universities

Our university is also part of a new event - UNI-SI, the Festival of Slovenian Universities , which will take place in cooperation with all members of the Rectors' Conference of the Republic of Slovenia on 16 and 17 January 2026  at the Ljubljana Exhibition Centre. This will give us the opportunity to present our university's programmes to students in the context of the rich academic offer of Slovenian academia, while at the same time helping them with guidance in a way that is based on our long experience of advising young people. The format of the festival was developed through close cooperation between staff and the student councils of all the universities, so that we could really bring the needs of closer to young people.

Choosing to study is certainly an important decision - but it can be difficult to find your way through the wide, rich and quality range of Slovenian higher education. Each of the more than 400 study programmes offered by RKRS members is excellent, and it is important that students choose a study programme that meets their needs, wishes and goals. But such a wide range of programmes can be confusing at first glance. That's why we've grouped the undergraduates study programmes in the same way we do in everyday language - so young people can narrow down their choices according to seven areas, which are also usefully labelled with individual colours and shapes with the festival's image, which was created by a design working group from all three public universities (UL, UM and UP). The seven areas (which are also divided into sub-areas) are: Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health, Bioengineering and Arts.

An overview is available on the website https://www.festival-uni.si/, and all universities, fields and study programmes will be regularly updated on the social media networks of the Festival: Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. Contact email: info@festival-uni.si.

The festival features all universities, RKRS members: University of Ljubljana, University of Maribor, University of Primorska, University of Nova Gorica, University of Novo mesto, New University, Alma Mater Europea, EMUNI (Euro-Mediterranean University).

The first edition is organised by the University of Primorska  in cooperation with the University of Nova Gorica.

Tuesday, 15 July 2025 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation of Petra Gabrovšek

We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Razvoj genskih mikrosatelitskih označevalcev za proučevanje populacij laškega smilja (Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don) s Korzike in Istrskega polotoka ter značilnosti mikrobioma (Development of genic microsatellite markers for studying populations of immortelle (Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don) from Corsica and the Istrian peninsula, and characteristics of the microbiome)) of the student Petra Gabrovšek, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Conservation Biology (in Slovene).

The presentation will take place on Tuesday, 5 August 2025 at 9.00 in the classroom LIVADE-FAMNIT3.

Tuesday, 15 July 2025 UNESCO representatives visit UP FAMNIT to explore graduate tracking initiatives

On 15 July 2025, UP FAMNIT welcomed representatives from the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe with special focus on South-East Europe and the Mediterranean basin (based in Venice, Italy). The visit aimed to explore potential collaborations focused on tracking and engaging FAMNIT alumni after graduation.

The UNESCO delegation included Programme Specialist Megumi Watanabe, Associate Project Officer Laura Bortolutti, and Christopher Sundaram, an intern at UNESCO from the Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University.

During the visit, discussions centered around the possibility of conducting a study to follow the academic and professional trajectories of FAMNIT graduates. The initiative would support long-term engagement with alumni and strengthen the network between the faculty and its former students.

Pamela Jere and Blanka Palčič from the University of Primorska presented the UP Alumni Club and its current activities. Sabrina Ostanek, President of the UP FAMNIT Alumni Club and a mathematics alumna, shared her personal journey and experiences leading the club.

The meeting highlighted shared interests in education, community building, and knowledge exchange, laying the groundwork for potential future cooperation between UP FAMNIT and UNESCO.

Monday, 14 July 2025 Visit from the University of Rijeka

Last week, the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies at UP FAMNIT was visited by a delegation of 30 professors, assistants and administrative staff  from the Faculty of Computer Science and Digital Technologies (FIDIT), University of Rijeka. During the visit, we introduced them to the HICUP laboratory and the operations of the faculty and the university.

Monday, 14 July 2025 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation of Martin Senič

We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Cracids (Cracidae) in the Northern Pantanal, Brazil: closing existing knowledge gaps on ecology and biology to support conservation measures of the student Martin Senič, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Conservation Biology (in Slovene).

The presentation will take place on Monday, 21 July 2025 at 15.00 via Zoom on link:

https://upr-si.zoom.us/j/67403976975

You are all kindly invited!

Monday, 14 July 2025 Exhibition of Zois and Puh Awards in Murska Sobota

On July 11, 2025, the Pomurje Academic and Scientific Union (PAZU) and the Institute for Culture, Tourism and Sport Murska Sobota (ZKTŠ) officially opened an exhibition on Zois and Puh Award recipients on Slovenska Street in Murska Sobota. Among them are three individuals from the University of Primorska (UP), who received the highest national awards in the fields of science and innovation in 2024.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Slovenia awarded the Zois Certificate of Recognition last year to Professor Dr. Tomaž Grušovnik  and Professor Dr. Vito Vitrih , while the Zois Award was presented to Professor Dr. Igor Klep.

Thursday, 10 July 2025 A new study from the Department of Biodiversity, co-authored by Živa Fišer and Andrea Pieronia from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy

The researchers examined the current state of foraging in Slovenia and explored how knowledge about useful wild plants is transmitted today. Through interviews with experienced teachers who pass on foraging knowledge, they sought to understand their motives, educational approaches, and their role in preventing harmful practices.

The results show that the foraging community is rapidly expanding, and educational methods are becoming increasingly digital. Knowledge transfer no longer takes place within the family circle but outside of it, with social media representing an important, though sometimes ambiguous, source of information. At the same time, foraging instructors prove to be key actors in raising awareness among their audience about the importance of biodiversity, foraging ethics, and nature conservation in general. The researchers also presented their findings in June at the annual meeting of the Society of Ethnobotany in Prague.

Thursday, 10 July 2025 Postdoc position in Galois Geometry and Group Actions

The Departments of Mathematics of the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (FAMNIT) and Andrej Marušič Institute (IAM) of the University of Primorska are seeking a top early-career researcher for a postdoctoral position in the area of Galois geometry and group actions, in connection with the research grant of Prof. dr. Michel Lavrauw, "High-Dimensional Actions of Classical Groups in Galois Geometry" funded by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency.

This project aims to investigate orbits of subspaces under classical group actions in Galois geometry, focusing on their interaction with algebraic varieties over finite fields. The study of non-standard group actions on Segre and Veronese varieties provides new insights into the structure of tensor decompositions, secant varieties, and geometric invariants relevant to combinatorics and algebraic geometry. A key objective is to examine the orbit structure of subspaces in the ambient space of these varieties, with particular emphasis on the ambient space of the Veronese varieties and their connection to linear systems of quadrics. Understanding these orbits has implications for tensor rank problems and secant varieties, contributing to the broader study of algebraic geometry over finite fields. By developing new and extending the known computational techniques (e.g. using the GAP-package FinInG), the project aims to establish proof-of-concept results that support a deeper theoretical understanding of high-dimensional group actions. The outcomes will advance the knowledge in finite geometry, algebraic varieties, and their structural properties.

Terms and conditions

• The position is for one year.
• Applicants must possess (or expect to obtain shortly) a PhD in Mathematics or a related area, and show evidence of excellence in algebra, finite geometry, or algebraic geometry. Candidates who completed their PhD recently or will do so by next September are encouraged to apply.
• Relevant expertise in projective geometry, group theory, algebraic geometry over finite fields, or computational algebra (e.g. GAP) is desirable.
• The postdoctoral researcher will have access to funding for travel, conferences, and visitors.

The compensation is set according to the academic title by Slovenian law governing higher education and is expected to be about 1800 - 1900 EUR / month after tax.

Deadline and application process

Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, beginning September 2025. The starting date is flexible, but preferably no later than October 2026.

To apply, please send the following documents in electronic form to razpisi.famnitiam@ upr.si with the subject line "University of Primorska Postdoc 2025 - Michel Lavrauw" in the Subject field:

• Curriculum Vitae,
• Publication List,
• Research Statement,
• Copies of at most three recent papers or preprints,
• Names and e-mail addresses of two or three persons who can be contacted for reference (and who have agreed to be contacted).

Informal inquiries may be directed by email to Michel Lavrauw (michel.lavrauw@upr.si).

Thursday, 10 July 2025 Postdoc position in Permutation groups and graph symmetries

The Departments of Mathematics of the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT) and Andrej Marušič Institute (UP IAM) of the University of Primorska are seeking a top early-career researcher for a postdoctoral position in the area of algebraic graph theory and permutation groups, in connection with the research grant of Prof. dr. Klavdija Kutnar, "Extensions of Erdos-Ko-Rado theorem to transitive permutation groups" funded by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency.

The project aims to advance the theory of intersecting families in transitive permutation groups, with emphasis on intersection densities and the Erdős-Ko-Rado (EKR) property, and their interplay with symmetries in vertex-transitive graphs. Research directions include algebraic and combinatorial study of transitive permutation groups, development of computational tools (GAP/MAGMA) for analyzing derangement graphs, and applying these concepts to longstanding problems in algebraic graph theory.

We seek candidates with a strong background in algebraic combinatorics, finite group theory, or graph theory. Programming experience (e.g., GAP, MAGMA) is desirable.

Terms and conditions:

- The position is for 18 months.

- Applicants must possess (or expect to obtain shortly) a PhD in Mathematics or a related area, and show evidence of excellence in algebra, combinatorics, or algebraic graph theory.

- Relevant expertise in algebraic graph theory, permutation groups or computational algebra (e.g. GAP or MAGMA) is desirable.

- The postdoctoral researcher will have access to funding for travel, conferences, and visitors.

The compensation is set according to the academic title by Slovenian law governing higher education and is expected to be 1800 - 1900 EUR / month after tax.

Deadline and application process

• Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, beginning August 2025. The starting date is flexible between October 2025 and October 2026.

To apply, please send the following documents in electronic form to razpisi.famnitiam@upr.si with the subject line "University of Primorska Postdoc 2025 – Klavdija Kutnar" in the Subject field:

• Curriculum Vitae,
• Publication List,
• Research Statement,
• Copies of at most three recent papers or preprints,
• Names and e-mail addresses of two or three persons who can be contacted for reference (and who have agreed to be contacted).

Informal inquiries may be directed by email to Klavdija Kutnar (klavdija.kutnar@upr.si).

Friday, 4 July 2025 Be part of ŠtartUP - a sports & social event for all UP students at the start of the academic year 2025/26

The first Saturday of October once again brings the opportunity for a networking event designed to connect students with companies from the Coastal-Karst region, as well as representatives from sports and cultural associations, humanitarian and other non-governmental organizations. This sports-social event, which attracted  early 500 participants last year, will be taking place for the fifth time and offers a fantastic opportunity to present your activities to students from the University of Primorska through various engaging formats. Join us on October 4th, 2025, at Žusterna Seaside Park from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

We invite you to prepare a short sports, cultural, artistic or other activity and present yourself to students and the wider public at your designated spot. Once again, businesses will have access to the EXPO corner, where you can network with students, present your products and services, and make a strong first impression on potential new recruits and the general public.

Each participating organization will receive a small stamp, which students collect on their event cards by completing activities. These cards can then be entered into a prize draw, where students are symbolically rewarded for their engagement. Last year, over  55 exhibitors showcased their work, many of whom gained new members and volunteers as a result of the event.

If you’re unable or prefer not to participate actively with a presentation, you're still welcome to support the event by contributing products or services as gifts for the prize draw (get in touch at: szk@upr.si).

APPLICATIONS are open until September 15 >  via the ONLINE FORM.

Once we receive your application, we’ll get in touch to discuss the best way for you to be included and showcased in the event. To confirm your participation, we kindly ask for a minimum donation of €10 to the humanitarian association (free for humanitarian organizations). Please note: donations are non-refundable in case of absence or weather-related cancellation.

Bank details for donation:

Palčica Pomagalčica in dobrodelni škratki
IBAN: SI56 0400 1004 7069 045
Purpose: ŠtartUP for “Catch Your Dreams”

 Please send your payment confirmation to: szk@upr.si

Apply now or contact us to find the best way for your organization to participate. More info: szk@upr.si

Highlights of ŠtartUP 2024:

• https://youtu.be/BaLqjXQEMxM
• FB album 

Thursday, 3 July 2025 International cooperations

PhD student Yuki Shimizu, who was staying as part of the Erasmus exchange program with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Matjaž Kljun and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Klen Čopič Pucihar from the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies at UP FAMNIT summarised his research field and collaboration with the Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory at the University of Primorska in a brief statement. 

“I am Yuki, and I come from Japan. I study at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology. My research topic is human-computer interaction, with a particular focus on how to enhance the passenger experience inside autonomous vehicles. Currently, I am investigating what kind of system can be implemented to reduce the sense of movement for passengers during driving. Finally, I want to combine two approaches from the HICUP lab and Japan to achieve this goal.” 

Prof. Shlomo Berkovsky from Macquarie University in Australia visited Marko Tkalčič at the end of May. He is an expert in user modelling systems and human-computer interaction. His recent work has focused on applying artificial intelligence methods to personalised healthcare. 

On Monday, May 26, 2025, he gave a lecture titled "Personality Sensing: Detection of Personality Traits Using Physiological Responses to Image and Video Stimuli" as part of the Monday RIN Seminar. During his visit, he was introduced to the research activities of the HICUP Laboratory. 

Towards the end of May, Shareshian John from the University of Washington in St. Louis was also a guest at Professor Russ Woodroofe’s.

Wednesday, 2 July 2025 Prof. Elena Bužan, leading first author of the new publication in the prestigious journal Molecular Ecology

A new publication in the prestigious journal Molecular Ecology discusses the need for the research community in biodiversity genomics to standardize practices for assessing genetic variability at the whole-genome level using various genetic methods. The European consortium ERGA (European Reference Genome Atlas) emphasizes that this standardization is essential for effectively integrating genomic insights into conservation efforts and for addressing the needs of diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, conservation practitioners, and local communities.

The article, which addresses research practices in the field of genetic variability—one of the levels of biodiversity—emphasizes the need to align the interpretation of genetic data among researchers and stakeholders to ensure knowledge-based management and conservation of populations, species, and ecosystems.

A key part of the main message of the article—that the scientific community, if it wants to harness the potential of genomics for biodiversity conservation fully, must develop and adopt harmonized standards designed with consideration of stakeholder needs—was also conveyed by leading first author Prof. Elena Bužan from the Molecular Ecology Group at the Department of Biodiversity, UP FAMNIT

The authors call for a collaborative, inclusive, and practical approach to integrating genomic tools into nature conservation policies and practices worldwide, highlighting the ongoing efforts of the ERGA community to achieve this goal.

The publication was enabled by funding through the Biodiversity Genomics Europe project, which aims to promote the use of genomics in nature conservation and policymaking.The University of Primorska is a partner institution in the project.

Full article > here

Tuesday, 1 July 2025 Public tender for an Assistant with a PhD in biological, bioinformatic, or natural sciences

The University of Primorska invites all interested candidates to apply for the position of  D019003 ASSISTANT – with PhD in biological, bioinformatic, or natural sciences. The employment relationship will be concluded for a full-time working schedule of 40 hours per week (100%), for a fixed period of 12 months, with a tree-month trial period. The start of work will be agreed upon.

Conditions for Employment:

• PhD degree (previous) or a PhD in biological/ecological, bioinformatics, or natural sciences (biochemical/chemical) (or related fields),
• active knowledge of a global (English) language.

Required Additional Functional Skills:

• experience with fieldwork and laboratory work,
• computer skills,
• skills in handling audiovisual equipment,
• teamwork ability,
• organizational skills and proactiveness,
• advisory skills,
• independence,
• communication skills,
• practical skills.

Other Desired Knowledge:

• meeting the criteria for academic promotion,
• experience and enthusiasm for project, research, and teaching work.

General Description of Duties and Tasks:

• participation in educational and scientific-research work and performing other tasks defined in the acts of the University of Primorska and its members,
• leading various types of exercises or training students in the subject according to the instructions of the course leader, participating in the preparation and implementation of student knowledge assessments and other teaching activities,
• preparing teaching materials, equipment, and tools for conducting exercises,
• providing consultations to students and mentoring and/or co-mentoring students according to the acts of the University of Primorska and its members,
• involvement in scientific-research work, transferring scientific research results into the study process, and cooperating in activities related to teaching and scientific-research work in the field of the profession,
• performing other professional and developmental work that fulfills the university's mission and enhances the reputation of the university, its members, and the profession,
• cooperating in the work of bodies, working groups, and committees of the member or the university,
• performing other tasks as assigned by superiors.

Detailed Description of Tasks to be Performed by the Public Servant:

• participating in domestic and international research projects and programs as well as demanding tasks,
• establishing and maintaining professional contacts with users of research work and with domestic and foreign scientific institutions,
• participating in scientific and professional consultations with contributions from the research field,
• cooperating in and leading professional bodies and occasional joint projects and tasks as agreed with the management,
• performing other tasks as assigned by management and superiors,
• knowledge in the field of biological/ecological, bioinformatics, or natural sciences (biochemical/chemical),
• experience working with students,
• attending conferences and participating in project implementation.

Candidates can send written offers a CV and proof of meeting the conditions to the e-mail address: razpisi@famnit.upr.si

Application deadline: 30. 7. 2025

Tuesday, 1 July 2025 ASSISTANT – ASSISTANT in biological, bioinformatic, or natural sciences

UP Member: UP FAMNIT

The University of Primorska invites all interested candidates to apply for the position of  D019005 ASSISTANT – ASSISTANT in biological, bioinformatic, or natural sciences. The employment relationship will be concluded for a full-time working schedule of 40 hours per week (100%), for a fixed period of 12 months, with a tree-month trial period. The start of work will be agreed upon.

Job requirements:

• specialization in higher education (previous) or university education (previous) or master's degree in the field of biological/ecological, bioinformatic or natural (biochemical/chemical) sciences (and related),
• active knowledge of a foreign language.

Required additional skills:

• experience in field and laboratory work,
• computer skills,
• skills in handling audiovisual equipment,
• teamwork skills,
• organizational skills,
• communication skills,
• practical skills.

Additional desired skills:

• eligibility for the title of Higher education associate – asistant or fulfillment of the conditions for election to this title,
• experience and enthusiasm for project and pedagogical work.

​General description of work and tasks:

• collaboration in the impementation of educational, scientific-research and artistic activities, and performance of other tasks as specified in the acts of the University of Primorska and its members,
• leading various forms of practical exercises or student training for the course as instructed by the course instructor, collaborating with the instructor in preparing and conducting student assessments and other pedagogical activities,
• prepare teaching materials, equipment, and aids for practical exercises,
• conducting student consultations and mentoring or co-mentoring students in accordance with the acts of the University of Primorska and its members,
• participate in field and laboratory work,
• contributing to scientific-research field, disseminating research findings into the teaching process, and collaborating in pedagogical and scientific-research activities related to the field of expertise,
• perform other professional and developmental work that contributes to the university's mission and enhances its reputation, as well as the reputation of its faculties and the field of expertise,
• participate in the work of authorities, working groups, and commissions of the faculty or university,
• performing other related work as instructed by superior worker.

Detailed description of dasks and responsibilities:

• contribute to the execution of domestic and international research projects and programs and demanding tasks,
• establish and maintain professional contacts with research users and domestic and foreign scientific institutions,
• participate in scientific and professional consultations with contributions from the research field,
• collaborate in and lead expert authorities and occasional joint projects and tasks as agreed with management,
• carry out other tasks as assigned by management and superiors,
• knowledge in the field of biological/ecological, bioinformatic, or natural science (biochemical/chemical) disciplines,
• experience in working with students,
• actively participate in conferences and contribute to project implementation.

Candidates can send written offers a CV and proof of meeting the conditions to the e-mail address: razpisi@famnit.upr.si

Application deadline: 30. 7. 2025

Monday, 30 June 2025 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation of Gregory Caldwell Robson

We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Automorphisms of bicoset digraphs and an alternative BCI problem of the student Gregory Caldwell Robson, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Mathematical Sciences (in English).

The presentation will take place on Monday, 7 July 2025 at 13.00 in the classroom FAMNIT-MP1.

Thursday, 26 June 2025 Conversations with Alumni UP FAMNIT: Two Journeys from FAMNIT

As part of the Università di Primorska Alumni Club, we organised an event where participants had the chance to discuss with experts from our faculty and members of the alumni network.

At the alumni gathering, two former students, Karolina Trajkovska and Arsen Matej Golubvikj, shared their academic journeys at UP FAMNIT — from starting their undergraduate studies in Computer Science to completing their Master’s degrees. They discussed how they chose topics for their Bachelor’s and Master’s theses, and how they approached and conducted their research projects.  

***

European Researchers' Night is a pan-European event promoted by the European Union to bring science closer to society and to increase young people's interest in science. European Researchers' Night takes place simultaneously in 23 countries and more than 400 cities across Europe and beyond.

The ooScience! project - Fake news and conspiracy theories? Let's Empower (ourselves for) Science!! is funded under the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions through HORIZON-MSCA-2023-CITIZENS-01-01: European Researchers' Night and Researchers in Schools 2024 - 2025. The project is funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European 

Thursday, 26 June 2025 Celebration of Paul Terwilliger's 70th Birthday

Between June 23 and 28, a conference was held in Kranjska Gora to celebrate the 70th birthday of Paul Terwilliger. The main theme of the conference focused on the mathematical fields that Paul has worked on throughout his career, all of which are related to the q-Onsager algebra.

The event was attended by 66 participants from 16 countries, including Slovenia, the Philippines, Canada, the USA, Brazil, China, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Sweden, Belgium, Croatia, and France. A total of 42 speakers presented talks during the conference.

The book of abstracts can be accessed HERE.

The conference was organized by UP FAMNIT, UP IAM, the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics (IMFM), and the Slovenian Society for Discrete and Applied Mathematics (SDAMS).

Tuesday, 24 June 2025 MayaSat 1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9: Among the samples is also the ARCHI-SKIN bioinspired fungal biofilm, developed at InnoRenew CoE

MayaSat 1 is hitching a ride inside the Mission Possible capsule and is carrying a variety of unflown biosamples to orbit — and back — for retrieval and research. Among the samples is also the fungal biofilm ARCHI-SKIN, developed at the InnoRenew CoE institute, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Primorska.  

As the first and only clients to undertake such a study, this is the first of its kind to investigate the effects of space on engineered living materials.

More about the project: https://archiskinproject.eu/

The launch site: Vandenberg Space Force Base, California

Monday, 23 June 2025 Mathematical Modeling of Bioreactor Processes: Results from the Collaboration with Novartis

At the Mathematical Research Seminar, second-cycle students from UP FAMNIT and UL FMF will present the outcomes of the ImmBIO project, which was conducted from January 10 to June 9, 2025, in collaboration with Novartis. The project focused on the development of mathematical models for bioreactors and was carried out under the public call Problem-Based Learning for Students in the Workplace: Economy, Non-Economy, and Non-Profit Sectors in the Local/Regional Environment 2024–2027.

Under the guidance of academic and industry mentors, the students were organized into three groups and explored several key topics through regular meetings, including:

• CFD modeling of mixing processes in bioreactors, involving the evaluation of turbulent models such as k-ε and LES, and the use of tracer particles to assess medium homogenization.

• Mechanistic modeling of bioreactors, developing one-dimensional models based on ordinary differential equations, as well as two-dimensional models using partial differential equations, solved via numerical methods.

• Modeling of the Single-Pass Tangential Flow Filtration (SPTFF) process to analyze and optimize process parameters.

When? 23.6.2025, 15.00

Wednesday, 18 June 2025 Dr. Peter Glasnović receives the Prometheus of Science Award

Every year, the Slovenian Science Foundation awards the Prometheus of Science Award for Excellence in Science Communication, which is the highest and only Slovenian award for those who excel in communicating science to different audiences, especially the general public. At this year's award ceremony, which took place on 17 June 2025 at SAZU, there were three recipients from UP - two individuals and a group of three partners for the implementation of a joint project.

The awards were presented to: Assist. Prof. Peter Glasnović (UP FAMNIT), Assist. Prof. Neža Čebron Lipovec (UP FHŠ), and the Research and Development Unit of Early Childhood Education of UP PEF, in which UP PEF, the Municipality of Koper and the Koper Kindergarten joined forces.

Prof. Dr. Andrej Brodnik (UP FAMNIT) received the Prometheus of Science award for exemplary donation.

Assist. Prof. Peter Glasnović (UP FAMNIT) is an employee of the Department of Biodiversity, UP FAMNIT. During his long career at the university, he has made an outstanding contribution to the development of scientific, pedagogical and research work in the field of botany both in Slovenia and internationally, and has communicated his research achievements to the general public through invited lectures, guest appearances on television programmes and articles in newspapers and magazines. His media appearances have contributed significantly to the dissemination of knowledge about the plant world, and his articles on the utility of plants are particularly widely read and viewed. Dr Glasnović's tireless efforts to establish and develop the UP Herbarium date back to 2008, when he joined the University. He has focused his efforts on the collection, preparation and curation of herbarium specimens. His dedication to his work is an excellent example of a research commitment that goes beyond work commitments and time. He has thus increased the collection to almost 6 000 plant and algae specimens. In January 2024, thanks to Dr Glasnović's efforts, the UP Herbarium was included in the Index Herbariorum, an international register of more than 3,500 herbarium collections, and the UP Herbarium, with the code KP, is also the first indexed herbarium outside Ljubljana, joining the other four indexed herbaria in Slovenia. Geographically, the collection focuses on the western part of the Balkan Peninsula and the south-eastern Alps, with a particular emphasis on the collection and preservation of material from Istria, the collection represents both a wealth of local content and international successes.

We warmly congratulate everyone and wish them every success in the future.

Wednesday, 18 June 2025 15th Graduation Ceremony

On Tuesday and Wednesday, June 17 and 18, 2025, the 15th Graduation Ceremony of UP FAMNIT took place in the hall of Sv. Frančišek Asiški in Koper.

Today, on the verge of our faculty's 20th anniversary, studies and research at FAMNIT are even more interdisciplinary. The result of this interconnection, combined with high-quality work, is not only scientific excellence but also a broad academic offering. FAMNIT offers 7 undergraduate, 8 master's, and 6 doctoral study programmes, more than half of which are also implemented in English. Consequently, the number of enrolled students and graduates has increased. There were a record-breaking 143 graduates in the past year, which is why, for the first time, the graduation ceremony was held over two days.

The 15th generation of graduates was first addressed by the Rector of the University of Primorska, Prof. Dr. Klavdija Kutnar, and the Dean of UP FAMNIT, Prof. Dr. Ademir Hujdurović.

Congratulations on the completion of studies were also extended by two alumni of our faculty. On Tuesday, graduates were addressed by Andreja Grobiša, who completed the Mediterranean Agriculture study programme and currently serves as the Secretary General of the Slovenian Rural Youth Association, where she actively contributes to the development and networking of young people in rural areas. On Wednesday, Gašper Moderc addressed the graduates. He completed both the undergraduate and master's programmes in Computer Science and is now a game developer at Outfit7.

Graduates also shared their memories and experiences: on Tuesday, Tilen Gimpelj (BSc in Bioinformatics) and Aleksa Đorđević (MSc in Mathematical Sciences); on Wednesday, Maša Možina (BSc in Conservation Biology) and Matija Zagoranski (MSc in Psychology and Biopsychology).

The musical programme was provided by students from the Music School Koper: Anna Sofia Dodič on harp, Maša Kogovšek on guitar, and Vita Novak on accordion.

This year as well, the Faculty awarded commendations to students who achieved outstanding results in their studies or research, or who made significant contributions to the development of extracurricular activities. The recipients of commendations for academic/research achievements are:

• Erazem Derenčin (undergraduate study programme Mediterranean Agriculture),
• Špela Možgan Nose (undergraduate study programme in Biopsychology),
• Anja Popović (undergraduate study programme in Computer Science),
• Diar Gashi (master's study programme in Mathematical Sciences),
• Laura Ogrin (master's study programme in Mathematical Sciences),
• Maša Možina (master's study programme in Nature Conservation),
• Izabela Potočnik (master's study programme in Psychology),
• Nina Lončarević (doctoral study programme in Conservation Biology).

We sincerely congratulate all graduates and award recipients, and we wish them great success in their further academic, research, and professional careers.

Diplomantom in prejemnikom pohval iskreno čestitamo in jim želimo veliko uspehov na njihovi nadaljnji študijski, raziskovalni in karierni poti.

Monday, 16 June 2025 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation - Tea Knapič

We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Ecology and Distribution of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Slovenia: Seasonal Dynamics,

Habitat Modelling, and Potential for Usutu Virus Circulation of the student Tea Knapič, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Conservation Biology.

The presentation will take place on Tuesday, 24 June 2025 at 9.00 in the classroom FAMNIT-MP3 and via Microsoft Teams on link:

https://teams.live.com/meet/9326264359569?p=zMEe8w7wg1IRrzHWLi

You are warmly invited!

Friday, 13 June 2025 Škofja Loka Gymnasium participates in Science Day at UP FAMNIT

Today, UP FAMNIT hosted 23 students and 2 teachers from Škofja Loka Gymnasium as part of the Science Day, which our faculty organizes for high school students. The aim of the visit was to spark interest in scientific research through interactive and practical experiences.

The students participated in two workshops held at the Livade 1.0 facility in Izola. The first, led by Assist. Prof. Alenka Baruca Arbeiter, focused on aromatic and medicinal plants, with students learning about plant properties and methods for extracting essential oils. The second workshop, led by Petra Gabrovšek, explored the importance of pollinators for food production and biodiversity. Through practical lab work, students examined pollen under the microscope and conducted basic experiments.

The day concluded with a guided visit to the Piran Aquarium, where students observed marine species typical of the Adriatic Sea. The diverse programme offered students a meaningful glimpse into the natural sciences and environmental research.

We were pleased to host such an enthusiastic group and hope the experience inspired further interest in science.

Friday, 13 June 2025 2nd Balkan Mathematics Conference takes place in Thessaloniki, Greece

The Second Balkan Mathematics Conference (BMC II), orgazined by the European Mathematical Society (EMS), marks another important milestone in advancing regional mathematical collaboration and excellence. Held from 12 to 14 June 2025 at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, the event brought together leading mathematicians and promising early-career researchers from across the Balkan region and beyond.

Prof. Dr. Klavdija Kutnar, Rector of UP, contributes to the conference as a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee, having previously participated as an invited speaker in the first Balkan Mathematics Conference in Pitești, Romania (2023).

BMC II also features two notable contributions from UP researchers. Prof. Dr. Štefko Miklavič, Vice Rector for Research and Development at UP, is an invited speaker, presenting his latest research with the »Terwilliger algebra of a graph« talk. Related to this topic, UP (in collaboration with SDAMS and IMFM), will host the international conference TerwilligerFest – Combinatorics around the q-Onsager Algebra, which will take place from 23 to 28 June 2025 in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. More information about the event is available on the official conference website.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Safet Penjić was recognized as an early career speaker at BMC II, contributing with his talk titled »Combinatorial structure and algebraic characterizations of graphs embedded in a commutative association schemes«.

BMC II successfully brings together world experts and junior participants, learning about new research trends, and increasing mathematical collaborations in the Balkan area.

Thursday, 12 June 2025 Conversations with Alumni UP FAMNIT: From First Lines of Code to a Master’s Thesis: Two Journeys from FAMNIT

As part of the Alumni Club of the University of Primorska, we are organizing an event where participants will have the opportunity to discuss with experts from our faculty and members of the alumni club.

The discussion will take place in a relaxed environment, where informal socialising over refreshments will also be possible. Don't miss the opportunity to network and make contacts.

You are kindly invited!

Title:
From First Lines of Code to a Master’s Thesis: Two Journeys from FAMNIT

Lecturers:
Assoc. Prof. Matjaž Kljun
Milan Milivojčević (Master’s degree in Computer Science)
Karolina Trajkovska (Master’s degree in Computer Science)
Arsen Matej Golubvikj (Master's degree in Data Science)

When? 26 June 2025, at 10:00 AM

Where? Meeting room at UP FAMNIT (Glagoljaška 8, Koper, ground floor)

Language? English

Content:
Join us for an alumni event where two former students, Karolina Trajkovska and Arsen Matej Golubvikj, will share their academic journeys at UP FAMNIT — from the beginning of their undergraduate studies in Computer Science to the completion of their Master’s degrees. They will talk about how they chose the topics for their Bachelor’s and Master’s theses, and how they approached and carried out their research projects. This event is a great opportunity for anyone interested in the academic path in computer science, as well as for reconnecting with the UP FAMNIT alumni community.

European Researchers' Night is a pan-European event promoted by the European Union to bring science closer to society and to increase young people's interest in science. European Researchers' Night takes place simultaneously in 23 countries and more than 400 cities across Europe and beyond.

The ooScience! project - Fake news and conspiracy theories? Let's Empower (ourselves for) Science!! is funded under the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions through HORIZON-MSCA-2023-CITIZENS-01-01: European Researchers' Night and Researchers in Schools 2024 - 2025. The project is funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the European Research Executive Agency can be held responsible for them.

Wednesday, 11 June 2025 Students at the Archaeological Park of Simonov Zaliv!

In collaboration with the Science Centre of the University of Primorska and Faculty of Humanities (FHŠ) Agronomy students actively participated in field exercises to tidy up the surroundings of the archaeological park at Simonov Zaliv, situated on the site of an ancient Roman seaside villa. The students prepared raised garden beds and planted various herbs and medicinal plants known to the ancient Romans, including chives, lovage, savoury, celery, thyme, oregano, and chamomile.

Additionally, they created part of a sensory path using myrtle, rosemary, sage, and lavender to enhance visitors' experience by allowing them to engage with the scents, textures, and stories of the Mediterranean past. Through their work, the students gained insights into Roman life. They demonstrated that an archaeological park can serve as a vibrant and valuable learning environment, where the past and cultural heritage intertwine with agronomy.

The project is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, and the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The project is implemented in accordance with the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) under the development area Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, component Strengthening competencies, in particular digital competencies and those required by the new professions and the green transition (C3 K5), for the investment measure Investment F. Implementation of pilot projects, the results of which will serve as a basis for the preparation of a roadmap for the reform of higher education for a green and resilient transition to a Society 5.0: project Pilot Projects for the Reform of Higher Education for a Green and Resilient Transition.

Tuesday, 3 June 2025 Lek’s ScienceBeat event is once again inviting students of natural sciences and business studies to participate this year

Pharmaceutical company Lek, a member of the Sandoz Group, in cooperation with Slovenian public universities, is organizing the top scientific and professional event ScienceBEAT, which will take place from September 9 to 12, 2025, in Ljubljana and Brdo pri Kranju. It enables young talents to enter the global network of professional excellence in the fields of science and entrepreneurship.

Participants will gain a unique insight into the trends and challenges of the modern pharmaceutical industry and experience the pulse of a global pharmaceutical company that is a leader in the development and production of biosimilar medicines and generic pharmaceutical products.

This year, the event brings an important innovation – after the event, several selected participants will be offered employment at Lek. For all others, opportunities remain open for further collaboration in the form of practical work, writing final theses, or future employment opportunities.

They will also have an exceptional opportunity for networking and gaining invaluable knowledge and professional insights from globally recognized scientists and entrepreneur innovators who are pushing the boundaries in their fields. At the event, participants will also gain practical experience through teamwork on a pharmaceutical-business challenge and an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and skills in practice. Finally, they will also receive access to a global network of experts and career opportunities in an agile and inspiring business environment based on inclusivity, fairness, and diversity appreciation.

At Lek, with various projects, they address young promising students and professionals from various fields who can collaborate with foreign experts in the international environment of the Sandoz global network, acquire new knowledge and skills, develop their talents and creativity, and build their careers. They aim to attract the best individuals from employment markets, faculties, research institutes, and other institutions in Slovenia and abroad.

The ScienceBEAT event is therefore intended for prospective students in the final year of undergraduate studies, as well as students of master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral studies in natural and business sciences from Slovenia and abroad. More information about the event and applications can be obtained on the ScienceBEAT - Lek website.

 Applications are accepted via the ScienceBEAT | Lek online form until June 13, 2025, inclusive.

The condition for participation is a fluent knowledge of English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Monday, 2 June 2025 Students' Fieldwork: AGRICULTURE MATTERS!

UP FAMNIT Students Visit the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor

On May 28, 2025, students and their professors visited the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Maribor.

They toured the faculty’s botanical garden, which has a long and fascinating history. They discovered various exotic plant species and were especially captivated by two giant sequoias and a massive arborvitae.

The head of the Department of Genetics, Dr. Metka Šiško, presented the gene bank of stone fruits. Afterwards, the group explored the history of the Pohorski Dvor estate, which is now dedicated to teaching and research.

To conclude their visit, they explored organic strawberry production, which delighted all their senses.

Students in Gorenjska

On May 29, 2025, agronomy students visited the Ecological Seed Bank, whose motto is “The seed of the past is the seed of the future.” The mission of the seed bank is to collect and preserve old Slovenian varieties of agricultural plants.

Next, they visited the Vegerila ecological farm, where they learned about the foundations of regenerative agriculture and confirmed that it is an excellent and effective approach.

The visit concluded at the Garden of Flavors, where students enjoyed tasting a variety of treats. They were especially charmed by the very sociable chickens.

Monday, 2 June 2025 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation of Daniil Baldouski

We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Optimization of Logistics and Scheduling Problems from Real-World Contexts of the student Daniil Baldouski, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Computer Science (in English).

The presentation will take place on Wednesday, 11 June 2025 at 9.00 in the classroom FAMNIT-VP3.

Monday, 2 June 2025 The ImmBIO Project Enabled a Second Student Visit to Novartis

On May 23rd, as part of the ImmBIO project, a second working visit took place at Novartis in Mengeš, attended by seven students from the University of Primorska, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT), along with their academic mentor, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Karla Ferjančič.

The project focuses on developing mathematical models of a bioreactor and is carried out under the public call Problem-Based Student Learning in a Work Environment: Business, Non-Business, and Non-Profit Sectors in the Local/Regional Environment 2024–2027.

Under the guidance of industrial mentors Dr. Andrej Pohar and Ms. Andreja Pirnat, students are divided into three groups and, through regular online meetings, explore the following topics:

• Solving fluid dynamics problems in a bioreactor using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This includes testing various turbulence models such as k-ε and LES, for mixing simulations, and performing tracer tests to gain insights into medium homogenization.
• Mechanistic modeling of the bioreactor: Developing a one-dimensional model using ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and a two-dimensional model with partial differential equations (PDEs), as well as solving the corresponding systems of equations using numerical methods.
• Modeling of Single-Pass Tangential Flow Filtration (SPTFF) to determine the optimal process parameters.

During their visit, students had the chance to revisit the upstream and downstream department laboratories, which deepened their understanding of the industrial context of the challenges they are researching. In addition, they presented the progress of their work and, together with their mentors, planned further activities leading up to the project's conclusion.

Sincere gratitude to the hosts at Novartis for their warm welcome and the invaluable exchange of knowledge and experience.

Friday, 30 May 2025 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation of Draženka Višnjić

We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Analyzing Coxeter-like Graphs: From Distance Functions and Homomorphisms to Self-Dual Codes of the student Draženka Višnjić, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Mathematical Sciences (in English).

The presentation will take place on Friday, 13 June 2025 at 13.00 in the classroom FAMNIT-VP3.

You are warmly invited!

Thursday, 29 May 2025 Today we welcomed students from II. Gymnasium Maribor

Today, as part of a Natural Science Day, we were visited by 20 students from II. Gymnasium Maribor. 

The students were initially divided into two groups, for which we prepared a workshop titled Plant Life of the Slovenian Littoral, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Živa Fišer from the Department of Biodiversity UP FAMNIT, and a presentation of the SRNA application, within the Pro-Coast project, delivered by Assist. Luka Duniš and Lan Zirkelbach from the Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT. 

In the first workshop, students explored several plant species typical of the Slovenian Littoral, focusing on Mediterranean flora. Using microscopes and magnifying glasses, they examined characteristic anatomical and morphological adaptations to environments where drought, high temperatures, and strong sunlight are common. 

Students and their teachers also had the opportunity to participate in a treasure hunt titled Fantastic Animals and Where to Record Them, during which they learned how to collect and use data on wildlife. The scientific SRNA application—developed as part of the Pro-Coast project and aimed at gathering data on wild animal populations—was also presented. 

To conclude the visit, the students went on a field trip along the Strunjan coast to investigate the local coastal ecosystem. They discovered various marine organisms (e.g. shells, snails, crabs), searched for them, and identified them using classification keys. In addition to learning about marine biodiversity, they were introduced to the principles of respectful behaviour in nature and the proper handling of living organisms. 

Wednesday, 28 May 2025 Round table on knowledge transfer and innovation activities between the university and industry

On Monday, 26 May 2025, under the auspices of the Centre for Development and Knowledge Transfer of the University of Primorska, Faculty of Management (CRPZ UP FM), a round table entitled Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Activities between the University and Industry took place at the UP FM premises from 10.00 until 11.00.

The round table brought together representatives from the business sector, including the Director of the Primorska Chamber of Commerce, Robert Rakar, the Advisor to the Management Board of Luka Koper (Human Resources), Matej Osenar, and Dr. Jure Vajs, Head of Strategic Programmes at the pharmaceutical company Lek d.d., as well as representatives from the University of Primorska: UP Rector Prof. Dr. Klavdija Kutnar; the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Nejc Šarabon; and Assist. Prof. Dr. Aleksander Tošič from UP FAMNIT. The discussion focused on past experiences and future plans related to the opportunities for mutual cooperation in the field of knowledge transfer and innovation activities between companies and universities.

The participants discussed how such cooperation is incorporated into the strategic documents and operations of their companies or organisations, and analysed good practices in this field. The discussion also addressed the challenges identified by company representatives in the business environment, as well as proposed measures for enhancing future collaboration.

In conclusion, the participants also evaluated the role of university knowledge transfer offices as intermediaries in establishing relationships between universities and companies, particularly in the context of innovation activities.

The full recording of the event will be available for viewing in the next days at CRPZ UP FM's YouTube channel. > HERE.

Monday, 26 May 2025 UP at the Mental Health Festival 2025

May 23, 2025, at the University of Primorska (UP) was marked by the spirit of the Mental Health Festival, which is being organized for the third consecutive year by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) in collaboration with its partners. On this occasion, the Rector of UP, Prof. Dr. Klavdija Kutnar, welcomed the Minister of Health, Dr. Valentina Prevolnik Rupel, and the Director General of NIJZ, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Branko Gabrovec. Lectures and workshops held at the UP Faculty of Management (UP FM) also featured participation from UP lecturers. The UP Book Club joined the event with a Silent Reading Party.

Martina Mravlja (UP IAM) gave a lecture titled Loneliness – What Can Young People Learn from the Elderly?, in which she offered a broad perspective on the topic of loneliness and dispelled the stereotype that loneliness increases with age. She presented research showing that young adults are actually more likely to experience loneliness than older individuals and equipped participants with techniques to cope with it.

(On photo: Martina Mravlje, UP IAM)

In the lecture Mental Health in Times of War, Natural Disasters, and Economic Uncertainty, speakers Eva Sedlašek (UP IAM),Hana Stela Hrovatin (URI Soča), and Matej Vinko (NIJZ) addressed protective factors and coping strategies for dealing with the stress and challenges brought on by sudden life changes. They highlighted the significant mental health impacts of such events and analyzed how different age groups – adolescents, students, and adults – respond to these challenges.

(On photo: Eva Sedlašek, UP IAM)

Simple mindfulness exercises to support everyday challenges were presented by Nina Krohne (UP IAM) during a brief workshop titled Mindful Coping with Everyday Challenges. She demonstrated the benefits of mindfulness, such as greater authenticity, acceptance, kindness, and inner peace.

One of the global challenges faced by Slovenia as well is population ageing. The roundtable discussion On the Challenges of Ageing addressed how Slovenia can contribute to the development of international policies and United Nations documents related to population ageing. The discussion featured Matej Vinko (NIJZ), Ester Benko (UP FVZ), Dr. Nuša Zadravec Šedivy (UP IAM), Danijela Horvat Samardžija (UP PEF), and Dr.Jurka Lepičnik Vodopivec (UP PEF), and was moderated by Aleš Kenda (Ministry for a Solidary Future).

The festival brought together numerous experts and organizations who provided participants with support, knowledge, and opportunities for dialogue. Stalls, interactive corners, a human library, lectures, and workshops ensured that everyone could find something meaningful and reminded visitors that mental health is for everyone, every day.

Friday, 23 May 2025 FAMNIT Hackathon 4.0 — A Weekend of Innovation and Collaboration

The GDG On Campus UP (GDG Primorska) has, for the fourth year in a row, brought together programming and coding enthusiasts at the Famnit Hackathon 4.0, held at the UP FAMNIT premises.

From May 16 to May 18, 2025, the University of Primorska hosted FAMNIT Hackathon 4.0, a 3-day programming event that brought together 40 students, divided into 10 teams, for a weekend of creativity, learning, and high-energy teamwork.

One of the main highlights of this Hackathon was the presence of a special guest, Prof.Toralf Trautmann from the University of Applied Sciences Dresden (HTWD). As part of the competition, Prof. Trautmann presented a challenge topic on autonomous driving and the use of sensor data from vehicles to create intelligent features. Besides his academic contribution, he also mentioned the upcoming FAMNIT x HTWD Hackathon – a joint event scheduled for September.

The best teams were awarded generous prizes from the sponsors at the end; the first-place team received 500 euros, the second-place team 250 euros, and the third-place team a 200-euro voucher for purchases at the Big Bang store – the top three teams received both vouchers and cash prizes.

The judges of the 4th Hackathon were representatives from Actual I.T., Prof. Trautmann, Arsen Matej Golubovikj (assistant at UP FAMNIT and representative of HICUP Lab), and the GDG On Campus UP organizing team.

Winning teams of the 4th Hackathon:

• 1st place – Wizards of OS (Vedran Gvozderac, Alja Eremic, Luka Jack Komljen, Alexandra Zecevic)
• 2nd place – Bumbari (Nikola Murgoski, Filip Srostran, Pavel Jolakoski, Zhivko Stoimchev)
• 3rd place – Rainbow6 (Matej Kunovski, Gorazd G. Gajdov, Nikola Severov, Stefan Radojicik)

                                                                          1st place -Wizards of OS

Other teams also developed excellent programming solutions, and many students were invited to follow-up meetings with sponsor to discuss potential internship opportunities.

We thank all companies and organizations that showed interest in networking with our students, especially Actual I.T. and HICUP Lab. During the competition, representatives also took on mentoring roles and formed the jury evaluating the final solutions.

The main event sponsor, Actual I.T., played a key role by presenting a technical challenge focused on Digital Twin technologies in Transport/Logistics and Berthing enhanced with AI augmentation. Actual I.T. also organized a special career workshop for students during the competition, where participants received feedback to help them prepare for their first job interviews.

Throughout the entire weekend, participants were provided with meals and energy drinks continuously supplied by Food Point Ninetynine, Fast Food Magic, and Red Bull, which helped competitors maintain their energy during the entire competition.

The organizers express sincere thanks to the UP Career Center for supporting company connections, the FAMNIT promotion team for increasing event visibility, and the FAMNIT Student Council for their assistance throughout the process. Special thanks go to Michelle Fernandu, Nadun Liyanage, Nilukshan Krishnara, Kosar Seyyedhosseinzadeh, and Mahesh Weerasinghe for their dedication and time.

Google Developer Groups on Campus are student groups from undergraduate or graduate programs at individual universities in an international environment, focusing on Google technologies.

GDG on Campus University of Primorska – Koper, Slovenia, provides developers with a learning environment and invites students from all undergraduate and graduate programs who aim to enhance their knowledge and skills in modern technology. Learning takes place in interactive workshops and seminars, where lecturers also participate, equipping members with broad knowledge and best practices.

We also invite you to check out the GDG Primorska Instagram profile and official website.

                                                                                         2nd place – Bumbari 

Thursday, 22 May 2025 International Spring

In May, we welcomed several international visitors from foreign universities. You are kindly invited to view the article where we learned more about the visiting professors and researchers who visited us in May.

At the beginning of the month, Kristina Vidrich from UNICAMP (Universidade Estadual de Campinas) visited us. During her visit, she shared her initial impressions of Slovenia and highlighted the main differences between Slovenia and Brazil. 

“I work for the Graduate Study Office, and I am here because I applied for a project related to international mobility. This is my second time in Slovenia, and I also have Slovenian roots. It is a very nice country where people are friendly, ready to help, and communicate well. It's also very safe,” she summarised her experience and mentioning the main differences between Slovenia and Brazil. 

“When I think about university opportunities here and in Brazil, considering that Brazil is another developing country, I also consider that we offer scholarships to all students from both public and private institutions. The biggest difference is that we are willing to increase collaborations with as many countries as possible because we are growing globally. We believe that increased exchange will help, so we try to send students to many countries. I think this is not so common here in Slovenia; maybe you are more likely to send students within the EU than outside of it, with fewer students going outside the EU. After visiting many institutions and learning about your role and goals, I feel that we have many things in common and many opportunities. The result of this visit, in terms of outgoing and incoming students and possibly visiting researchers, is largely due to your very good internationalisation process. This could help us think about ways to increase our own level. I believe that by learning from your experiences, we can improve certain areas and elevate our status in the future.” 

In May, Visiting Professor Sándor Jenei from the University of Pécs visited Prof. Dr. István Kovács from the Department of Mathematics and shared his thoughts about his experience. 

"I was warmly welcomed at FAMNIT and impressed by its vibrant academic environment and dedicated faculty. My visit was both inspiring and productive, opening doors to exciting research topics and promising results. I had engaging, in-depth discussions on various algebraic themes and open problems. Additionally, I found Koper to be a charming and hospitable coastal town, offering a beautiful blend of history, culture, and stunning seaside views." 

Jana Radzijevskaja and Aligmantas Paulauskas from a university in Lithuania visited Prof. Dr. Elena Bužan as part of an Erasmus exchange and attended the 14th European Conference on Vertebrate Management in Ankaran. 

Prof. Radzijevskaja mentioned that the visit was inspiring for the exchange of ideas and highlighted the faculty’s hospitality.  "I truly appreciated the hospitality, the encouraging academic environment, and the opportunity to exchange ideas with both faculty representatives and students. During the visit, I had the chance to learn more about the scientific activities and research directions pursued by the university's staff and students. " 

In addition to the academic environment, she was also impressed by the city of Koper. "My first impressions of the university and the city of Koper were extremely positive. The campus fosters dynamism and connectivity; I was especially impressed by its openness to international collaboration. I look forward to future cooperation and joint initiatives that will further strengthen our academic ties," she added, also emphasising further opportunities for collaboration. 

"Together with colleagues, we also had promising discussions during the visit with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elena Bužan from the Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT regarding potential collaboration in the fields of vertebrate ecology and genomics." 

Dario di Dario from the University of Salerno is currently on a research visit to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Matjaž Kljun and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Klen Čopič Puihar from the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies at UP FAMNIT.  

“I am here as a Ph.D. student focusing on the metaverse and metaverse engineering. Matjaž and Klen have been incredibly helpful during my research period. My work centers on virtual reality and the use of context in applications, particularly for educational purposes. The aim is to enhance the quality of the experience for students. The city is very peaceful, and the people are generally very friendly. I really enjoy my time here.” 

Prof. Dr. Elvira Hadžiahmetović Jurida from the University of Tuzla visited Prof. Dr. Elena Bužan as part of the Erasmus exchange program and attended the 14th European Conference on Vertebrate Management, which took place from May 12th to 16th in Ankaran. 

“At the 14th EVCM conference in Ankaran, I met several colleagues from my field or related fields from around the world and had the opportunity to discuss issues of common interest. I am also convinced that the visit significantly strengthened the ties between the institutions,” describes her visit Dr. Hadžiahmetović.” 

On May 12, 2025, Prof. Maria Chudnovsky from Princeton University, a globally renowned expert in graph theory, delivered a lecture at the UP FAMNIT Mathematical Research Seminar.

Her lecture, titled "Induced Subgraphs and Pathwidth", explored recent advances in understanding the structure of graphs through path decompositions and the role of induced subgraph obstructions in characterizing bounded pathwidth. 

Wednesday, 21 May 2025 Second meeting of PhD mentors at the UP

On Wednesday, 21 May 2025, the Second meeting of PhD mentors was held at UP, organized by the Department for Research, Development and Artistic Activities. The event was attended by mentors (as well as co-mentors) of doctoral students who are pursuing their studies at UP.

The central themes of today's event were two important areas, namely the assessment of research work and the current situation regarding predatory publishing. The opening speech by the Rector of UP, Prof. Klavdija Kutnar, PhD, was followed by two presentations. First, the Rector of the University of Ljubljana, Prof. Gregor Majdič, PhD, presented the process of introducing qualitative evaluation of scientific research work at the University of Ljubljana (UL), which began in 2023. The new approach prioritizes qualitative assessment of the research achievements of researchers and research groups and their social impact, gradually moving away from the currently dominant quantitative criteria. Qualitative evaluation will gradually become a unified framework for the assessment of existing and new research programs at UL. Prof. Tomaž Pisanski, PhD (UP FAMNIT), entitled his presentation "Is it worth publishing in predatory journals?", in which he presented the field of predatory practices in scientific publishing and pointed out reasons for and against publishing in predatory media. He highlighted that the number of predatory publishers, journals, and conferences is still on the rise, with publishing results in them becoming more widely accepted. A discussion followed the presentations.

The event was organized as part of HRS4R (Human Resources Strategy for Researchers) activities to support PhD mentors at UP. The first Meeting for PhD Mentors at UP took place in November 2024 and addressed the question, "What does it mean to be a good mentor?". Assoc. Prof. Klen Čopič Pucihar, PhD, and Prof. Štefan Bojnec, PhD, shared their insights, experience, and challenges related to this topic. You can access the recording of the event, here. Futhermore, UP has established an intranet website titled "Mentorstva" on the O365 SharePoint application. The purpose of this website is to support the development of quality mentoring practices at UP. It provides essential information and resources related to mentoring, covering various aspects of the mentoring process. Topics include the candidate selection process, the roles and relationships of different stakeholders, managing expectations, the importance of the research environment and culture, effective science communication, and academic writing etc.

Wednesday, 21 May 2025 The UP Senate approves the accreditation application for the higher professional study programme Wood Innovation for Sustainability

As part of the GDI UP project – Green, Digital and Inclusive University of Primorska – the UP has developed a new higher education study programme, Wood Innovation for Sustainability. At its 20th regular meeting (May 21, 2025), the UP Senate approved the application for accreditation of the degree program, which will be forwarded to the Council of the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (NAKVIS) for further examination and decision-making.

The study program comprises six areas: Core Subjects, Foundation Subjects, Digital Woodworking Skills, Business and Economics Skills and Sustainability, Built Wood Environments, Practical Education and a Mobility Window (International Experience).

(Photo by: Miran Kambič)

When designing the study program, we pursued the following goals:

• Interdisciplinarity, as we recognized the need to integrate knowledge from different disciplines to solve complex problems in the wood industry.
• Innovative teaching methods (e.g. brainstorming, case studies, collaborative learning, discussions, group research, problem-based learning, project work) to make the courses attractive and prepare students to meet the challenges of the industry after graduation.

Practical training accounts for 24 of the 180 credits of the degree program, or 13% of the total course requirements. This is intended to close the gap between theory and practical experience. Direct work in companies in the woodworking industry enables students to enter the direct work process, where they can apply and reflect on the specialist knowledge they have acquired.

The higher professional study programme Innovations in Wood Science for Sustainable Development includes a mandatory "mobility window", through which UP also fulfils Objective 12.1 – “The volume of international and intercultural content in UP study programmes will be increased, namely through the implementation of mobility windows and other elements of the ‘internationalisation at home’ concept” – from the University of Primorska’s Medium-Term Development Strategy 2025 –2030 (https://www.hippocampus.si/ISBN/978-961-293-406-4.pdf). Students will be able to complete the mobility window at partner universities or in the form of practical training in numerous leading European organisations or companies across Europe.

The study programme was developed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the 2024 Policy Document of the European Wood Policy Platform WoodPoP “Wood-Based Circular Bioeconomy for a Sustainable Europe” (https://woodpop.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WoodPoP-Position-Paper_slo.pdf).

The project Green, Digital & Inclusive University of Primorska (GDI UP) is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The project is implemented in accordance with the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) under the development area Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, component Strengthening competencies, in particular digital competencies and those required by the new professions and the green transition (C3 K5), for the investment measure Investment F. Implementation of pilot projects, the results of which will serve as a basis for the preparation of a roadmap for the reform of higher education for a green and resilient transition to a Society 5.0: project Pilot Projects for the Reform of Higher Education for a Green and Resilient Transition.     

Friday, 16 May 2025 The successful conclusion of the 14th European Conference on Vertebrate Management (EVMC 2025)

More than 230 Researchers from 28 Countries Present Latest Findings on Vertebrate Management

Ankaran, 16 May 2025 – The 14th European Vertebrate Management Conference (EVMC 2025) successfully concluded today in Ankaran. Held from 12 to 16 May 2025, the event welcomed over 230 researchers from 28 countries. A total of 167 contributions were presented as part of a rich scientific program, prepared by authors from 45 countries around the world. 

The conference featured 7 plenary lectures, 88 oral presentations, and 72 poster presentations. The event brought together 806 authors from across all continents.

A broad consortium of partners organized the event, including the Faculty of Environmental Protection, the University of Primorska (Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies), the University of Ljubljana (Biotechnical Faculty), the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, the Julius Kühn Institute, the Hunting Association of Slovenia, the Hunting Association of Koper, and the Slovenian Forestry Institute.

Researchers presented scientific findings from a wide range of topics related to vertebrate management. Special focus was given to ecology, genetics, wildlife health, human-wildlife conflicts, invasive species, and modern approaches to population management. The research covered all vertebrate groups – from fish, amphibians, and reptiles to birds and both small and large mammals.

In addition to the scientific program, conference participants also explored the natural, cultural, and culinary features of Slovenia.

The conference represents an important milestone for the Slovenian scientific community, highlighting its contribution to the development of natural resource management and strengthening cooperation among researchers, managers, and policy-makers. As the EU adopts key measures for nature conservation, such as the Nature Restoration Law and the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, events like this play a crucial role in translating scientific knowledge into practice.

We sincerely thank the sponsors and supporters of EVMC 2025, whose support made the event possible and contributed to the success and growth of our community.

We are pleased to announce that the 15th European Vertebrate Management Conference will be held in Croatia in 2027.

For more information about EVMC2025, visit: www.evmc.online

Tuesday, 13 May 2025 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation - Uroš Sergaš

We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation News Recommender System for Political Depolarization of the student Uroš Sergaš, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Computer Science.

The presentation will take place on Monday, 19 May 2025 at 10.30 via Zoom on link:

https://upr-si.zoom.us/j/9657140246?pwd=U2FxZnFuSC9lV2VTTTNRMC94SExLQT09

You are warmly invited!

Tuesday, 13 May 2025 Researchers from UP FAMNIT presented studies on Immortelle at the international MESMAP symposium in Rimini

Researchers from the Department of Applied Natural Sciences at UP FAMNIT participated in the 11th International Mediterranean Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MESMAP), held from 6 to 8 May 2025, as part of the international MACFRUT2025 exhibition for fruits and vegetables, in Rimini, Italy. The fair brought together producers, distributors, experts, and researchers from the agriculture and food industry. This year, a special exhibition was held, dedicated to spices, medicinal, and aromatic plants, alongside the international MESMAP symposium. During the event, Assist. Prof. Alenka Baruca Arbeiter and Petra Gabrovšek presented their research on the Mediterranean plant Helichrysum italicum (Immortelle) with a poster.

The main organizer of MESMAP is Prof. Dr. Nazım Şekeroğlu from Gaziantep University (Turkey), who is also the president of AMAPMED (Association of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the Mediterranean) and the coordinator of GOFMAP (Global Organization for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants), along with participating organizations and industry sponsors.

Tuesday, 13 May 2025 Call for papers for the conference MATCOS-25

The Middle-European Conference on Applied Theoretical Computer Science (MATCOS-25) will be held October 9-10, 2025, in Koper, Slovenia. The conference is organised by the University of Primorska, Andrej Marušič Institute (UP IAM), and the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP Famnit) in cooperation with InnoRenew CoE.

MATCOS-25 will be held in conjunction with the 28th Multi-Conference on Information Society, October 6th - 10th, 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

During the past years, other fields have used several subjects, methods and approaches of Theoretical Computer Science, and several results have been integrated into practical applications. Solutions for NP-hard problems, algorithmic-oriented AI and data science, new models and methods in system biology and bioinformatics, automata theory approaches in software and hardware verification, practical quantum computing solutions and the development of other prospective new models of computation are good examples to buttress the above statement.

Keynote speaker: Michel Bierlaire, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),  Switzerland

We set double aims as the scope of this conference: on one hand side we expect ideas and solutions from the field of Theoretical Computer Science which have been directly applied in real world applications. On the other side we want to collect theoretical results based on some fruitful idea that may be useful to adopt for practical problems.

Suggested, but not exclusive, topics of interest include:

• Automata and formal languages, computability,
• Algorithms and data structures,
• Computational complexity,
• Artificial intelligence, machine learning,
• Optimisation, approximation methods, NP-hard problems,
• Graph theory,
• Computational geometry.

There is a special emphasis on use of AI approaches and also on applications such as simulation, bioinformatics, digital signal and image processing, data science, digital forensics, logistics, smart homes/cities and IoT, computational social science etc.

Important dates:

• Regular paper submission: August 17th, 2025
• Short paper submission: August 24th, 2025
• Notification: September 7th, 2025

Papers must be in English and provide sufficient details to allow the program committee to assess their merits. The submissions of regular papers, as well as their final versions, are limited to 4 pages sharp and will be published in an Information Society multi-conference proceeding.

Revised and extended versions of selected papers will appear in a special issue of the journal Informatica (http://www.informatica.si/). Only electronic submissions will be accepted (in pdf format), via EasyChair (in a submission, indicate whether you are submitting a regular or short paper):  HERE.   

For more detailed information on paper submission, travel and accommodation information, and general info regarding the conference, please visit http://matcos.iam.upr.si.

All personal inquiries must be sent to matcos@iam.upr.si.

Monday, 12 May 2025 Prof. Dr. Maria Chudnovsky (Princeton University) presented new research in the field of graph theory

On May 12, 2025, Prof. Maria Chudnovsky from Princeton University, a globally renowned expert in graph theory, delivered a lecture at the UP FAMNIT Mathematical Research Seminar. Her lecture, titled "Induced Subgraphs and Pathwidth", explored recent advances in understanding the structure of graphs through path decompositions and the role of induced subgraph obstructions in characterizing bounded pathwidth. This talk presented joint work with Sepehr Hajebi and Sophie Spirkl, part of the wider series "Induced Subgraphs and Tree Decompositions", currently comprising 18 papers.

We were especially pleased to welcome Prof. Chudnovsky on May 12, which is celebrated worldwide as the International Day of Women in Mathematics. This date commemorates the birthday of Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to win the Fields Medal, and aims to inspire women and girls in mathematics. Around the globe, universities and organizations mark the occasion with lectures, exhibitions, and community events that highlight the achievements and contributions of women in mathematics.

Monday, 12 May 2025 Opening of the 14th European Conference on Vertebrate Management (EVMC 2025)

The 14th European Conference on Vertebrate Management (EVMC 2025) is taking place in Ankaran from 12 to 16 May 2025, organised by the Faculty of Environmental Protection in collaboration with partner organisations: UP FAMNIT, UL Biotechnical Faculty, the Julius Kühn Institute, the Hunting Association of Slovenia and Koper and the Forestry Institute of Slovenia.

The conference is a continuation of previous meetings with an additional focus on the involvement of all vertebrate species and different management approaches, including ecology, monitoring and conservation. At the same time, EVMC 2025 is a platform for presenting the latest scientific knowledge on vertebrate ecology, the ecosystem role and value of different species, hunting, behaviour, interspecific and intraspecific interactions, human-animal coexistence, conflicts and population management.

The conference focuses on the latest and most interesting topics in a wide range of disciplines and taxa, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, small mammals, lagomorphs, ungulates, small and large carnivores.

The 230 participants from 28 countries (all continents except South America) were also welcomed by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia, Mateja Čalušić, with an address emphasizing the importance of such events.

Thursday, 8 May 2025 UP FAMNIT hosted a meeting within the LILY COST project

From May 8 to 9, the Molecular group of the Department of Biodiversity UP FAMNIT, hosted a meeting in the Livade building as part of the LILY COST project. This project aims to enhance methods for integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and to improve various systems, frameworks, models, and approaches for mitigating the impacts of climate change.  

With the help of participatory approaches, LILY will co-develop a conceptual framework, guidelines for best practices, monitoring recommendations, and a data-sharing platform over four years. It will also support young scientists and promote excellence through transdisciplinarity and the "One Health" concept, alongside inclusive, gender-balanced governance.   

Official website of the project: https://hei-planet.com/cost-lily/ 

Tuesday, 6 May 2025 Upcoming Event: Famnit Hackathon 4.0

GDG on Campus University of Primorska - Koper, Slovenia, once again bringing together programming and coding enthusiasts for the fourth year in a row at Famnit Hackathon 4.0!

This three-day event, scheduled from May 16 to 18, 2025, at the UP FAMNIT premises, will bring together UP FAMNIT students and other tech enthusiasts who will form teams, tackle real-world challenges, and compete for exciting prizes.

The event includes:

• Real-world challenges from tech companies
• Workshops and mentorship sessions
• Meals are provided throughout the event
• Prizes for the winning teams
• A meet-and-greet with a Google representative
• A special guest from HTW Dresden University

Registration is open – spots are limited.

REGISTER HERE.

***

Google Developer Student Clubs are groups of undergraduate and graduate students at universities worldwide who are active in the field of Google technologies.

We also encourage you to explore GDG Primorska's Instagram profile and official website.

Wednesday, 30 April 2025 Increased project applications and new projects in the first third of 2025

In the first third of the year, the UP Project Office reported an intensive and increased activity of project applications, which shows the outstanding work of UP researchers, whose research excellence and international commitment increase the chances of excellent project work. In the first four months, a total of 176 applications were submitted to various calls - both to ARIS and other national calls (mostly in the area of line ministries), while in the international context, applications ranged from cross-border applications (Interreg programme Slovenia-Croatia 2021-2027) to applications to Horizon, Erasmus+ and other programmes.

However, three projects were approved in the reporting period:

ARIS – PAKET 23 (23 PACKAGE)

• High-Performance Computer and XR Technology sets for Advanced Education and Personalization in Mixed Reality Environments   (lead partner, UP lead dr. Matjaž Kljun, UP FAMNIT) 

 The proposed hardware includes a state-of-the-art workstation with a graphics processor customised for deep learning, a cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headset, and a set of laptops to support multiple simultaneous research tasks. This equipment is aligned with the latest trends in XR and machine learning technology and provides robust capabilities to conduct innovative studies in mixed reality. The equipment enables the exploration of new areas: Applications of XR in education, such as chemistry teaching, language learning and personalisation of education. The proposed hardware includes a state-of-the-art workstation with a graphics processor suitable for deep learning, a cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headset, and a set of laptops that support multiple simultaneous research tasks. This equipment is aligned with the latest trends in XR and machine learning technology and provides robust capabilities to conduct innovative studies in mixed reality. The acquisition of these devices will enable research that is not possible with current resources, such as real-time data analysis in XR environments, educational content customisation and experimentation in immersive environments. The powerful hardware will significantly improve our ability to learn and deploy models for personalised learning experiences. The device supports interdisciplinary collaboration and brings together fields such as data science, XR technology, education and cognitive psychology. This equipment will promote partnerships with other national and international research institutions and enable joint projects and the exchange of research results.

•  Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) beamline at Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste (partner, lead partner:UM MF, dr. Dean Korošak, UP lead dr.Štefko Miklavič, UP; included UP members: UP IAM, UP FAMNIT and UP FVZ)

Elettra - Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A. and the Graz University of Technology, which already cooperate in the operation of the SAXS beamline at the Elettra Multidisciplinary Research Centre of Excellence, have expressed their joint interest in the University of Maribor entering into a partnership with them to build a new beamline and use it for research purposes. The University of Maribor responded positively to the invitation with the initiative to involve several Slovenian research organisations on the Slovenian side in this Italian-Austrian-Slovenian partnership. The University of Primorska recognised the University of Maribor's initiative as an important opportunity for further development breakthroughs.

The synchrotron is a device that accelerates electrons to high energies using ultraviolet and X-ray light sources. The high-energy electrons are then used in various research applications, e.g. in the investigation of fundamental particles. When they are accelerated, light is emitted by electron clusters travelling in circular paths at almost the speed of light. The properties of synchrotron light, such as its high intensity, good collimation and the ability to choose the wavelength of the light, make research possible that would otherwise be impossible. It is possible to study the dynamics of certain physical and chemical processes, take measurements on samples that do not exist and has the advantage of saving a lot of time.

The Elettra synchrotron is located at Bazovica near Trieste and is the heart of a scientific centre for research in the fields of biology, chemistry, medicine, physics, materials and more. The circular accelerator is designed as a synchrotron light source and has a central storage ring of 260 metres.

EIT HEI INITIATIVE

 BIKE HEI -  Boosting Innovative and Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship of HEIs (partner,UP lead dr. Michael Mrissa)

The project partners include several members of the European university Trasform4Europe (Mariupol State University, Ukraine, University of Saarland, Germany, University of Alicante, Spain), to which UP also belongs, which shows excellent partnership synergies. Other partners include UP FM, Association of Balkan Eco Innovation, RSR, CESIE ETS, Italy, META Group Srl, Italy.

BIKE-HEI aims to improve business opportunities for innovative and knowledge-based entrepreneurs by using AI in the area of Environmental Protection, Climate Action and Green Economy, 2 promoting entrepreneurship and spin-off support services in HEIs, and strengthening the HEIs’ role in the regional innovation ecosystem.

Wednesday, 30 April 2025 Visit from Urgench State University in Uzbekistan

On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, UP FAMNIT welcomed Prof. Dr. Guzal Yuldashovna Rakhimova, the head of the Department of Translation Theory and Practice at Urgench State University in Uzbekistan. Prof. Rakhimova has an established collaboration with the Department of Applied Linguistics at UP FHŠ. During her visit, she introduced her university to our students and presented the opportunities available for studying in Uzbekistan through Erasmus exchanges.

A presentation video of the university is available > HERE.