Thursday, 30 November 2023 The doctoral thesis defence of the student Niki Hrovatin
Niki Hrovatin, student of doctoral study programe Computer Science at UP FAMNIT will defend his doctoral thesis Enabling Decentralized Privacy Preserving Data Processing in Sensor Networks; under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Jernej Vičič, PhD and co-mentorship of Prof. Michaël Mrissa, PhD.
The defence will take place on Tuesday, 2 December 2023 at 9:00 on Zoom:
https://upr-si.zoom.us/j/5389732484?pwd=bUxySzZhRkFmUjMrekozdFE5NTBwUT09
The doctoral disertation is available in the library at UP.
Wednesday, 29 November 2023 Prof. Dr. Elena Bužan is a new Executive board member of the largest global consortium in the field of genomics (ERGA)
Prof. Dr. Elena Bužan, from the Department of Biodiversity UP FAMNIT, has become a member of the Executive board of the European Reference Consortium Genome Atlas (ERGA), which consists of more than 1000 European researchers in the field of genomics - currently the largest global consortium in this field.
Dr. Bužan, who is also the coordinator of the Slovenian consortium ERGA, was elected by the votes of the representatives of all European countries. She says that her new role represents a big responsibility and obligation, which will have an impact on the University of Primorska itself, and put it on the map of visibility in Europe.
“As a newly appointed member of the European Reference Consortium Genome Atlas (ERGA), I will seek to expand collaboration with other projects and initiatives from all around the world, who strive to expand the catalogue of reference genomes and its applicability. The cooperation is not just a scientific endeavour, but also a work, which brings together various experts in the field of biodiversity protection, from different fields and backgrounds,” sums up her new role, prof. dr. Elena Bužan.
ERGA actively responds to the current threats to biodiversity by pursuing and researching genomic biodiversity. Recent data shows that one-fifth of European species are at risk of extinction, therefore understanding the insight of the genetic basis that shapes each species is crucial for a successful understanding and protection of biodiversity.
To achieve the goal, the consortium (ERGA) cooperates with various governmental and non-governmental organizations and connects with the locals through various activities, which was also pointed out by Prof. Dr. Elena Bužan.
“By establishing strong partnerships, we at ERGA aim to create a synergistic environment where knowledge, resources and innovation in the field of genomic biodiversity research are freely and efficiently shared. This collaborative approach is key to tackling the complex challenges of genomic research and achieving breakthroughs, which were previously thought to be impossible,”she added.
European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) is the hub of the Earth Biogenome Project (EBP), which aims to slow down the extinction of species and the decline of biodiversity worldwide using genetic and genomic approaches.
We sincerely congratulate Prof. Dr. Elena Bužan for her achievement!
Wednesday, 29 November 2023 Đorđe Mitrović, UP FAMNIT Alumni, won the Gordon Preston Prize for the most outstanding student talk at the 7th Australian Algebra Conference
Đorđe Mitrović, graduate of the Master's programme in Mathematical Sciences at UP FAMNIT, won the Gordon Preston Prize for the most outstanding student talk at the 7th Australian Algebra Conference.
The Gordon Preston Prize is awarded annually for the most outstanding student talk at the Australian Algebra Conference. The winner of the prize receives $300 and a certificate. The prize is named in honour of renowned semigroup theorist Professor Gordon Preston (Monash University), who played an important role in the instigation of the annual conference known over the years as the Algebra Conference of Victoria, the Victorian Algebra Conference and the Australian Algebra Conference.
The Gordon Preston Prize was first awarded in 2006, with Professor Gordon Preston himself attending the conference and presenting the prize to the inaugural winner.
After graduating at UP FAMNIT, Đorđe continued his academic journey at the renowned University of Auckland, New Zealand. He is currently developing his PhD thesis under the mentorship of Dr. Gabriel Verret, and co-mentorship by Dr. Jeroen Schillewaert and Dr. Florian Lehner (latter also being a former post-doc student at the University of Primorska).
Đorđe visited our faculty in June as he participated at the 11th PhD Summer School in Discrete Mathematics in Koper, jointly organized by UP FAMNIT, UP IAM, SDAMS and IMFM.
We sincerely congratulate our Alumni and wish his a lot of upcoming success!
Source: https://sites.google.com/a/ltumathstats.com/austalg/gordon-preston-prize
Monday, 27 November 2023 INAUGURATION OF THE RECTOR OF UP
The inauguration of the Rector of UP took place on 23 November 2023 at the Regional Museum in Koper - the new four-year term will be led by the current Rector, Prof. Dr. Klavdija Kutnar, who was elected in the elections in May 2023.
The event was hosted by Prof. Dr. Mara Cotič, Dean of the UP PEF as the oldest UP Senator, who in her speech emphasised: »The rector must be the person who guides the university community of learners in the right direction, and for this she must have a wealth of experience and a broad outlook, and above all she must serve as an example to her entire academic community. With her tirelessness, diligence, attention to detail, and ability to listen to students, scientists, artists and professionals alike, Prof. Klavdija Kutnar has proved beyond doubt during the past term that she is such an example to all of us who serve the academic community of the University of Primorska. That is why the professors, researchers, professional staff and students of the UP have once again honoured her and given her the responsibility to lead the University of Primorska in the new term of office 2023-2027.«
The Mayor of the Municipality of Koper, Aleš Bržan, also wished the UP Rector a successful continuation of her goals: »The University is most present in Koper. And it is here that some of the stories that other Slovenian cities are following were born. Recently, we have jointly opened a library that offers 24-hour access to students, researchers, and citizens. (...) The University ensures that young, educated, active people come to the environment and contribute to the development of our city, and as Mayor I want as many of them as possible to stay here.«
The symbolic act of the re-election of the UP Rector - the assumption of the insignia and the swearing-in with the declaration and signing of the solemn document, was performed by the host of the event, Prof. Dr. Mara Cotič, and the signatory of the candidacy proposal, the Dean of UP Famnit, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ademir Hujdurović .
UP Rector's Oath: "Four years ago, as the Rector of the University of Primorska, I accepted the Rector’s insignia which is handed down from Rector to Rector as a symbol of commitment to the University. I hereby dedicate myself to use all my knowledge and experience, all my responsibility and my conscience to foster quality, creativeness and excellence in the fields of education, research, and arts within the University of Primorska. May this insignia be a symbolic protector of the values of all Slovene universities, as well as the symbol of the mission of the principal house of knowledge and culture of Primorska.«
After the ceremony, the Rector, Prof. Dr. Klavdija Kutnar , gave a speech, listing the key achievements of the last mandate and the objectives for the next one, and concluded: "Let me conclude with the same saying as at the inauguration four years ago: “A ship is safe in harbour, but that’s not what ships are for.” I promised then that we would steer our ship, the University, towards the horizon, to sail in good weather and through storms, and to take it far out into the world. Even though there were many storms in the first term, mainly because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we kept our promise and went far into the world. We will go even farther by 23 November 2027, when we hand over the leadership of the University to a new generation."
At the event, the UP Rector also presented the team - the University will be led by the same team as at the end of the first term, i.e. four Vice-Rectors, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tina Štemberger, Prof. Dr. Štefko Miklavič, Prof. Dr. Rok Strašek, Prof. Dr. Michael Mrissa, and the General Secretary Dr. Boštjan Frelih.
After the inauguration, the Rector was congratulated by guests, e, employees, and students of UP.
Monday, 27 November 2023 Third Famnits' Biological Evening
You are invited to the third Famnits' Biological Evening,
»To be stressed or not to be stressed – Antioxidants for plants and humans«,
on 6 December 2023, 7 pm, via ZOOM.
The lecture will be given by Anna Gasperl, Institute of Biology, University of Graz.
Antioxidants help us stay healthy and prevent damage. This may sound familiar to you. In advertisements for improving the immune system, such statements are often used. Antioxidants are chemical compounds with the power to neutralize free radicals. Free radicals can grab an electron from other molecules, which may help in cellular communication or, if they exceed a certain limit of tolerance, lead to damaged DNA, leaking cells, and other serious problems. The human body can produce some antioxidants, such as glutathione, and others need to be taken up by food. We will learn how plant antioxidants work in plants and humans in the first part of this lecture. In the second part, Anna Gasperl will explain how antioxidants can be detected in plant cells and how relocating antioxidants between cell compartments helps plants deal with unfavorable conditions.
Anna Gasperl is a plant physiologist and external lecturer at the Institute of Biology, University of Graz. She has been a university assistant in the Stress- and Cellbiology of Plants group (2018-2021). She graduated from the University of Graz in 2006 in Biodiversity and Ecology, obtained her Master’s degree in Botany in 2009, including field work in South Africa (Stellenbosch University) and completed her doctoral studies in adaptation of perennial ryegrass‘ sugar metabolism to cold and hormonal treatments in 2017, with research stays in France (University of Caen). She worked in science education for the Botanical Garden Graz, Natural History Museum Graz, Frutura Fruit and Vegetable Academy. Maria Müller and Anna Gasperl study plant stress tolerance to changes in light or water supply and pathogens (Zucchini yellow mosaic virus) and how plants physiologically adapt to unfavorable conditions. These adaptations include information exchange (signaling) and relocation of antioxidants between cell compartments.
Friday, 24 November 2023 The Department of Biodiversity hosted numerous organizations from practice
Today, 22 November 2023, the Department of Biodiversity hosted an event aimed to exchange opinions and to present organisations, where students of the study programmes Conservation Biology (BSc) and Nature Conservation (MSc) had already taken their internship opportunities. Eleven organisations responded to the invitation for this event, which provided detailed information about possibilities.
The meeting was organised to enhance the quality of the internship experience and improve the interaction with those organisations, which have an interest in working with our department and our students.
»We are very pleased to have been able to host such an event, because we believe that our students, besides getting the information about the internship opportunities offered by various organisations working in the fields of nature conservation, biology and education, also got the first impression of their potential employers and their mission,« said assist. Martin Senič from the Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT.
We would also like to thank all the present organisations for their participation and looking forward for the future collaboration:
Friday, 24 November 2023 Intercultural orientation and safety management for outgoing students: Staff Training at Ghent University
Colleagues from UP FAMNIT, Sanja Sandić from Communication Office and Tanja Labus from International Office, attended a Staff training at Ghent University, held from 22 to 24 November on the topic of Intercultural orientation and safety management for outgoing students.
The three-day programme included lectures on international and intercultural competences, preparation and safety abroad for outgoing students and topics related to student and staff mobilities to the Global South. Colleagues from UP FAMNIT also presented best practices on promotion of incoming and outgoing student mobilities.
The training was attended by 23 participants from 15 countries.
Lessons learned from the staff training include establishing structured educational programmes for outgoing students while utilizing different digital resources. One of the themes included is crisis management and debriefing after the mobility.
We are currently in a process of establishing a new Erasmus+ partnership with Ghent University.
Key findings and guidelines from the staff training will be presented to colleagues at UP in the following weeks.
Thursday, 23 November 2023 The Department of Biodiversity (UP FAMNIT) was part of the annual meeting of the Botanical Society of Slovenia
Since 2011, the Botanical Society of Slovenia has been celebrating Wraber Day (Slovene: Wraberjev dan) at its annual meetings. On Saturday, November 11, 2023, the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts hosted the traditional autumn meeting.
In the introductory part, the participants were welcomed by the President of the Botanical Society of Slovenia, Andrej Podobnik, and the Head of the Institute of Biology ZRC SAZU, Urban Šilc.
Traditionally, the Department of Biodiversity (UP FAMNIT) was part of the meeting, where Assist. Dr. Živa Fišer delivered a lecture entitled 'Invasive (Oxalis pes-caprae): Are we witnessing a rapid evolution of the reproductive strategy after introduction into a new environment?,' additionally, Assist. Dr. Katarina Šoln presented picture books for children, written and illustrated by authors from four different countries (Slovenia, Italy, the Czech Republic, and the Middle East), all of which relate either to endangered or otherwise interesting plants.
Within the Wraber's Day, Assist. Dr. Peter Glasnović also presented his results from studying the morphological and molecular diversity of Drypis spinosa, while Nina Lončarević spoke about the endangered vascular flora of Europe and the preliminary results of the review of European national red lists.
The Wraber days were named after the Slovenian botanist Tone Wraber, an honorary member of the Botanical Society of Slovenia.
Thursday, 23 November 2023 International exchanges and opportunities abroad for PhD students
UP FAMNIT International Office is organizing an informative session, designed for doctoral students and other interested individuals, aiming to delve into the diverse realm of international exchanges and opportunities available abroad.
The meeting will be held in English, on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 2 p.m., via Zoom.
We will cover a short overview of:
- Erasmus+ study exchanges (EU & non-EU).
- Erasmus+ traineeship opportunities (EU).
- Scholarships (Ad Futura, DAAD, Fullbright).
- Post-doctoral international prospects.
To attend the meeting you need to REGISTER in Zoom via the following link:
https://upr-si.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpdOChpz8jH92F84SpEI3BT4F_dw9GGSdl
- After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
We hope you can join us!
Wednesday, 22 November 2023 AWARD CEREMONY FOR THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF TUTORING WORK FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2022/23
On Tuesday, 21 November 2023, awards were presented to UP student tutors who have done excellent work in the academic year 2022/2023. A lot has happened in the field of the tutoring system in the past academic year. The tutoring system broke new ground, a number of training sessions were held for both student tutors and teacher tutors, and the first tutor picnic was organised. While the responsibility for all this lies mainly with the student tutors, their coordinators also play a major role in guiding, supporting and motivating them during their tutoring sessions.
For numerous years, the Tutoring system at the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Science, and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT) has played a crucial role in assisting students not only with academic challenges but also in navigating practical life obstacles. In the last academic year at UP FAMNIT, 21 students were part of it. Besides helping other students they contributed to the promotion activities of the Faculty's with engaging presentations at secondary schools, informational days, and various other events.
The participants were welcomed and thanked for their excellent work by the UP Vice-Rector for Education, Prof. Tina Štemberger, the coordinator of teachers tutors at UP 2022/23, Assoc. Prof. Sonja Čotar Konrad and the coordinator of the tutoring system at UP, Petra Majcen. Alja Polanec,UP Student Tutor Coordinator, joined in the thanks and greetings and made an indispensable contribution not only to the final event but also to all the activities of the academic year that have led to the successful progress in the field of tutoring.
UP Vice-Rector for Education emphasised: "The purpose of the tutoring system at UP is to create the conditions for an organised, systematic and by no means just random care for the development and involvement of each and every student at UP. In this context, student tutors and tutor teachers are responsible for strengthening direct contacts between all of us who meet in the university environment. And let me take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for the effort and energy you have put into your work, especially during this academic year. We have followed your work in the high-profile organisation of various activities for students, familiarisation and support meetings, and the promotion of UP at the wider Slovenian and international level."
In the beginning, the coordinators of the student tutors Lana Erjavec, Alja Polanec, Eva Krebl, Alen Mujkić, and Tian Janev, together with Associate Prof. Dr. Sonja Čotar Konrad, shared some highlights of the past academic year and plans for the current academic year.
Afterward, awards were presented to the tutors at the individual UP members.
The UP FAMNIT student tutors were awarded by the UP teacher tutor coordinator Dr. Vesna Jug, and the student tutor coordinator Eva Krebl.
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The awards were awarded to: Anuška Dinić Nemanić, Mihail Filipovski, Pavel Jolakoski, Elsa Morina, Lucia Nikolić, Nevena Stojnić, Marko Taleski, Karolina Trajkovska, Matija Zagoranski, Nevena Stojnić, Eva Krebl.
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The awards were also awarded in absentia to: Ajla Šehović, Andrej Perković, Bogdan Šinik, Cita Jenko, Diar Gashi, Enya Kvarantan, Igor Heslenji, Jana Ristovska, Milan Milivojčević in Teodora Dalmacija.
We would like to thank all student tutors for their work and all the hours they dedicate to the students throughout the academic year and wish them every success in the future.
Monday, 20 November 2023 The Congress of Slovenian psychologists successfully concluded with the Student Day
On Saturday, November 18, 2023, after three days of lectures and workshops in the field of psychology, we successfully concluded the 9th Congress of Slovenian Psychologists. In the program of the event, which was held under the title Self and environment: the intertwining of inner and outer worlds, we also added the STUDENT DAY, on which students had the opportunity to express themselves and contribute to the diversity of psychological research.
Students presented their research, projects, case studies and other contributions related to the central theme of the event.
They shared their ideas with a wide audience at the presentations with the following presentations:
- Sara Vidmar and Andreja Avsec: »Effects of narrative perspective on identification, emotion and immersion in reading fiction«,
- Vesna Muzek and Daša Gajšek: »The brain behind the wheel - how visual and auditory stimuli are intertwined with traffic safety«,
- Katja Šacer: »Psychological readiness for returning to sports«,
- Ema Kukovec: »Parental alcoholism and negative outcomes in children in middle and late childhood and adolescence«,
- Katarina Marjanović and Vesna Jug: »Do significant life events cause changes in attachment style in adulthood?«,
- Ajda Novak and Andreja Avsec: »Sexting in partner relationships in connection with intimacy and subjective well-being«.
In addition to these presentations, workshops on climate anxiety and professional writing were also held on the Student Day, and students were able to present their posters to the audience.
The congress was held under the honorary patronage of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, dr. Robert Golob, and the main organizers of the event were event are UP FAMNIT and the Association of Psychologists of Slovenia. The members of the Program and Organization Committee arranged a content-rich program, which, in addition to five plenary lectures, also included three round tables. The chair of the Program Committee was Prof. Vlasta Novak Zabukovec, full professor at UP FAMNIT and UL FF, and the president of the Organizing Committee was Assist. Prof. Vesna Jug, also a lecturer at UP FAMNIT.
The members of the UP FAMNIT Department of Psychology were pleased to receive the program relay baton, for which we would like to thank the Society of Psychologists of Slovenia.
Below we share some photos of the congress.
Within the Department of Psychology at UP FAMNIT, four study programs are implemented: Biopsychology for undergraduate and master's studies, Psychology for master's studies, and Suicidology and Mental Health for doctoral studies.
Thursday, 16 November 2023 The 9th CONGRESS OF SLOVENIAN PSYCHOLOGISTS is officially open
Between November 16 and 18, the 9th Congress of Slovenian Psychologists is taking place again after some years at the Bernardin Congress Center in Portorož, under the title Self and environment: the intertwining of inner and outer worlds. The congress is held under the honorary patronage of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, dr. Robert Golob, and the main organizers of the event are UP FAMNIT and the Association of Psychologists of Slovenia.
On behalf of the Program Committee, President Vlasta Novak Zabukovec, full professor at UP FAMNIT and UL FF, summed up the thoughts regarding the central theme of the congress: »We believe that this is a topic that opens up countless ideas. Me as an individual in a social, natural, built, virtual or otherwise defined environment. Me as a personality who reacts differently to events in the mentioned environments. Me as an active member who contributes to the wealth of social contacts, or me who is aware of the importance of the natural environment. Me, who is important to me to feel good in the built environment, and of course me, who always discovers something new in the virtual environment.«
Around 250 congress participants are already following the program, which includes four invited lectures:
- Maria Ojala from Örrebro University with the lecture »Climate-change hope among young people«,
- David Gosar from the Pediatric Clinic UKC Ljubljana with the lecture »Digital transformation of psychological practice and research«,
- Yannick Joye from the Vilnius University with the lecture »Natural environments and psychological well-being – traditional theories, theory critique and outlining a novel account« and
- Ernest Ženko from UP with the lecture »On the psychology of society«.
On Saturday, November 18, 2023, a STUDENT DAY will be held as part of the congress. This will be an opportunity for students to express themselves and contribute to the diversity of psychological research.
At Thursday's opening ceremony, the participants were addressed by Prof. Vlasta Novak Zabukovec, president of the Program Committee, Prof. Anja Podlesek, president of the Association of Psychologists of Slovenia, Prof. Klavdija Kutnar, Rector of UP, Eva Vodnik, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Dušica Boben, Director of the Center for Psychodiagnostic Resources.
The always inspiring Rudi Bučar enriched the program with his music.
Wednesday, 15 November 2023 A visit from the University of Belgrade as part of the RIN seminar
On Monday RIN seminar, Prof. Ivan Luković from the University of Belgrade visited us as part of the Erasmus+ exchange.
Nowadays, modern business includes acquisition and storing enormous data volumes, larger than ever before. Most often, collected data are used in a shorter time frame, and then they are archived and almost not used, effectively. On the other hand, such data represent a significant value that a company can utilize so as to reach created goals and provide a sustainable development. On 13 November 2023, Prof. Ivan Luković held a lecture on »big data crisis« for our students and other interested participants.
»I really enjoy to come to Slovenia in general, as it is not my first time in Slovenia. This is an emerging university with special atmosphere, which offers really good opportunities for students and teacher. We had already started the cooperation in 2018 with my first visit and I believe we will continue with that. I like to be in contact with students and teachers and I am also engaged in some topics related to Data Science here. We are open to several options and possibilities on how we can continue our cooperation, also with the help of the CEEPUS network,« added Prof. Luković.
More about the seminar and Prof. Luković is available at this link.
We look forward to further cooperation and new successes.
Monday, 13 November 2023 THE FIRST INNOVATION IN PIKA EVENT
The University of Primorska (UP), the Centre for Development and Knowledge Transfer (CRPZ UP FM) and the Municipality of Koper (MOK) organised the event "Innovation in pika" on World Science Day, Friday, 10 November 2023, with the aim of presenting the importance of innovation for research and development and raising questions on how to innovate and present the field of innovation in an innovative and appropriate way. The event brought together researchers from a wide range of fields at UP, the local community with a municipal perspective, and guests from business. This offered many opportunities for networking to develop new, common innovative ideas in the local, regional, and wider area.
The opening speeches of the Rector of UP, Prof. Dr. Klavdija Kutnar and the Mayor of the MOK, Mr. Ales Bržan, were followed by presentations of good practices by the guests of the meeting:
- Strengthening university competitiveness: intellectual property management for researchers (Mr. Tadej Černivec, Director of IPRC, d.o.o.),
- Presentation of the Centre for Development and Knowledge Transfer - CRPZ UP (Prof. Dr. Simona Kustec, Head of CRPZ),
- Presentation of the Fortissimo project and the Slovenian company Invida, as the winning EU Entrepreneurial Innovation Project for 2023 (Mr. Blaž Gregorin, Director of INVIDA, d.o.o.)
The presentations were followed by a Round Table on different success stories of innovation at UP, where different representatives of UP members talked about the way they work and communicate innovation:
- Living Laboratory for Cultural Heritage (Dr. Zrinka Mileusnić, UP FHŠ),
- Device and process for attention management and quality interaction in two-way audio-communication platforms (Dr. Denis Trček), Project Think XR (Prof. Dr. Peter Štrukelj, Matevž Malej) (UP FM),
- Scientific Slam (dr. Nino Bašić, UP Famnit),
- UP PEF Ra-Ra Early Childhood Education Research and Development Unit (Dr. Sonja Rutar, UP Pef),
- UP FTŠ sTUOdio Turistica - Student Studio for Sustainable Development and Innovation in Tourism (Dr. Dejan Križaj, UP FTŠ Turistica),
- Ergonomic Stromma (Dr. Nejc Šarabon, UP FVZ),
- Sustainable valorisation of olive leaves within the OLEAF4VALUE project (Dr. Jakub Sandak and Albert Kravos, UP IAM)
Afterward, the participants visited the exhibition of good practices, which is on display in the UP Armeria Hall.
Monday, 13 November 2023 Successfully obtained projects at UP FAMNIT and UP IAM in October
UP FAMNIT and UP IAM were once again successful in the public call for (co)financing research projects for the year 2023, funding from the Agency for Research and Innovation (ARIS), where UP FAMNIT successfully obtained partnership basic research projects (ARIS) and targeted research programme (ARIS).
Partnership basic research projects (ARIS), entitled: “Improving B-WIM performance based on big data and artificial intelligence,” is funded for a period of 3 years and led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Klen Čopič Pucihar from the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies (UP FAMNIT).
Leading partner: ZAG - Zavod za gradbeništvo Slovenije
The increasing number of heavy goods vehicles has a significant impact on road safety and infrastructure management. Overloaded vehicles are particularly problematic as they increase safety risks and accelerate the destruction of road infrastructure. Preventing congestion starts with traffic monitoring, while traditional static weighing, while providing the most accurate results, is expensive and inefficient for heavy traffic. As a result, we use Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) systems to collect information on traffic loads, but these have significant drawbacks. The project aims to address these shortcomings through an alternative approach - using big data and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) methods.
Targeted research programme (ARIS) entitled: “Monitoring of vector-borne diseases in vectors in Slovenia,”is funded for a period of 3 years and led by the dr. Katja Adam (UP FAMNIT) and Tatjana Horvat (UL MF).
The project, which will focus on the control of mosquito and tick populations in Slovenia and the pathogens they transmit, has an interdisciplinary approach. The objectives of the project include the surveillance of populations of invasive and emerging mosquito and tick species in Slovenia, including in urban areas, with a particular focus on endemic areas of the country during periods of seasonal vector activity. In addition, efforts are made to identify new vector-borne pathogens of relevance to human health and to assess the risk of introduction and outbreak of these new pathogens. As part of their field work, they will monitor mosquitoes and ticks and identify vector-borne pathogens using modern diagnostic approaches.
The Institute Andrej Marušič (UP IAM) successfully obtained two small basic research projects (ARIS), both funded for a period of 3 years, led by Dr. Diego De Leo and Dr. Dragan Marušič.
Hamilton cycles with rotational symmetry in connected vertex-transitive graphs, leader, UP IAM, UP leader: dr. Dragan Marušič
Motivated by recently introduced graph parameter that quantifies how symmetric a Hamilton cycle in a graph can be the proposed project on symmetries of Hamilton cycles in connected vertex-transitive graphs. The main object of the proposed project is to study Hamilton compression of connected vertex-transitive graphs, those for which the existency Hamilton cycles is already known, and in view of the connection with the polycirculant conjecture, also those for which no information on Hamilton cycles has been obtained thus far. In this sense the proposed project has a clear link to the Lovasz hamiltonicity problem for vertex-transitive graphs.
Lonely? Mix method study of general and vulnerable populations to understand the link between loneliness and mental health, leader, UP IAM, UP leader: dr. Diego de Leo
As social beings, humans have a fundamental need to belong. Social relationships and good social integration are therefore crucial for developing a sense of emotional fulfilment and life satisfaction. When the need for belonging is not met, we talk about social isolation and/or loneliness. Both concepts are now recognised as an important public health problem, as they are associated with various negative consequences for (mental) health, such as depression, low life satisfaction, high blood pressure, premature mortality and increased risk of suicidal behaviour. The proposed project, therefore, aims to (i) explore the construct of loneliness in-depth, (ii) examine the negative impact of loneliness on individuals at different life periods using different research approaches, (iii) identify vulnerable groups within these life periods for whom loneliness is one of the most important risk factors for the development of mental health problems, (iv) and design high quality and culturally specific interventions.
Thursday, 2 November 2023 Maheshya Weerasinghe, new Doctor of Science
Today, 2 November 2023, we welcomed another doctor of science at UP FAMNIT.
Maheshya Weerasinghe, student of the international joint doctoral study programe Computer Science at UP FAMNIT has successfully defended her doctoral thesis Adaptive Guidance in Extended Reality Learning Environments; under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Matjaž Kljun, PhD and Alice Toniolo, PhD and co-mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Klen Čopič Pucihar, PhD, Prof. Aaron Quigley, PhD and Angela Miguel, PhD.
We sincerely congratulate the new doctor of science and wish her much success on her future journey in research!
