Friday, 21 February 2025 Research visit from the University of Cagliari
Today, we spoke with Gianmarco Cherchi, a Computer Science Researcher at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Cagliari (Italy), and a Professor of "Data Visualization" and "Web Programming," who visited us as part of a research visit.
Prof. Cherchi arrived as part of a short-term visit and was hosted by Assoc. Prof. Matjaž Klen and Assoc. Prof. Klen Čopič Pucihar from the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies.
During his stay, he gave a lecture at the Monday RIN seminar, where he presented his research field. A few days later, he also lectured Master's students in an intensive course on data visualization. Before returning to Cagliari, he reflected on his stay here in Koper: "This is my first visit to Koper, and I find it to be a beautiful city. My hosts, Matjaž and Klen, have been incredibly kind and welcoming, which has made my stay even more enjoyable. I’ve also had the pleasure of connecting with their PhD students and all the members of their group. I delivered a lecture on Monday at the seminar about my research area, which was an exciting experience. Today, I also had a great experience working with Master's students during the intensive course on data visualization."
He also explained what data visualization is and emphasized why it is important nowadays. "Data visualisation is a subfield of computer science that focuses on effectively representing data. With the rise of AI and big data, we now generate vast amounts of information, making it essential to have the right tools for visualisation. Therefore it is crucial to present data in a way that is understandable to everyone and conveys the correct message," he adds.
Tuesday, 18 February 2025 Citizen science serves as an effective tool for monitoring invasive species
Invasive species threaten biodiversity, the economy, and human health. Therefore, their detection is critical for their management, which requires extensive monitoring that often exceeds the capacity of professional scientists.
Individuals can significantly contribute by reporting new sightings using applications like eBird, Pl@ntNet, iNaturalist, and ArtPortalen and participating in citizen science initiatives.
An international study involving 30 researchers, part of the COST Alien CSI initiative—of which Assoc. Prof. Dr. Živa Fišer was a part—has demonstrated the crucial role of citizen science in the early detection of invasive species. Published in People and Nature, the study analyzed 600 official reports from 30 countries and compared them to over 220 million public-platform records.
This is the first study to measure the impact of citizen science on the early detection of invasive species. The findings revealed that citizen science platforms are highly effective. Official programs tend to detect European-regulated species, whereas the public is quicker to identify species already present in neighbouring countries or those that can be recognized without expert knowledge. For vertebrates (such as birds and mammals), the public is more likely to notice them before official monitoring does.
Based on these results, future recommendations suggest a holistic approach that combines professional monitoring with increased public involvement through citizen science. By working closely with platforms for reporting sightings and supporting their development, governments could create a more effective system for monitoring invasive species in the future.
However, citizen science is a crucial component of the solution for the early detection and effective management of invasive species.
Read more: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Monday, 17 February 2025 Students Visit Novartis as Part of the ImmBIO Project
As part of the ImmBIO project, students from UP FAMNIT and UL FMF, along with their academic mentors, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Karla Ferjančič (project leader at UP FAMNIT) and Prof. Dr. Emil Žagar (UL FMF), recently visited Novartis in Mengeš.
During their visit, they were welcomed by work mentors Dr. Andrej Pohar and Ms. Andreja Pirnat, who, along with their colleagues, guided the students through the laboratories of the "upstream" department. This is where the initial phase of development—planning and cultivating microorganisms or cells that produce desired biological substances—occurs. They also toured the "downstream" department, where medicinal biological ingredients' development, planning, testing, and purification occur.
As part of the project, the students are tackling current challenges at the company to develop and test mathematical models of bioreactors. In addition to their regular weekly remote meetings, this visit provided an excellent opportunity for the students to gain better insight into the development process and a more comprehensive understanding of Novartis's work in developing biological medicines.
Saturday, 15 February 2025 Successful Implementation of INFO DAYS in Koper and Izola
On Friday and Saturday, February 14 and 15, INFO DAYS for prospective students took place across Slovenia. At UP FAMNIT, we hosted our events at two locations this year and recorded significant interest in our undergraduate study programmes.
In Koper, at the faculty headquarters, students were welcomed by the Dean, Prof. Ademir Hujdurović, before the presentations began. Meanwhile, in Izola (Livade 1.0), where some study programmess are conducted, students were greeted by Assoc. Prof. Živa Fišer, Head of the Department of Biodiversity, and Assoc. Prof. Sara Zupan, Deputy Coordinator of the Conservation Biology study programme.
In Koper, prospective students received information about Mathematics, Mathematics in Economics and Finance, Computer Science and Biopsychology. In Izola, they were introduced to Bioinformatics, Agronomy and Conservation Biology.
After the presentations, attendees had the opportunity to visit FAMNIT’s information fair, where they met student tutors and members of the Student Council.
In Izola, prospective students were given tours of the laboratories and practice rooms equipped with high-end technology, primarily used for research in applied natural sciences, biodiversity, bioinformatics, food, nutrition, health, urban planning, ergonomics and kinesiology, olive growing, gastronomy and wine culture, mediterranean studies, environmental technologies, and renewable material usage.
The Saturday afternoon session was dedicated to English-language presentations via ZOOM for international students interested in Mathematics, Computer Science and Bioinformatics study programmes, which are also offered in English at our faculty.
In addition to program content, multiple sessions via Zoom provided information about student housing and the application and enrolment process .
An additional online presentation on the application and enrolment process for undergraduate studies is scheduled for Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 2:00 PM. Zoom link: https://upr-si.zoom.us/j/98521649402?pwd=6ACPQuaenQTZk148AzQe
For questions related to the application and enrolment process, students can contact the Student Services Office (vpis@upr.si) and the UP Admission Office (vpis@upr.si).
Wednesday, 12 February 2025 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation - Vanja Gomboc
We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Journalists' Psychological Processes When Reporting on Suicide: Mixed Methods Analysis of the student Vanja Gomboc, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Suicidology and Mental Health.
The presentation will take place on Thursday, 20 February 2025 at 9.00 via Zoom on link:
https://upr-si.zoom.us/j/93692229993
Wednesday, 12 February 2025 Famnits' Excursion into the mathematical universe: Rumors, epidemics and economic crises: infection processes in networks
You are invited to the 4th lecture in the series titled
“Rumors, epidemics and economic crises: infection processes in networks,”
which will take place on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 16:00, in Lecture Hall 3, UP FAMNIT, and via ZOOM.
The lecture will be presented by Dr. Miklós Krész UP FAMNIT, UP IAM, and InnoRenew CoE.
What are the commonalities between the economic crisis of 2008, the COVID-19 pandemic, and social media campaigns in recent political elections? Why were the dynamics of bankruptcies, epidemic outbreaks, and the spread of misinformation so unexpected? What are the similarities and differences between these processes and how can mathematical models describe them? What specific problems arise in controlling the spread of these types of outbreaks and what mathematical methods can be used to address them? In this lecture, we will take a journey through the methodology of computational network analysis to answer the above questions and to highlight the main challenges.
Miklós Krész received his PhD in Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Szeged, Hungary, in 2005. His main research interests include industrially motivated optimization methods, data driven industrial solutions and the integration of operations research and data science methodologies. He focuses on both fundamental and applied research in these areas. Currently, he is a Professor of Computer Science at UP FAMNIT and UP IAM, and he is the Head of the Information Processing Research Department at the InnoRenew CoE interdisciplinary research center.
Wednesday, 12 February 2025 Public Call for Applications for Scholarships 2025/2026
The University of Primorska invites all students of the following faculties: UP Faculty of Humanities, UP Faculty of Management, UP Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, UP Faculty of Education, UP Faculty of Tourism Studies - Turistica, UP Faculty of Health Sciences, who are eligible, to apply for the Public call to obtain scholarships from the Scholarship Fund of University of Primorska in the academic year 2025/2026.
The Scholarship Fund of the University of Primorska is based on a partnership between the University of Primorska, municipalities, and the private sector. It aims to reward and encourage the best students of UP, offer their knowledge to potential employers during their study process, and provide opportunities for employment to these students as soon as they finish their studies. The objective of the Fund is at the same time to support all UP students in achieving the best possible results in their studies.
With this Public Call, the University of Primorska invites all:
- candidates for enrolment in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd cycle study programmes of UP and
- students who, in the academic year of 2025/2026, will be enrolled in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd cycle study programmes of UP,
- to apply for this public call, and thus express their interest in joining the Fund.
The amount of the scholarship for the academic year 2025/2026 is at least 2.200,00 EUR.
In the case when the scholarships are awarded via UP, the scholarship amount is 2.200,00 EUR per academic year. In certain cases, a higher scholarship can also be awarded, namely:
- for students enrolled in the 1st and 2nd cycle, who score from 80 to 89 points, the scholarship can be as high as 330,00 EU per month, respectively as high as 3.300,00 EU per academic year;
- for students enrolled in the 1st and 2nd cycle, who score from 90 to 100 points, the scholarship can be as high as 550,00 EU per month, respectively as high as 5.500,00 EU per academic year;
- for students enrolled in the 3rd cycle, the scholarship can be as high as 1.200,00 EU per month, respectively as high as 12.000,00 EU per academic year.
Scholarship contracts will be concluded between UP, Fund partners (employers), and students with whom there is a mutual interest in the conclusion of the contract. By signing the scholarship contract, the student agrees that in the case that they are offered employment by a partner of the fund (employer) they will accept the offer and, after completing their studies, work for the partner of the fund for at least as long as they received the scholarship.
Application deadline: September 15th, 2025. The application is submitted in due time if it is submitted between February 11th, 2025 to September 15th, 2025.
On the website of the Career Center of the University of Primorska (KC UP) you will find all the details and the public call: UP Scholarship Fund 2025/2026 - PUBLIC CALL!
Contacts: Career Center of the University of Primorska, Center for Lifelong Learning and Career Orientation
Address: Titov trg 4, 6000 Koper, Slovenija
Phone: +386 5 611 75 60
E-mail: kariernicenter@upr.si.
Public call UP Scholarship Fund - 2025/2026
JP za pridobitev stipendije na UP za leto 2025-2026.pdf (301kb)
Public call UP Scholarship Fund 2025-2026.pdf (268kb)
Monday, 10 February 2025 Invitation to the defense of the diploma thesis – Elsa Morina (Computer Science, 1st cycle)
Elsa Morina, a student of the study program of Computer Science, 1st cycle, will present the diploma thesis entitled Analyzing Fluctuations in Temperature on Portoroˇz Airport using Time Series on Thursday, 13 February 2025 at 11:00 in the classroom Famnit-MP6.
You are all kindly invited!
Monday, 10 February 2025 Great interest in the EVMC 2025 conference
The Faculty of Environmental Protection together with partner organisations (UP FAMNIT, UL Biotechnical Faculty, Julius Kühn Institute, Hunting Association of Slovenia and the Slovenian Forestry Institute) is organising the 14th European Conference on Vertebrate Management, which will take place in Ankaran, Slovenia, between 12th and 16th May 2025.
The conference continues the tradition of previous meetings known as EVPMC, but with an expanded focus on the inclusion of all vertebrate species and various management approaches, including ecology, monitoring, and species conservation.
The main sections of the conference, covering the latest and most intriguing topics across a wide range of disciplines, include:
- ecology, physiology and behaviour;
- taxonomy and genetics;
- population monitoring and management;
- human-animal conflicts and social dimension;
- (invasive) alien vertebrates;
- crop and urban systems;
- health, zoonotic pathogens and parasites;
- rodenticide resistance;
- new tools and methods.
With over 200 research contributions from more than 40 countries, EVMC 2025 will bring together a diverse international community of experts to share experiences, present new discoveries, and foster collaborations that will shape the future of vertebrate management.
We are particularly pleased to welcome distinguished keynote speakers:
- Ancuta Fedorca, National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry ˝Marin Dracea˝, Romania;
- Atle Mysterud, University of Oslo, Norway;
- Heidi C. Hauffe, Fondazione Edmund Mach; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Italy;
- Joaquin Vicente Baños, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, Spain;
- László Kövér, University of Debrecen, Hungary;
- Sabine Begall, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany;
- Boris Kryštufek, Slovenian Museum of Natural History, Slovenia;
- Nikica Šprem, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
For more information and registration, visit: www.evmc.online
Wednesday, 5 February 2025 5th Biological Evening: Ethnobiology of Wartime: The Role of Wild Plants in Food Security
You are invited to the 5th Biological Evening titled "Ethnobiology of Wartime: The Role of Wild Plants in Food Security."
The lecture will be given by Naji Sulaiman, Assistant Professor of Environmental and Applied Botany at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy.
The event will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, February 12.
About the lecture: Wild food plants (WFPs) have been an important source of human nutrition since ancient times, and they particularly revive when conventional food is not available due to emergencies, such as natural disasters and conflicts. Nearly 60% of the Syrian population (12.4 million people) are food insecure due to the current war. The presentation focuses on the conflict’s effect on the use of WFPs and on what species are consumed by local people during the current crisis. The study documents 75 wild food plant species used for food and drink.
About the lecturer: Naji Sulaiman is an Assistant Professor of environmental and applied botany at the University of Gastronomic Sciences, Italy. As an ethnobotanist, his research primarily focuses on the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East regions. He has a PhD in Tropical Agrobiology and Bioresources Management from the Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, where he also earned his Master’s degree in Tropical Crop Management and Ecology. He completed his Bachelor’s studies in Agricultural Engineering at Tishreen University in Latakia, Syria. In recent years, his research concentrated on the relationship between people and wild plants under turbulent and warfare conditions.
