The doctoral study programme Karstology, which in 2014 became also UNESCO Chair on Karst Education, is intended for candidates who have completed the previous study programme leading to a Bachelor’s degree or a secondlevel study programme in various fields and wish to gain knowledge on karst to become karst researchers or karst managers. The programme offers a broadbased insight into karstology (e.g. geological, surface and underground, hydrological and ecological features) on the one hand and highlyfocused orientation on the other, depending on the students’ requirements (e.g. karst waters, use and protection). The programme places great emphasis on small number of compulsory courses and a wide range of general elective courses. The study also gives great stress to autonomous research work. The procedure of planned cooperation with Yunnan University (Kunming, China) and the transfer of knowledge to Asian students at the Yunnan International Karst Environmental Laboratory within Yunnan University are in the course.
D.10 Educational activities
COBISS.SI-ID: 3623163Our basic knowledge about karst is successfully applied for solving the acute problems in the process of development of karst regions. A good knowledge of the natural and cultural heritage of karst is a precondition for the rational planning of life on it. We try to organize the knowledge to make it as useful as possible for planners. A new book series Karstology and development challenges on karst was designed to present the results of completed and new projects to a broader public. The first book with the subtitle Water contains selected directly applicable research studies on karst waters, their importance, characteristics, endangerment, and protection. In the second book construction on karst, tourism, ecology and karst protection are presented. In the next books other research fields will be presented in more detail.
F.17 Transfer of existing technologies, know-how, methods and procedures into practice
COBISS.SI-ID: 259195648International Karstological School »Classical Karst« is regularly going on since 1992. Every year higher number (at least 100) of international researchers, students and speleologists from all continents meets in Postojna where they participate on lectures, on discussions and field work. In 2009 the school was dedicated to »Cave climate«, in 2010 to »Dinaric karst«, in 2011 to »Protection of underground karst«, in 2012 to »Karst forms and processes«, in 2013 to »Hypogene speleogenesis (between theory and reality)« and in 2014 to »Karst and Microorganisms«. Selected presentations are as reviewed articles published in Acta Carsologica. This is important traditional international meeting, which unites internationally known karst scientists. The school was included in the SMARTKarst project within 6. EU framework programme.
B.01 Organiser of a scientific meeting
COBISS.SI-ID: 2540227Journal keeps high topical and geographical diversity. It includes papers from all fields of karst research and authors from almost all the continents. In 2009 three numbers of the volume 38 were published. In 2010 between three numbers of the volume 39, the second number was Special issue “Research Frontiers and Practical Challenges in Karst Hydrogeology”. Also the third number was special issue: “Cave micrometeorology”. Three numbers were as well published in 2011 (volume 40). The first number in 2011 was special issue: “Cave & Karst Science in Italy”. Also in volume 41 (2012) and in volume 42 (2013) three numbers were published each year. Issue 42/23 includes papers from international meeting Carbon and Boundaries in Karst organised in Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA by the Karst Waters Institute. The Impact Factor (JCR 2012) is 0.542. Since 2013 the online editorial process within Open Journal System has been introduced.
C.05 Editorial board of a national magazine
COBISS.SI-ID: 34581805We collect documentation of all known and documented caves. The number of last inscripted cave is 11.138. Cave registry consists of texts, maps and photographs. Caves are registered on the base of unique registry number and name. New entries were made on the base of new documents received in the Cave registry. Part of the data was included in digital data base, which is the base for state cave identification. This data base was sent to Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment. The number of known caves increases each year for 500 and in the data base are done 1.800 changes or corrections.
F.16 Improvements to an existing information system/databases
COBISS.SI-ID: 35380269