In 2002 the Karstology studies program was accredited by the University of Nova Gorica, and classes started in the 2002/2003 school year at the Karst Research Institute in Postojna. Most of the lecturers are from our institute and the rest from other ZRC SAZU institutes and the University of Ljubljana. Also among the instructors are recognized foreign professors from the Czech Republic, France, Croatia, Italy, and Poland. In 2009, 11 students from six countries were enrolled, and five students from four countries successfully defended their doctoral theses.
D.10 Educational activities
COBISS.SI-ID: 248728064We have the role of cave guardian in supervising a government concession for the management of the Postojna and Predjama tourist caves. The Turizem KRAS company has concessions from the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning for 5 and 15 years, from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2028. The duty of cave guardian is to provide professional supervision and recommendations for their sustainable management, to formulate suitable guidelines for the sustainable use of these natural assets, and to perform climatic and biologic monitoring of the two cave systems.
F.12 Improvements to an existing service
COBISS.SI-ID: 31034413In the final year of the project SMART-KARST: International KARSTological School “Sustainable MAnagement of natural Resources on karsT”, the final planned event was the 17th International Karstological School with the theme “Cave climate.” There were 133 participants from 31 countries, mostly young researchers, at the school in 2009. Along with lectures and poster presentations, the school offered field trips during which the results of our research in the “Karst Research” program were presented.
D.01 Chairing over/coordinating (international and national) projects
COBISS.SI-ID: 31151917We are involved in the planning and construction of expressways and railways in karst regions. We consider the integrity of karst landscapes and recommend avoiding important surface karst phenomena and already known caves. Special attention is devoted to the impact of road and rail construction and use on karst water resources. Construction work has revealed important knowledge about the formation of karst areas and how they develop on different bedrock, under different conditions, and through different processes.
F.17 Transfer of existing technologies, know-how, methods and procedures into practice
COBISS.SI-ID: 30293805In the framework of an environmental report researchers at the Karst Research Institute evaluated the impact of establishing and operating a proposed golf course on karst land and karst waters. We surveyed the caves in the area of the planned installation and its immediate vicinity and evaluated the impact on the karst relief, underground, and soil from the viewpoint of irrigation and fertilization and their influence on karst water in the vadose and phreatic zones. We gave an opinion on all impacts of this nature and the necessary mitigation measures they might require.
F.17 Transfer of existing technologies, know-how, methods and procedures into practice
COBISS.SI-ID: 29239341