The three-year Doctoral study programme in Karstology (3rd level) is the only one of its kind in the world and the only one in which the student obtains the title Doctor of Science in Karstology. This is the only programme which offers an integral study of karstology, i.e. the study of the karst surface, karst underground and karst waters in one place. In addition to the small number of compulsory courses, the study is further enriched by 40 elective courses. It is intended for students of natural sciences and similar sciences directed towards scientific and research work, and for planners, managers and others who wish to learn more about the karst. This study programme is being enrolled by students from North, Central and South America, from Europe and Asia. So far 15 students of the programme have obtained their doctoral degrees; one of them in the past year. All of them have successfully found employment. This was the first chair established in Slovenia among the 600 UNESCO Chairs in 130 countries. It is one of the rare ones devoted to natural sciences and education, and the only one in the world containing the word karst in its title.
D.10 Educational activities
COBISS.SI-ID: 3880699We are involved in individual projects related to the development and protection of the natural and cultural heritage of karst areas, regional planning, water supply systems and protection of water resources, the construction of transportation infrastructure and water treatment plants, the collection of data on karst caves and their protection, karst ecology and determining the extent of human influence on the karst underground, planning and monitoring the exploitation of karst phenomena for tourism, and setting up museum exhibitions of karst phenomena. In this way our basic knowledge about karst is successfully applied for solving the acute problems in the process of development of karst regions.
F.17 Transfer of existing technologies, know-how, methods and procedures into practice
COBISS.SI-ID: 56041570International Karstological School »Classical Karst« is regularly going on since 1992. Every year numerous international researchers, students and speleologists from all continents meet in Postojna where they participate at lectures, discussions and field work on selected topic. In 2015 the school was dedicated to »Cave exploration and studies«. Selected presentations are as reviewed articles published in Acta Carsologica. This is important traditional international meeting, which unites internationally known karst scientists. In 2015, it was particularly solemn because we thereunder also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of International Union of Speleology UIS.
B.01 Organiser of a scientific meeting
COBISS.SI-ID: 38590509Three issues of 44th volume of Acta Carsologica were published in 2015. All together 26 articles were published on 420 pages. With contribution of 80 different authors from all continents Acta Carsologica keeps its topical and geographical diversity. Issue 44/3 was dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the publication. The journal is edited and published within Open Journal System and available freely at http://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica. It is included in WOS, SCOPUS and other bibliographical bases.
C.05 Editorial board of a national magazine
COBISS.SI-ID: 39564845We collect documentation of all known and documented caves in Slovenia. The number of last inscripted cave is 11.392. 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 the Environment and Spatial Planning. 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: 38588717