Friday, 27 February 2026 2 postdoctoral researcher positions in computer science are available

The University of Primorska Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT) invites applications for 2 postdoctoral researcher positions in computer science. We welcome outstanding candidates with a strong research record in computer science who are motivated to develop independent research and to contribute to the preparation of competitive project proposals.

Position description

At UP FAMNIT, we offer a dynamic international research environment and encourage postdoctoral researchers to pursue independent, high-quality research, build collaborations, and contribute to the research profile of the faculty. Since this is an open call, the exact research topic and mentoring arrangements will be determined based on the candidate’s expertise and research plan, as well as alignment with the research strengths in computer science at UP FAMNIT, which include Human-Computer Interaction, Distributed Ledger (blockchain), Language Technologies, Mixed Reality, Recommender Systems, Distributed Systems and Graph Theory. A full list of computer science faculty members is available here.

A key expectation is that the successful candidate will be proactive in preparing and submitting competitive research proposals, in particular to:

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) postdoctoral calls
• ERC Starting Grant
• Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) research project calls

The postdoctoral researcher is expected to:

• Develop and carry out an independent research programme leading to high-quality publications;
• Initiate and contribute to research proposals (MSCA, ERC, ARIS and other relevant schemes);
• Collaborate with UP FAMNIT researchers and engage in international scientific networks;
• Present results at seminars, conferences, and other dissemination activities;
• Teaching or delivering tutorials of one course per semester in selected core areas of computer science (such as programming, software development practices, computer systems and networks, data management etc).

Conditions

Duration: 2 years, with possible extension subject to funding and performance
Starting date: flexible; preferably by October 2026
Host institution: University of Primorska, Slovenia
Deadline for application: March 31st 2026

Requirements

• PhD in Computer Science or a closely related field;
• Strong research track record appropriate to career stage, evidenced by publications and research achievements;
• Demonstrated potential for scientific independence and leadership;
• Motivation and capability to prepare competitive research proposals (MSCA, ERC, ARIS);
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Employment terms

• Full-time employment, with contract conditions in line with Slovenian regulations;
• Salary and benefits according to Slovenian national postdoctoral salary scales (approximately 1900 EUR/month net);
• Support for research visits and conference participation.

How to apply

To apply, please email the following documents to razpisi.famnitiam@upr.si with the subject line:
“University of Primorska Postdoc – Computer Science 2026”

• Curriculum Vitae
• Publication list
• Research statement (including a short outline of a project idea, ideally aligned with the research work of UP FAMNIT faculty members)
• Copies of up to three recent papers (conference or journal)
• Names and e-mail addresses of two or three persons who can be contacted for reference (and who have agreed to be contacted)

Friday, 27 February 2026 T4EU SCIENCE CAFÉE: Anxious about mathematics? Is that even real?

HOST: University of Primorska, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT)

TOPIC: Anxious about mathematics? Is that even real?

DATE: Thursday, March 5, 2026, 17:00 – 18:30 CET

LOCATION: UP FAMNIT Lobby 

The event will be broadcast live via T4EU’s YouTube.

DESCRIPTION:

Mathematical achievement and students’ career choices depend not only on the quality of teaching and their cognitive abilities, but also on their attitudes and emotional experiences. One of the most important of these is math anxiety, that is a feeling of tension, worry, or even fear that arises when dealing with numbers or mathematical tasks.

In this talk, we will explore what math anxiety is, how common it is, and how it manifests in everyday situations from the classroom to exams and real-life decision making. Understanding that this form of anxiety exists, and recognizing its impact, is the first step toward helping students cope with it and build more positive, confident relationships with mathematics.

Whether you are a teacher, a student, or simply someone who has ever thought “I’m just not a math person,” this talk aims to shed light on how emotions shape our engagement with mathematics - and what we can do about it.

Our guest at the Science Café will be Assoc. Prof. Krzysztof Cipora from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. The discussion will also feature students of Psychology and Biopsychology from UP FAMNIT.

About Assoc. Prof. Krzysztof Cipora

Krzysztof Cipora is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków and co-leads the Mathematical Cognition and Learning Lab (MCLL). After completing his PhD at Jagiellonian University, he continued his research career as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Tübingen in Germany and as a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Mathematical Cognition at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.

His research focuses on:

• basic numerical processing and its relationship to mathematical skills,
• math anxiety and its impact on performance across different groups,
• the influence of language and culture on cognition, as well as issues of open science and research reproducibility.

He is currently leading and collaborating on international projects investigating spatial-numerical cognition in mathematicians and strategies to reduce math anxiety among future teachers.

Dr. Cipora will take part in the Visiting Professorship programme within the framework of Transform4Europe (T4EU), an international initiative that brings leading scholars to partner universities to enrich teaching, research, and academic collaboration.

The programme goes beyond short-term mobility, supporting knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary cooperation, and joint engagement with key societal, digital, and environmental challenges across Europe.

Wednesday, 25 February 2026 Does everybody? Does anyone? Do they always? What inter- and intraindividual stability of cognitive effects can tell us about (numerical) cognition?

A seminar entitled Does everybody? Does anyone? Do they always? What inter- and intraindividual stability of cognitive effects can tell us about (numerical) cognition? will be held on 9 March at 11:00 am in the VP3 Lecture Room. The seminar will be delivered by Prof. Krzysztof Cipora.

Cognitive psychologists generalize a lot: not only from samples to the population, but also from group-level effects to believing that these effects are present and stable in all individuals. Such generalisations have important implications for theory building – most theories of cognitive / experimental psychology assume universality of observed phenomena. In this talk I will present work on individual prevalence of numerical cognition phenomena: the SNARC effect (various instances), the Numerical Distance Effect, the Size Effect, and the Unit-Decade Compatibility effect. Taken together, this work shows that even robust group-level effects can be driven by a minority of participants who reveal these effects above chance level.

The said effects differ with regards to individual prevalence and proportion of individuals revealing reliable reverse effects. Knowing whether an individual reveals a reliable effect or not based on results of a single session, one may wonder whether revealing a reliable effect is an individual characteristic, which is stable across time. We investigated this for the SNARC effect. In a subsequent study, participants performed the typical SNARC task for 30 days.

We observed massive intra-individual variation in SNARC and other effects that could be calculated from the parity judgment data. Taken together, these findings show that novel insights into experimental psychology can be obtained using differential psychology approach. Inter- and intra-individual stability may potentially be considered in theory building.

Prof. Cipora will take part in the Visiting Professorship programme within the framework of Transform4Europe (T4EU), an international initiative that brings leading scholars to partner universities to enrich teaching, research, and academic collaboration.

The programme goes beyond short-term mobility, supporting knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary cooperation, and joint engagement with key societal, digital, and environmental challenges across Europe.

Tuesday, 24 February 2026 RIN Seminar on Accessibility of Public Sector Websites and Mobile Apps

On 23 February, a Monday RIN seminar titled 'Accessibility of Public Sector Websites and Mobile Apps ' was held.

The seminar was led by Gašper Žuber, an advisor at the Slovenian Administrative Academy within the Ministry of Public Administration. He specializes in quality and accessibility in the public sector, monitors and promotes compliance with Slovenian accessibility laws based on international standards, and regularly presents on accessibility in public services.

In this presentation, Žuber explained why accessibility matters for all users, common pitfalls in creating accessible online content, and practical steps participants could take to make websites, mobile apps, and public documents more inclusive. The lecturer also shared insights on typical accessibility errors, such as missing alternative text for images, issues with keyboard navigation, and inaccessible PDF documents, and offered simple guidelines that could be applied to improve digital inclusion within organizations.

Friday, 20 February 2026 Invitation to a Workshop on Open Science

On Wednesday, 11 March, Assoc. Prof. Ana Slavec, PhD, from the Department of Applied Natural Sciences, will participate as a speaker at a Workshop on Open Science organized by UNG, which will be held in a hybrid format.

The workshop will be organized in two parts. The first part will present the Slovenian Open Science Community and its activities, while the second part will provide a brief overview of Open Science and Academic Publishing, including the Core Principles of Publishing Ethics and the role of Artificial Intelligence in Scholarly Publishing.

The workshop is also open to other participants.

All information is available HERE.

You are warmly invited!

Thursday, 19 February 2026 INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE - OPPORTUNITY FOR SABBATICAL IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2026/2027

Call conditions

Higher education teachers and researchers who meet the following conditions can apply:

• Have a valid appointment for a position of a higher education teacher or researcher, classified in the profile R2 (at least 3 years from the first election), R3 or R4 within the European Framework for Research Careers;
• Have an employment contract of indefinite duration for at least half of full-time employment at the UP;
• Have been employed by the UP continuously for the last 6 years prior to applying;
• They meet the conditions for the head of a research programme, in accordance with Article 5 of the Rules on Stable Funding of Scientific Research Activities of the University of Primorska (regardless of these provisions, they must be employed at least part-time).

Application content

Applicants must submit their application using Form 1 (Application for Sabbatical).
The application must contain:

• motivation letter (with contact details and researcher's signature),
• the proposed period of the Sabbatical (if the candidate requests a Sabbatical in the duration of one semester),
• opinion of the dean/director of the parent faculty/institute (with the signature of the dean/director),
• Sabbatical programme,
• a written invitation from the hosting organisation (signed by the hosting organisation), in case Sabbatical envisages hosting at another organisation

The Sabbatical programme referred to in the fourth indent of the preceding paragraph must contain:

• a description of the starting points and goals of the Sabbatical,
• a description of the content and the course, including the time and place of the Sabbatical activities,
• expected results,
• justification of the contribution to the progress of the researcher in the field of research, pedagogy and/or other areas of work,
• a description of the benefits of the programme for colleagues, students, faculty/institute and/or the UP, in particular, how the researcher will transfer the knowledge and experience gained after the end of the Sabbatical.

Applicants who meet the above conditions express their interest by submitting their application in electronic form (with digital signatures or scanned handwritten signatures) to the e-mail address: kadrovska@upr.si  marked "Application to the internal call – Sabbatical". Deadline for applications is March 31, 2026, by 12 (noon).

You can find more information about the call here: Invitation to participate - oportunity for Sabbatical

Annexes:

Form 1 - Application for Sabbatical

Form 2 - Sabbatical Report

Thursday, 19 February 2026 Mateja Erce Paoli, new Doctor of Science

Today, 19 February 2026, we welcomed another Doctor of Science at UP FAMNIT.

Mateja Erce Paoli, student of the doctoral study programe Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments (in Slovenian) at UP FAMNIT, has successfully defended a doctoral dissertation entitled Addressing psychosocial needs with building design to encourage healthy and active ageing; under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Michael David Burnard, PhD.

We sincerely congratulate the new Doctor of Science and wish her much success in her future research!

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 Dr. Kenny Bešter Štorgel is the first recipient of the Vidav Award

The committee composed of Prof. Dr. Sergio Cabello Justo, Prof. Dr. Aleksey Kostenko, and Prof. Dr. Marjeta Kramar-Fijavž has selected Dr. Kenny Bešter Štorgel, assistant with a PhD at UP FAMNIT, as the first recipient of the Ivan Vidav Award.

The new distinction for outstanding research achievements of early-career mathematicians who have carried out a significant part of their research at Slovenian institutions will, from this year onward, be awarded every three years by DMFA Slovenia. This year’s laureate will receive the award at the society’s general assembly on Tuesday, March 17, at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the University of Ljubljana, where he will also present his research work.

PhD in graph theory

In 2023, as a student of the doctoral study programme Mathematical Sciences at UP FAMNIT, Dr. Bešter Štorgel successfully defended his doctoral dissertation titled Certain Graph-Theoretic Invariants and Decompositions: From Structure to Bounds and Algorithms, supervised by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Borut Lužar and co-supervised by Prof. Dr. Martin Milanič.

During his doctoral studies, he was employed as a young researcher at the Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto. Prior to this, he also completed his undergraduate degree in Mathematics and his master’s degree in Mathematical Sciences at our faculty. He is currently employed at UP FAMNIT and at the Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto, where he teaches courses related to mathematics and computer science. His research interests include structural, algorithmic, and chromatic graph theory.

Congratulations! 

Saturday, 14 February 2026 Successful Implementation of INFO DAYS in Koper and Izola

On Friday and Saturday, February 13 and 14, INFO DAYS  for prospective students took place across Slovenia. At UP FAMNIT, we hosted our events at three 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. dr. Ademir Hujdurović and Prof. dr. Elena Bužan, before the presentations began. Meanwhile, in Izola (Livade 1.0), where some study programs are conducted, students were greeted by Assoc. Prof. Živa Fišer, Head of the Department of Biodiversity, and  Assoc. Prof. Alenka Baruca Arbeiter, Department of Applied Natural Sciences.

In Koper, prospective students received information about Mathematics, Mathematics in Economics and Finance, Computer Science, Mathematics and Computer Science and Biopsychology. In Izola, they were introduced to Bioinformatics, Agronomy, Wood Innovation for Sustainability and Conservation Biology.

After the presentations, attendees had the opportunity to visit FAMNIT’s information fair, where they met student tutors and Student Services.

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, Mathematics and Computer Science, Wood Innovation for Sustainability 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 4, 2026, at 2:00 PM. Zoom link:  https://upr-si.zoom.us/j/66000735094#success

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).

Thursday, 12 February 2026 The doctoral thesis defence of Mateja Erce Paoli

Mateja Erce Paoli, student of the doctoral study programe Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments (in Slovenian) at UP FAMNIT will defend her doctoral thesis Addressing psychosocial needs with building design to encourage healthy and active ageing; under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Michael David Burnard, PhD.

The defence will take place on Thursday, 19 February 2026 at 10:00 at the InnoRenew CoE, Livade 6a, Izola, classroom Sequoia.

The doctoral disertation is available in the University Library.

You are kindly invited!

Wednesday, 11 February 2026 International Day of Women and Girls - inspiring female researchers who lead citizen science projects UP

2026 International Day of Women and Girls in Science shifts the focus from recommendations and reflection to showcasing existing good practices and solutions for building more inclusive Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) ecosystems with the slogan “From vision to impact: Redefining STEM by closing the gender gap« .

So this year, to mark February 11, International Day of Women and Girls in Science, at UP, we focused on researchers that tickle the topic of citizen science in STEM, especially in the field of biology. Citizen science means the active participation of the public in scientific research projects. The basic aim of citizen science is to offer every citizen the opportunity to actively participate in the various phases of the research process. By doing so, we encourage not only the broader public, but especially young girls and women to be actively involved and see their role in science as active and inspired future scientists.

CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS AT UP

REGALNICA – REGIONAL CENSUS OF THE EUROPEAN TREE FROG (Hyla arborea)

Assist. Prof. Martina Lužnik, Department of Biodiversity UP FAMNT 

What is the main goal of REGalnica, and why is surveying the European tree frog important for Slovenia? And how do surveys such as REGALNICA contribute to the conservation of vulnerable species and their habitats?

There are two main goals: the first is to collect field data on the occurrence of the European tree frog (Hyla arborea) in ponds and other water bodies in south-western Slovenia; the second goal is to involve the public as much as possible so that awareness of endangered species, such as amphibians, can be effectively spread through first-hand field experience.

The European tree frog is a small but charismatic frog that is listed in Slovenia on the Red List of threatened amphibians, where it is defined as a vulnerable species. In south-western Slovenia, however, we had already noticed several years before the first REGALNICA that its occurrence was becoming increasingly rare, perhaps because its breeding sites – wetlands and ponds – are also disappearing. With this project, we want to obtain as reliable data as possible on its occurrence across a wide area – on the Karst, in Istria, in the Brkini and elsewhere. Until recently, on late spring evenings, we were used to loud croaking here, which could be heard from practically every pond or pool.

How does the project connect science, people and nature, and how do participants take part in data collection?

I think it is important that we are all aware of the biodiversity in our surroundings, meaning the diversity of species as well as their natural habitats. This is not something that is important only for scientists or conservationists, but is absolutely essential for everyone. By taking part in this project, participants do not only get to know the European tree frog, as they see, hear and experience much more than just a single species.

REGAlnica is organised so that on a selected evening in May, we gather at the Škocjan Caves Park, with which we have cooperated since the beginning of the project. There, we explain to participants how to reliably detect this species – male European tree frogs have a very characteristic and loud call, by which they can be recognised from a distance. All participants then head out at the same time for night fieldwork to predetermined locations – near ponds and other water bodies – and in a single night, we obtain data for just over one hundred locations. Of course, in the field they also encounter many other organisms – other amphibians call from the ponds, scops owls and other nocturnal birds sing nearby, and jackals often howl in the distance… The nocturnal soundscape is extremely interesting.

Four REGALNICA events have already been carried out, and the fifth will take place this May – what has surprised or impressed you most about the events so far? Are any new event's developments in sight?

The first thing that pleasantly surprised us was the strong response, as we had between 50 and 70 participants at each event. Many are students and biologists, which may be expected, but there are also many other participants, for example families with children and local residents who feel close to nature. It is also lovely to see participants return every year if they can. What makes us happiest is the participants’ enthusiasm. When they call us and report how many frogs they have already heard that evening or what else they have seen. This enthusiasm for nature is wonderful.

This year we are not yet planning major new developments, but in the coming years we would like to expand REGALNICA across the border to Croatia and perhaps also to Italy. It is important to understand what is happening to the populations of this species in this cross-border connected area.

What are the key findings so far that have emerged from the field data collection?

HOW TO JOIN THE CITIZENS' INITIATIVE "REGALNICA"?

SEARCH FOR NON-NATIVE FLATWORMS IN SLOVENIA

Group of female researchers from the Department of Biodiversity, UP FAMNIT:

Answered by: Assoc. Prof. Živa Fišer, Head of the Biodiversity Department, UP FAMNIT

• Assist. Prof. Martina Lužnik

• Assist. Prof. Sara Zupan

• Assist. Prof. Katja Adam

What was the main reason you established and are developing a citizen science initiative?

The reason was entirely simple – one of us found an organism in her garden that she could not identify despite her biological knowledge. With the help of the internet, we discovered that they were flatworms, terrestrial planarians, which have no native representatives in Slovenia. A review of the literature showed that these organisms can in some places represent a considerable environmental problem, so it seemed sensible to try to find out more about them. Researching such poorly known and relatively inconspicuous species is extremely difficult, so the idea of doing this with the help of the public immediately came to mind.

What surprised you most in researching non-native flatworms?

I think we were most surprised that they are a fascinating group of animals. Although at first glance they are unattractive and often quite repulsive to people, their life cycle is incredible. They are capable of self-regeneration – if we cut them in half, a new individual grows from each half within a few weeks. Some species have the toxin tetrodotoxin, which they use for defence or to paralyse prey. This is the same toxin as that found in pufferfish or some tropical tree frogs.

What challenge do you most often face when involving the public?

The biggest challenge is reaching people and motivating them to join the research. It is easier if more attractive animals are involved, as people are then much more willing to take part and contribute more data. With organisms such as flatworms, however, we have to invest a great deal of effort in promoting the project. For this reason as well, the four researchers decided to join together as a team, divide the work, and try to obtain as much data as possible. We were very grateful to the magazines that were willing to publish an article about our search and thus expand the circle of recipients.

Why do you think this way of researching is particularly important today?

It is a misconception that in the past citizens did not participate in research; the term citizen science was simply not used at the time. However, this is one of the good ways to obtain a larger amount of data precisely for such more hidden species. We expect flatworms mainly in private gardens, indoor plant pots, and garden centres; these are places that researchers of course cannot freely enter and investigate, so the public is invaluable here.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN THE INITIATIVE “SEARCH FOR NON-NATIVE FLATWORMS IN SLOVENIA”?

If you have encountered flatworms from the turbellaria group while gardening or engaging in other activities, please do not touch them (you can lift them with sticks), record your observation (take a photo and, if possible, catch it), and report your find to:  ploskicrvi@upr.si,, via the Facebook group “Tujerodni ploski črvi v Sloveniji”,the form > HERE, or by landline (05 663 58 07; on weekdays).

More

LOOKING FOR COWSLIPS

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Živa Fišer, Head of the Department of Biodiversity, UP FAMNIT

What can an individual contribute to the project and to scientific research through simple observation?

Why is public participation in protecting endangered species so valuable?

What is the most important piece of information, lesson, or knowledge that people gain when they take part in this project?

HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN THE INITIATIVE “LOOKING FOR COWSLIPS”?

STEP CHANGE: SRNA APPLICATION FOR MONITORING WILDLIFE ANIMALS

Prof. Dr. Elena Bužan, Department of Biodiversity UP FAMNIT

What do participants learn about wildlife species when collecting observations?

What was the most surprising or interesting aspect of the data collected by users?

What would you say to anyone thinking about joining the SRNA project for the first time?

HOW TO GE INVOLVED IN "STEP CHANGE: SRNA APPLICATION FOR MONITORING WILDLIFE ANIMALS"?

PROTECTION OF BRONZE MONUMENTS IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

Assoc. Prof.  Ana Slavec, UP FAMNIT & UP IAM / InnoRenew CoE

What led you to work with citizen science?

Why are photographs and observations by citizen researchers crucial for understanding bronze deterioration?

How does public participation contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage?

What message would you share on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, with those considering a research career or participation in scientific projects?

HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN "PROTECTION OF BRONZE MONUMENTS IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT"?

Wednesday, 11 February 2026 130 years since the birth of a forgotten Slovenian mathematician

On February 11, 2026, a round table was held at UP FAMNIT in Koper to celebrate the release of the freely accessible electronic edition of the book The Life Path of Mathematics of Ivo Lah by Janez Mulec and the release of the commemorative postage stamp Ivo Lah – 130 years of birth, which was issued by Pošta Slovenije at the end of January.

The participants of the round table shed light on the life and work of Ivo Lah (1896–1979), a Slovenian mathematician, actuary, statistician and demographer, who with his work significantly marked the development of mathematical and actuarial sciences in the wider Central European area.

The work and, above all, the life of Ivo Lah was described in a book published at the end of 2023 by Janez Mulec the Elder. Prof. Dr. Tomaž Pisanski advocated that the University of Primorska also publish it in freely accessible electronic form.

The event was led by Dr. Simona Kustec, editor-in-chief of the University of Primorska Publishing House. The round table was attended by Dr. Janez Komelj, Dr. Tomaž Pisanski and Dr. Janez Mulec, who from different professional perspectives shed light on the significance of Lah's work and its influence on today's research in mathematics, actuarial science and statistics.

About Ivo Lah

Ivo Lah was born in 1896 in Štrukljeva vas and studied in Vienna and Zagreb. Early in his career, he established himself as one of the leading actuaries in the Balkans. Between 1937 and 1940, he published the first scientific journal with actuarial and mathematical content in Ljubljana, Glasnik Udruženja aktuara Kraljevine Jugoslavije, in which contributions were also published in the Slovene language, which made a significant contribution to the development of professional terminology.

In 1942 he published the first mortality tables, and after World War II the trilingual monograph Računske osnovnice životnog osiguranja (1947), which served as an expert basis for negotiations on war reparations; as a member of the Yugoslav state delegation, he participated in the negotiations in Rome. In 1954 he introduced numbers that were soon named after him – Lah numbers. These connect increasing and decreasing powers and, together with Stirling numbers, form an important structure in discrete mathematics. Although they originated in the context of actuarial research, they quickly found a place in modern mathematics and are still the subject of research today. Despite the scientific weight of his contributions, Ivo Lah was overlooked for many decades. It was only in 2002 that it became generally known that the author of Lah numbers was Slovenian. The mystery was solved by mathematicians Tomaž Pisanski and Marko Petkovšek. His professional and personal journey was also marked by post-war stigma, as he disagreed with the social order of the former Yugoslavia in many ways and was unjustly punished by losing his right to vote after the end of World War II.

Tuesday, 10 February 2026 UP part of the Slovenian Artificial Intelligence Factory

On 9 February 2026, the official launch of the Slovenian Artificial Intelligence Factory project – SLAIF (Slovenian AI Factory) took place in Ljubljana. The event, which brought together the highest representatives of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, the European Commission, the SLAIF consortium, and the business sector, marked the beginning of one of Slovenia’s most important national initiatives in the field of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

The attendees were initially addressed by the Director of the Jožef Stefan Institute, Jure Cizelj, the Director of the Institute of Information Science (IZUM), Aleš Bošnjak, the Head of the Representation of the European Commission, Dr. Jerneja Jug Jerše, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr. Robert Golob , and the technical coordinator of the SLAIF project, Sašo Džerovski.

The new Slovenian Artificial Intelligence Factory (SLAIF), which is expected to replace the current EuroHPC Vega system in 2027, represents new infrastructure for artificial intelligence. The project’s technical coordinator, Sašo Džerovski, explains that in the 20th century countries built roads and electricity grids, while in the 21st century they must think about building infrastructure for artificial intelligence. With the SLAIF project, Slovenia will not only be a user of artificial intelligence but also an active contributor to European technological sovereignty and global competitiveness.

The purpose of SLAIF is to unify the artificial intelligence ecosystem through shared infrastructure and, through easy access, tailored support, and appropriate tools, connect academic, industrial, and public stakeholders, while also enabling use by small and medium-sized enterprises.

Prime Minister Dr. Robert Golob emphasized: “We must establish conditions for leveraging the knowledge of experts and transferring it into the economy. I see this as one of the greatest advantages of the new supercomputer and the artificial intelligence factory. The new supercomputer will not be intended only for scientists, but will also be accessible to others, with industry and the economy at the forefront.” The Prime Minister also mentioned that the government is considering access for citizens, which would establish a national generative artificial intelligence platform hosted within SLAIF.

About the project, in which the University of Primorska (UP) participates together with its member, the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (FAMNIT), the project leader, Prof. Dr. Marko Tkalčič, also spoke. Although he was not present on this occasion, he provided the following statement: “The most advanced forms of artificial intelligence today are no longer possible without high-performance computing infrastructure (HPC). Access to such infrastructure is usually limited to the largest global players. The SLAIF project reverses this logic: by establishing a national artificial intelligence factory (Slovenian AI Factory – SLAIF), it opens access to HPC-supported artificial intelligence to researchers, companies, startups, and public administration, while at the same time actively positioning itself within the European AI Factories and EuroHPC landscape. The key focus of the project is not only research, but also the systematic application of artificial intelligence running on supercomputing infrastructure. This will be implemented through training, user support, and concrete use cases. At the University of Primorska, we are proud that, as part of this consortium, we contribute to making HPC-supported artificial intelligence accessible and useful to the broader community, not only to the technological elite.” The event was attended on behalf of the University of Primorska by the Vice-Rector for Internationalisation, Prof. Dr. Michaël Mrissa, Prof. Dr. Jernej Vičič  from UP FAMNIT, and UP FAMNIT student Nataša Miletić.

SLAIF services will address four key areas of the Slovenian economy: the green transition, health and biotechnology, the digital society, and artificial intelligence in science.  Project results, which will be created in cooperation with research institutes, hospitals, small and medium-sized enterprises, and government bodies, will demonstrate impacts in areas such as precision agriculture, medical diagnostics, smart energy systems, and other scientific discoveries.

The SLAIF project, as part of an initiative that currently includes thirteen factories across Europe, is funded by the Republic of Slovenia (Ministry of Digital Transformation and Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation), the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, and the European Commission.

The SLAIF project coordinator is the Institute of Information Science. Partner institutions, in addition to the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies of the University of Primorska, include the Jožef Stefan Institute, the Academic and Research Network of Slovenia, the Faculty of Computer and Information Science of the University of Ljubljana, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Informatics of the University of Maribor, the Faculty of Information Studies of the University of Novo Mesto, the University of Nova Gorica, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, and the Ljubljana Technology Park.

Monday, 9 February 2026 Successfully Concluded Conference of the B-RIN and MARiNKA Projects

On Friday, 6 February 2026, the final conference of the B-RIN project (Development of Fundamental Computer Science and Informatics Content and Knowledge in Kindergartens and Primary Schools) and the MARiNKA project (Young People with Fundamental CS&I Knowledge are Creators of the Future) took place at the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies of the University of Primorska (UP FAMNIT).

The event, which attracted 110 participants, brought together project partners from UP FAMNIT,  the besedilo UP PEF, the Faculty of Computer and Information Science of the University of Ljubljana, as well as numerous education professionals from kindergartens and primary schools across Slovenia.

In the opening session, participants were welcomed by the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of the University of Primorska, Prof. Dr. Tina Štemberger, representatives of the Ministry of Education, and the head of both projects, Prof. Dr. Sonja Čotar Konrad . All speakers emphasized the importance of developing and implementing fundamental computer science and informatics (CS&I) content throughout the entire vertical of the education system. Prof. Dr. Sonja Čotar Konrad highlighted: “These are fundamental competences that every individual needs today, not only programmers. Over the three years of training, children have gained confidence and become more independent in classroom work. An important contribution of the project is also the learning community we created together. We overcame challenges collectively, which strengthened our collaboration. Such a learning community ensures the sustainability of the project and supports further development of schools and kindergartens in other areas as well.”

The conference began with two keynote lectures.Prof. Dr. Tim Bell from the University of Canterbury (Aotearoa, New Zealand) highlighted the concept of computational thinking, which is increasingly being included in national curricula. He focused particularly on how computational thinking can be introduced to younger learners in a meaningful and accessible way, emphasizing the Computer Science Unplugged approach and its connection to programming and the broader understanding of computer science.

Children Need More Knowledge About How Artificial Intelligence Works

The conference began with two keynote lectures. Prof. Dr. Tim Bell from the University of Canterbury (Aotearoa, New Zealand) highlighted the concept of computational thinking, which is increasingly being included in national curricula. He focused particularly on how computational thinking can be introduced to younger learners in a meaningful and accessible way, emphasizing the Computer Science Unplugged approach and its connection to programming and the broader understanding of computer science.

The second keynote lecture, titled Human at the Centre: Technology and the Future of Education, was delivered by Prof. Dr. Ernest Ženko  (UP FHŠ). He emphasized that technology in education is not a neutral tool, but a factor that reshapes how we learn, teach, and understand the world. He stated: “Decades ago, computer science education focused on understanding the basics of technology, programming knowledge, and algorithmic thinking – meaning the ability to transfer real problems into a way of thinking that enables solving them. This is something today’s generations often lack. For example, research from the United Kingdom has shown that many teenagers believe artificial intelligence actually thinks. Such misconceptions would not occur if students had more knowledge already in primary school. These topics help children understand the world they live in – for example, how systems that suggest friends on social networks work or how systems collect their data.”

This was followed by presentations of interim evaluations of both projects. Associate Prof. Dr. Mirko Prosen  and Associate Prof. Dr. Sabina Ličen  presented interim results of the B-RIN project evaluation, conducted over two consecutive school years (2023/24 and 2024/25). The mixed-method evaluation showed positive effects on children’s learning, the professional development of teachers and educators, and progress in understanding fundamental CS&I content, while also identifying implementation challenges.

The interim evaluation report of the MARiNKA project was presented by Prof. Dr. Tina Štemberger, who emphasized that the project is progressing according to planned goals and timeline. Key achievements include establishing development groups in schools, creating innovative learning environments through teaching scenarios, active student involvement, systematic quality monitoring, and professional training for project participants.

Good Practice Examples from Kindergartens and Primary Schools Across Slovenia

The afternoon programme focused on presentations of good practice examples from participating kindergartens and primary schools. In kindergartens, fundamental computer science concepts were introduced through the Computer Science Unplugged approach, meaning learning computational thinking processes through play, movement, cooking, and other activities. The principal of Koper Kindergarten, Alenka Rušt, highlighted:  “Within the project, we introduced children to a more demanding topic for the preschool period – password safety and the importance of protecting personal data. We wanted to gradually prepare them for the risks of modern digital environments, as we observe that children already use digital devices extensively in kindergarten. Together with colleagues, we prepared an engaging and developmentally appropriate game based on a story about a girl who loses her teddy bear because she reveals her password. We are pleased that we can present even complex topics to children in a way they understand.”

An example of good practice in teaching programming was presented by Dr. Josip Plemlj Primary School Bled . Students learned programming basics using LEGO bricks and animation in the Stop Motion program. Aleksandra Frelih explained: “This was a winning example for us. The children were enthusiastic about the activity. We focused on understanding algorithms and wanted students to understand the entire video creation process – from the first to the final step. They learned that there is a sequence of steps that must be followed and learned to recognize where mistakes can occur.”

Looking to the Future

The success of the B-RIN and MARiNKA projects is also acknowledged by Radovan Kranjc, advisor at the National Education Institute of Slovenia, who announced a new development for seventh-grade students: “We are following what is planned in the school system. We know that in 2028, a new subject, Informatics and Digital Technologies, will be introduced. We are currently preparing guidelines for the national curriculum commission and considering which content should be included in this subject, which will unfortunately only have 35 hours. That means one hour per week in one school year, when all seventh-grade students will be introduced to at least some essential content from computer science and informatics.”

The conference concluded with final reflections emphasizing the importance of connecting research, pedagogy, and practice, as well as the long-term vision for the development of computer science and informatics education in Slovenia. The final conference confirmed that the B-RIN and MARiNKA projects represent an important step toward systematic, high-quality, student-centered teaching of fundamental CS&I content.

Consortium partners of the B-RIN project include: Vrtec Mavrica Brežice, Vrtec Jelka, Vrtec Koper, OŠ in vrtec Ankaran, OŠ Solkan and Vrtec Solkan, OŠ heroja Janeza Hribarja Stari trg pri Ložu and Vrtec Polhek, OŠ Frana Erjavca Nova Gorica, OŠ Frana Kocbeka Gornji Grad, OŠ Oskarja Kovačiča Škofije, and OŠ Vojke Šmuc Izola.

Consortium partners of the MARiNKA project include: UL Faculty of Computer and Information Science, OŠ Trzin, OŠ Prežihovega Voranca Ljubljana, OŠ dr. Josipa Plemlja Bled, OŠ 8 talcev Logatec, OŠ Staneta Žagarja Kranj, OŠ n. h. Maksa Pečarja, OŠ Vojke Šmuc Izola, OŠ Frana Erjavca Nova Gorica, OŠ Janeza Puharja Kranj, and OŠ Elvire Vatovec Prade.

Monday, 9 February 2026 Open Call for Awards and Recognitions of the Alumni UP in 2026

The Alumni Club of the University of Primorska (hereinafter Alumni UP) is a network of Alumni Clubs of individual faculties of the University of Primorska, whose purpose is to maintain contact with and among alumni, to organize educational, scientific, and other professional events, to support excellence in research, and to strengthen the identity and sense of belonging of the University of Primorska graduate community.

You can find more information about the operation of Alumni UP, membership, activities, and member benefits on the website: https://www.upr.si/si/up--okolje/alumni-up/.

The University of Primorska issues an    Open call for awards and recognitions of the Alumni UP  club to strengthen the identity and sense of belonging of the Alumni UP community.

TYPES OF AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Alumni UP Award for Excellence   

The Alumni UP Award for Excellence is awarded to a graduate of the University of Primorska (hereinafter UP), a member of the Alumni UP, for outstanding career achievements, exceptional philanthropic activity, or achievements in the cultural or sporting fields, or if the candidate has otherwise distinguished himself/herself as a leader or role model in one or more areas of activity. In all cases mentioned, the candidate has contributed to the reputation and visibility of UP through their work and achievements.  

 Alumni UP Award for outstanding achievements in the professional field   

The UP Alumni Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement is awarded to a UP graduate, a member of the UP Alumni, who has achieved outstanding success in their professional community and/or has made a significant contribution to the development of the profession through their work. The candidate has contributed to the reputation and visibility of UP through their work and achievements.

 Alumni UP Award "Young UP"   

The UP Alumni Award "Young UP" is awarded to a UP graduate, a member of the UP Alumni, who has completed their studies at UP within the past five (5) years and has demonstrated particular excellence in their professional field and/or dedication to community service, public service, or philanthropy, and who has achieved significant career, scientific research, or other professional accomplishments during this period. The candidate has contributed to the reputation and visibility of UP through their work and achievements.

 "Patron of Alumni UP" recognition   

The "Patron of Alumni UP" award is given to a supporter of Alumni UP for a significant contribution to the development and activities of the Alumni UP community. The award is not linked to membership in Alumni UP and may be awarded to legal entities or individuals.

PROCEDURE FOR SUBMITTING NOMINATIONS AND CONDITIONS FOR AWARDING THE RECOGNITIONS

Candidates for awards may be proposed by:

• Alumni UP bodies,
• a member or a group of members of Alumni UP.

On behalf of a group of members, the proposal should be submitted by a representative of the group. 

Candidates for recognitions may be proposed by:

• Alumni UP bodies,
• a member or a group of members of Alumni UP,
• the deans of UP faculties, the directors of UP members, and UP management.

On behalf of a group of members, the proposal should be submitted by a representative of the group. 

An individual may not nominate himself/ herself. The President of the UP Alumni, as a voting member of the Commission, cannot propose candidates. Voting members of the Commission cannot propose candidates in the year of the award.

Candidates for the awards must meet the following conditions:

• have completed a postgraduate or undergraduate degree at UP or an advanced study program at UP and
• membership of the Alumni UP.

How to submit your proposal: via the e-form, which is available  HERE .

The following information must be entered in the e-form:

• type of award or recognition,
• the first name, last name, and email address of the proposer or group representative,
• the first name, last name, and email address of the award nominee,
• the name of the organisation and the first name and last name of the person responsible in the case of a candidate for a recognition,
• A justification of the proposal stating the reason for nominating the candidate (up to 450 words), a brief description of the candidate's achievements.

Please support the justification submitted via the online form with:

• relevant supporting documents (e.g. recommendations, list of published works, or other documents that demonstrate the candidate's achievements and contributions) and
• the nominee’s consent (consent  HERE ), which you should send to the email address: alumni@upr.si.

Deadline for submission of proposals: 8 March 2026

Deadline for selection of candidates: 22 March 2026

SELECTION PROCEDURE

 The Selection Committee for awards and recognitions (hereinafter: the Committee), appointed by the Rector on the proposal of UP members, reviews and considers all proposals for awards and recognitions received within the call for applications. If the Committee finds that a proposal for an award or recognition is formally incomplete or inadequately drafted, it shall invite the proposer to complete the documentation within three (3) days.

The Committee shall adopt the Criteria for the Selection of the Recipients of the Alumni UP Awards and Recognitions at the time of the annual public call for applications. The Committee may request an additional opinion from a relevant expert in the field, employed at UP, or from a practitioner.

The Committee reserves the right to change the type of award, with the agreement of the candidate, if it considers that another type of award or recognition, as defined in Article 2 of these Regulations, is more appropriate for the proposed candidate. The Committee shall forward the selection of candidates for the awards and recognitions to the Rector of UP for approval. 

AWARDING

Awards and recognitions shall be awarded once a year. Alumni UP may award a maximum of one award of each type and up to three recognitions per year. Exceptionally, in a given year, no specific award or recognition may be awarded, or fewer than the specified number of awards and recognitions, if no proposals are submitted or if the submitted proposals do not meet the requirements. Individuals or legal entities may receive an award or recognition only once for the same category.

The awards and recognitions will be presented by the President of Alumni UP at the main event of Alumni UP Week in 2026. The award ceremony will take place on 17 April 2026 at the premises of the University of Primorska in Koper.

More information: 

ALUMNI PISARNA UP

E-naslov: alumni@upr.si

Monday, 9 February 2026 Public Call for Applications for Scholarships 2026/2027

Monday, 9 February 2026 The video of the first FAMNIT excursion into the mathematical universe is now available

The 1st lecture in the series titled ‘The Role of Dice in World Domination – A Case Study of Risk: The Board Game was delivered by Balázs Dávid.

Board games have been an integral part of human history across cultures and societies, and the theory and strategies of traditional games such as Chess and Go have long been studied and analyzed. In this talk, we explored the mathematical mechanics behind a much more recent — though a classic by modern standards — board game: Risk. We showcased how game states can be represented and how transitions between these states can be described with the help of probability theory, more specifically, Markov chains.

Balázs Dávid received his PhD in computer science in 2018 at the University of Szeged, Hungary. His research areas include combinatorial optimization, mathematical programming and algorithm development, particularly in public transport and logistics. His main research interest is the modelling and optimization of problems that are motivated by real-life industrial application. He is currently an assistant professor at InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM and UP FAMNIT. 

Friday, 6 February 2026 CALL FOR STUDENT TUTORS

Dear UP students, We invite you to (re)apply to become tutors.

 For this purpose, we are announcing places for:

• tutors,
• tutors for foreign students

Student tutoring is intended primarily for first-year students in a new living and educational environment. Tutors help them with important information and integration into the new environment.

Tutors for foreign students support newcomers who come to UP for exchange or full-time study. Tutors help them integrate into the new environment and with administrative and language barriers.

Tutors for students with special needs enable students to adapt more quickly and integrate successfully into the student environment and study.

 You can apply, and the motivational letter can be uploaded to the application form: »tutor application«

The Call for tutors can be found here. Introductory training is organized in November and May.

The organization and operation of the tutoring system is governed by the Rules on the Tutoring System at the University of Primorska.

Students can also apply using the Application Form. The completed form, together with a letter of motivation, should be submitted to the student office of the home faculty.

Student tutors must submit a Report on Work Performed to the faculty student tutor coordinator by September 30. The work report is the basis for obtaining ECTS credits and a certificate. In November, student tutors are awarded recognition for their work in the previous academic year.

Friday, 6 February 2026 Lei Han, new Doctor of Science

Lei Han, student of the doctoral study programe Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments (in English) at UP FAMNIT, has successfully defended his doctoral thesis  Viscoelastic properties of thermo-hydro-mechanically (THM) densfied wood Viscoelastic properties of thermo-hydro-mechanically (THM) densfied wood; under the mentorship of Prof. Andreja Kutnar, PhD and co-mentorship of Prof. Dick Sanberg, PhD.

We sincerely congratulate the new Doctor of Science and wish him much success in his future research!

Friday, 6 February 2026 Notice: Support for ERC Starting Grant Applications

UP FAMNIT and UP IAM have successfully conducted an internal call for proposals to support researchers in preparing and submitting applications for the ERC Starting Grant, which was announced on 17 November 2025.

A total of 9 applications were received under the call.
The applicants (listed in alphabetical order) are:

• Mohammad Derikvand  - Self-healing of micro-cracks in timber structures
• Blas Fernández  - Investigation, Discovery, and Exploration of Distance-Biregular Graphs
• Tilen Genov  - Model-Informed Research for Rare and Overlooked Species
• Pascal Golin  - Graph induced minor structure theory through the lens of coarse graph theory
• Giusy Monzillo  - Synchronization and separation: From finite automata to association schemes
• Aleksander Simonič  - Explicit zero density estimates for L-functions
• Ana Slavec  - Citizen Science as a Driver for Advancing Statistical Literacy
• Aleksandar Tošić  - The Artificial Mirror of Society for Scientific Understanding and Forecasting
• Maheshya Weerasighe  - Adaptive Multi-Route Memory Scaffolding for Cognitive Resilience in Extended Reality

All applications were complete and submitted on time. The applications were reviewed and evaluated by an internal expert committee. Based on a substantive assessment of research excellence, the applicants’ potential, and the quality of the proposed research projects, the committee adopted the following decision:

• 6 applications were awarded a grade A (excellent potential) and are eligible for co-funding in the amount of EUR 5,000;
• 3 applications were awarded a grade B (very good potential) and are eligible for co-funding in the amount of EUR 2,000.

We congratulate the selected applicants and wish them every success in the ERC Starting Grant call.

Thursday, 5 February 2026 Aljaž Kosmač, new Doctor of Science

Today, 5 February 2026, we welcomed another Doctor of Science at UP FAMNIT.

Aljaž Kosmač, student of the doctoral study programe Mathematical Sciences (in Slovene) at UP FAMNIT, has successfully defended his doctoral thesis On smooth spline spaces and isogeometric methods for solving high-order partial differential equations over multi-patch domains; under the mentorship of Prof. Vito Vitrih, PhD.

We sincerely congratulate the new Doctor of Science and wish him much success in his future research!

Wednesday, 4 February 2026 UNDERGRADUATE STUDY: Course schedules for Spring Semester 2025/26

We would like to inform you that the course schedules for all study programmes for the Spring Semester 2025/26 are published on our website (https://www.famnit.upr.si//en/student-pages/timetables). Lectures start on Monday, 16 February 2026 and last until Friday, 29 May 2026.

On this website you can also find a short clip that will show you how to check the course schedule.

Important information about the course schedule:

• Please check all weeks in the schedule, because weekly schedules can differ.
• The schedule might change until Friday, 13 February. Please check the schedule again before the beginning of the academic year. All changes from Monday, 16 February will be published in the Notices (ŠIS, section Notices). We would like to emphasize that from 16 February 2026 Student Services will publish the notice about the change only for changes on the same day and the following 2 days.
• In some undergraduate courses, students are divided into groups for laboratory work. Students will receive the information about the group on their student university e-mail no later than Friday, 13 February.

We would like to inform you:

• BP2, BP3: the course Psychology Practicum is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later,
• BP2, BP3: the course Selected Biopsychological Topics in the English Language is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later,
• BP1: The lecturer for the Seminars for the course Neurological Bases of Higher Nervous Functions I will be announced at a later date.

Student Services UP FAMNIT

Wednesday, 4 February 2026 POSTGRADUATE STUDY: Course schedules for Spring Semester 2025/26

We would like to inform you that the course schedules for all study programmes for the Spring Semester 2025/26 are published on our website (https://www.famnit.upr.si//en/student-pages/timetables). Lectures start on Monday, 16 February 2026 and last until Friday, 29 May 2026.

On this website you can also find a short clip that will show you how to check the course schedule.

Important information about the course schedule:

• Please check the schedule for every week, because weekly schedules can differ.
• The schedule might change until Friday, 13 February. Please check the schedule again before the beginning of the academic year. All changes from Monday, 16 February will be published in the Notices (ŠIS, section Notices). We would like to emphasize that from 16 February 2026 Student Services will publish the notice about the change only for changes on the same day and the following 2 days.

Student Services UP FAMNIT

Tuesday, 3 February 2026 Invitation – Alpine Europe Summer School 2026 in Slovenia

From June 15 to 28, 2026, the University of Primorska will host the 4th edition of the Alpine Europe: Innovation in the Circular Economy Summer School, taking place in Slovenia.

The Summer School will be conducted in English in the forested environment of Slovenia and led by an international team from Europe and the USA. Through lectures, field visits and practical examples, participants will explore the entire wood value chain, learn about the circular economy and discover the principles of the New European Bauhaus. The programme also includes a visit to InnoRenew CoE, the largest timber building in Slovenia, showcasing modern wood construction. The Summer School is accredited in both the USA and Europe.

Alpine Europe leaders include Dr. Andreja Kutnar, Dr. Matthew Schwarzkopf and Dr. Mohammad Derikvand, InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM researchers, together with Professor Eric Hansen from Oregon State University.

The Alpine Europe Summer School offers hands-on learning, direct interaction with leading academics and professionals and a unique chance to experience sustainable construction in a real-world European setting.

The programme is organised by the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT), the Andrej Marušič Institute (UP IAM) and the NEBAP Hub, in close collaboration with Oregon State University.

Read more about the summer school here.

View the programme here.

Register here.

Tuesday, 3 February 2026 Lea Primožič, new Doctor of Science

Today, 3 February 2026, we welcomed another Doctor of Science at UP FAMNIT.

Lea Primožič, a student of the doctoral study program Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments (in English) of the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies of the University of Primorska (UP FAMNIT), has successfully defended a doctoral dissertation entitled Sustainability-focused communication about the built environment: improving practices and impacts (Komuniciranje o grajenem okolju, usmerjeno v trajnostni razvoj: izboljšanje praks in učinkov), under the mentorship of Prof. Andreja Kutnar, PhD and co-mentorship of Assist. Prof. Rok Prislan, PhD.

We sincerely congratulate the new Doctor of Science and wish her much success in her future research!

Monday, 2 February 2026 Call for enrolment in undergraduate study programmes and unified master's study programmes of the University of Primorska in the academic year 2026/2027

In the framework of the Call for Enrolment in undergraduate and unified master's study programmes in the academic year 2026/2027, the University of Primorska announces the following free enrolment places for 33 undergraduate study programmes (8 higher professional and 25 academic study programmes) and 1 unified master's study programme:

• 1.691 enrolment places for Slovenian citizens and EU citizens, of which 1.351 are for full-time study and 340 for part-time study,
• 87 enrolment places for Slovenians abroad, of which 69 are for full-time and 18 for part-time study,
• 267 enrolment places for citizens of Western Balkans countries, with which the Republic of Slovenia has a bilateral agreement in the field of education (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia), of which 240 are for full-time and 27 for part-time study,
• 88 enrolment places for foreign citizens of non EU countries, of which 74 are for full-time and 14 for part-time study.

For the 1st year of study, there are also 110 enrolment places for candidates for parallel studies.

The application for enrolment is entirely electronic on the eVŠ web portal. The candidate submits the application with a means of electronic identification of at least a medium level of reliability (with a qualified digital certificate, smsPASS, e-identity card) or with an AAI account (account of the authentication and authorization infrastructure) or with a username and password via the system SI-PASS, which operates within the framework of the Trust Service Authority of Slovenia.

Each candidate can submit one application for enrolment, where they select a maximum of three study programmes in the order of priority, in which they wish to enrol and for which they meet or will meet the conditions for enrolment by the deadline. The order of the selected study programmes is important, as the candidate will be ranked in the first study programme for which they will meet all the conditions.

The first application period for enrolment will be:

• for Slovenian citizens, citizens of the EU Member States and Slovenians abroad from 18 February to 18 March 2026,
• for foreign citizens from non EU countries from 18 February to 30 June 2026.

What’s new in the call 2026/2027?

- The Call includes four new study programmes:

• Wood Innovation for Sustainability, professional study programme (UP FAMNIT),
• Mathematics and Computer Science, academic study programme (UP FAMNIT),

Friday, 30 January 2026 INFO DAYS 2026

You are invited to join our main informative events, which will be held live and via ZOOM on 13 and 14 February 2025. The event schedule and Zoom links are available below. Some general presentations and presentations of study programmes will be held in Slovene, however, for study programmes that are also implemented in English, presentations will be held in English via ZOOM as well (14 February, 15:00-16:30). Besides that, online presenatations of the application and enrolment procedures will be held in English (13 February, 14:00–15:00 and 4 March, 14:00–15:00).

Detailed information can be found HERE. 

Wednesday, 28 January 2026 The doctoral thesis defence of Lea Primožič

Lea Primožič, a student of the doctoral study program Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments (in English) of the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies of University of Primorska (UP FAMNIT), will defend their doctoral dissertation entitled Sustainability-focused communication about the built environment: improving practices and impacts (Komuniciranje o grajenem okolju, usmerjeno v trajnostni razvoj: izboljšanje praks in učinkov), under the mentorship of Prof. Andreja Kutnar, PhD and co-mentorship of Assist. Prof. Rok Prislan, PhD.

The defence will be on Tuesday, 3 February 2026 at 8.00 at the InnoRenew CoE, Livade 6a, Izola, classroom Sequoia.

The doctoral disertation is available in the University Library.

You are kindly invited!

Wednesday, 28 January 2026 The doctoral thesis defence of Lei Han

Lei Han, student of the doctoral study programe Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments (in English) at UP FAMNIT will defend her doctoral thesis Viscoelastic properties of thermo-hydro-mechanically (THM) densfied wood Viscoelastic properties of thermo-hydro-mechanically (THM) densfied wood; under the mentorship of Prof. Andreja Kutnar, PhD and co-mentorship of Prof. Dick Sanberg, PhD.

The defence will take place on Thursday, 5 February 2026 at 14:00 in InnoRenew CoE, Livade 6a, Izola, classroom Pseudotsuga.

The doctoral disertation is available in the University Library.

You are kindly invited!

Wednesday, 28 January 2026 Math-Themed Day at UP FAMNIT: Visit from Students of Gimnazija Koper

Today, on January 28, 2026, the Department of Mathematics UP FAMNIT organized the traditional Mathematics Day for students of Gimnazija Koper at the premises of UP FAMNIT. The event was attended by 100 students who listened to lectures on the applicability of mathematics in everyday life.

The students were welcomed byProf. Dr. Marko Orel, the coordinator of the first-cycle study program in Mathematics at UP FAMNIT, Prof. Dr. Ademir Hujdurović, the Dean of UP FAMNIT; andProf. Dr. Bojan Kuzma, the Head of the Department of Mathematics at UP FAMNIT.

The students were first divided into three groups, where they attended lectures, and then continued with interactive workshops.

The lecture titled “The Essentials of Primality Testing" was presented by Assist. Prof. Dr. Aleksander Simonič UP FAMNIT. During the session, students examined methods for determining whether a given one-hundred-digit odd natural number is prime. While this task might seem humorous in a mathematics classroom, it holds significant importance in modern cryptography.

The lecture “Applications of Linear Algebra in Computer Graphics” was delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Safet Penjić (UP IAM and UP FAMNIT), who presented how simple mathematical operations on vectors shape computer games.

Prof. Dr. Martin Milanič from UP IAM and UP FAMNIT delivered a lecture titled “Seven Puzzles on Powers of Two. ” During this session, students engaged in solving seven puzzles related to powers of two, utilising concepts from number theory and game theory.

The workshop “Basics of 3D Modelling with Blender ” was led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Karla Ferjančič, also from UP FAMNIT and UP IAM. Students learned about Bézier curves and observed their application through a practical example. They also explored the fundamentals of 3D modelling using Blender, a powerful open-source tool for creating animated films, 3D models, video games, and other digital content.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Slobodan Filipovski from UP FAMNIT presented the lecture “Mathematics Behind the Game Sudoku .” In this session, students examined the minimum number of initial clues required to define a unique solution and received tips for solving Sudoku more effectively.

The workshop “Game Theory: Strategic Decision-Making in Theory and Practice ” was conducted by Assist. Prof. Dr. Žiga Velkavrh from UP FAMNIT. In this workshop, students were introduced to the basics of game theory—a field that employs mathematics and statistics to study, explain, and predict the behavior of companies, markets, individuals, and other entities. Particular emphasis was placed on classical games and the renowned concept of Nash equilibrium, which represents a stable state in a strategic situation.

Mathematics Days at UP FAMNIT have been organized since 2013 to promote science, especially mathematics, among young people. The Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies at the University of Primorska offers six undergraduate study programs, including Mathematics and Mathematics in Economics and Finance. More information about studying at FAMNIT will also be available during the upcoming Informative Days, scheduled for February 13 and 14, 2026.

We would like to thank the students and their accompanying teachers for their visit and invite them to attend our future events as well!

Monday, 26 January 2026 The University of Primorska and the University of Trieste Announce a Joint Call for Applications for Visiting Professorship

The University of Primorska and the University of Trieste have launched a joint international call to select Visiting Professors for the academic years 2025/2026 and 2026/2027, within the framework of the Transform4Europe Alliance.

The call is addressed to departments and faculties of both universities that wish to invite distinguished scholars from institutions outside the T4EU Alliance with the aim of:

• expanding and enriching educational activities,
• strengthening research cooperation, and
• fostering the international dimension beyond the T4EU Alliance.

Selected Visiting Professors will carry out teaching and research activities during their stay and deliver lectures within bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, or doctoral study programmes at both universities.

More information about the call, available funding, obligations of the Visiting Professor, the number of available positions, as well as the application and selection procedure, is available in the call documentation via this link: https://www.upr.si/en/about-the-university/t4eu-/t4eu-opportunities/for-staff/the-university-of-primorska-and-the-university-of-trieste-announce-a-joint-call-for-applications-for

The application deadline is 27 February 2026.

For further information, please contact the UP FAMNIT / UP IAM International Office at international@famnit.upr.si.

You are kindly invited to apply!

Thursday, 22 January 2026 Notice for Students - Change in Classroom Usage During the Exam Period

Dear students,

We would like to inform you of a minor change regarding the use of classrooms for studying during the exam period. Classrooms at the Brolo location are now available for study until 5:00 PM, while the use of classrooms and the hall at Glagoljaška and Galeb remains unchanged.

At these locations, classrooms are available from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and their use is strictly for study purposes. You can check classroom availability on the online schedule.

This does not apply to RLABs, but to all other classrooms at Glagoljaška. At the Livade location, only the FAMNIT-3 classroom is available for use without prior approval.

Outside the exam period, the existing system remains in effect, under which prior reservation through the Student Office is required to use the classrooms.

Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you every success in your studies.

Kind regards,

Student Services Office of UP FAMNIT

Thursday, 22 January 2026 The Symposium of Good Practices for Biodiversity Conservation in the Agricultural Landscape of the Karst brought together 60 practitioners

On January 22, 2026, a symposium titled Good Practices for Biodiversity Conservation in the Agricultural Landscape of the Karst was held in Livade at Facility 1.0. The event was attended by approximately 60 practitioners.

The symposium aimed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience among experts in the fields ofnature conservation, biology, and ecology, as well as other stakeholders, including landowners, farmers, decision-makers, residents, and nature enthusiasts, all of whom are involved in the conservation of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.

The event was structured into three thematic sections:

1. sustainable management of pastures, grasslands, and ponds,
2. restoration of burned areas and biodiversity,
3. sustainable management and circular economies in the Karst.

Assistant Professor Dr. Sara Zupan from the Department of Biodiversity, the event’s organizer, emphasized the importance of such meetings for connecting science and practice and for finding effective solutions for the conservation of the Karst landscape:

“When we think of the Karst, each of us probably forms a slightly different image. Today, the Karst is largely overgrown, but my image still reflects the Karst commons, dry-stone walls, bare rocky terrain, ponds, and grasslands with beautiful plants, butterflies, and birds. However we imagine it, the fact remains that the Karst as we know it today is the result of long-term coexistence between humans and nature. What it will look like in the future largely depends on our decisions.

The Kras4us project – Opportunities for the Conservation of Biodiversity and the Identity of the Karst – is based on the belief that many solutions already exist in the area itself, in the knowledge, experience, and good practices developed by researchers, land managers, farmers, and local communities. The project aims to identify, connect, and further develop these practices and to place them within a broader framework of long-term management of the Karst landscape.

The contributions we heard today, which are also collected in the book of abstracts, reflect the diversity of approaches to biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes. I believe that the exchange of knowledge, experience, and perspectives is exactly what can contribute to more thoughtful and long-term solutions.”

One of the key initiatives in this field is the Kras4us project, which is co-financed under the Interreg Italy–Slovenia Programme. The project connects partner organisations on both sides of the border, including the University of Primorska (UP FAMNIT).

The project partners are: the University of Primorska (UP FAMNIT), the Slovenian BirdLife Association (DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia), Škocjan Caves Park, and the Local Action Groups Kras VAM.

The book of abstracts is available > here.

Wednesday, 21 January 2026 UP SENATE ADOPTS A NEW BACHELOR STUDY PROGRAMME “MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE”

At its 27th regular session on 21 January 2026, the Senate of the University of Primorska adopted a new bachelor study programme “Mathematics and Computer Science”. It is an interdisciplinary study programme designed to educate future professionals with a strong mathematical foundation and advanced computer science expertise, particularly in the fields of software design and algorithm theory, which are at the core of the modern artificial intelligence industry and high value-added information technology. The study programme will be included in the Call for enrolment in undergraduate study programmes of the University of Primorska for the academic year 2026/2027.

The new study programme is designed as a three-year full-time study programme (180 ECTS) and will be delivered in Slovene and English. The programme combines solid mathematical foundations with computer science and practical skills. Students are first introduced to the fundamental areas of mathematics, such as analysis, algebra, and discrete mathematics, while at the same time progressively developing skills in programming, algorithmic thinking, and working with computer systems. This combination enables them to learn problem-oriented thinking and to effectively solve complex tasks using modern computational tools.

The study programme provides graduates with in-depth knowledge and key competences in programming, data science, software design, and algorithm theory, which are at the core of modern information technology and artificial intelligence. Graduates will therefore be well prepared for employment in technologically advanced, high value-added environments, such as software development, data analysis, and information security. At the same time, the programme enables successful continuation of studies at Master level in mathematics, computer science, data science, and related fields, both in Slovenia and abroad. The quality of the study programme has also been recognised by external experts, who emphasised the relevance of the acquired knowledge for effective performance in the workplace.

Upon successful completion of the study programme, graduates are awarded the professional title “diplomirani/a inženir/ka matematike in računalništva (UN)«.

This is the first study programme adopted by the University of Primorska on the basis of the new Higher Education Act, which stipulates that a university whose accreditation has been extended twice consecutively for a full accreditation period may independently adopt its study programmes with public validity without accreditation by the National Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (NAKVIS), and in accordance with the Instructions for the Preparation, Adoption and Implementation of Study Programmes with Public Validity without Accreditation by NAKVIS, adopted by UP (hereinafter: the Instructions). In accordance with the Instructions, the study programme proposal was first reviewed by an internal expert. It was then submitted for evaluation to a group of independent external experts, consisting of two independent external experts in the field of the study programme (one international and one Slovenian expert) and a student selected from the pool of the European Students’ Union (ESU).

Wednesday, 21 January 2026 The Department of Biodiversity UP FAMNIT hosted 12 organisations from practices

On Monday, 12 January 2026, the Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT hosted an event titled “Practical Training for Students – Exchange of Opinions and Experiences.”

The event was organised to improve the quality of students’ practical training experience and strengthen connections with organisations interested in cooperating with the department and its students. In the study programmes Conservation Biology (Bachelor’s level) and Nature Conservation (Master’s), completing mandatory practical training in a professional working environment is one of the study requirements.

The event, which took place in the premises of Building 1.0 (Livade), was attended by a total of 12 organisations, which presented themselves either in person (6) or via Zoom (6).

“We organised this event for the fifth consecutive year. Each time, I am pleased by the strong interest and openness of the organisations that join us. Cooperation with our students is of great interest to them. In recent years, I have noticed that many organisations wish to establish initial contact with students even before they enter the labour market. By organising such events, we aimed to improve the quality of practical training and encourage early contact with organisations that responded to our invitation and are particularly interested in cooperating with us. We have achieved this goal. At the same time, such events provide students with their first—yet extremely valuable—insight into the work and mission of various organisations in the fields of nature conservation, biology, education, and research. Ultimately, these organisations may become their future employers,” summarised the coordinator of practical training, Assistant Martin Senič from the Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT.

We would like to thank all participating organisations and their representatives for their attendance and cooperation:

• Debeli Rtič Landscape Park
• Škocjan Caves Public Service Agency
• Aquarium Piran, University of Primorska
• Triglav National Park Public Institution
• The Strunjan Landscape Park Public Institution
• The Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation
• REVIVO – Institute for Ichthyological and Ecological Research
• Goričko Landscape Park  
• Morigenos – Slovenian Marine Mammal Society
• Arboretum Volčji Potok Public Institution
• Kozjansko Park  
• G.R. Carli High School – Ginnasio Koper-Capodistria

Tuesday, 20 January 2026 A solemn event marked the launch of KCUI

On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the Slovenian Competence Center for Artificial Intelligence (KCUI)  marked the launch of its operations with a solemn event at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS).

The KCUI is the central national initiative for supporting the development, introduction, and responsible use of artificial intelligence in the economy, public sector, and society.  It acts as a gateway for knowledge, training, expert support, and stakeholder networking, and contributes to strengthening Slovenia's competitiveness, productivity, and innovation potential in the field of artificial intelligence.

The event began with a ceremonial address by mag. Ksenija Klampfer, Minister for Digital Transformation, who emphasized "Today, the key question is not whether we will use artificial intelligence, but how we will use it safely, effectively, responsibly, and for the benefit of people—the answer to this is the Competence Center for Artificial Intelligence, which is launching today." The minister also emphasized that the center's key objectives include supporting both businesses and the public sector in achieving better results and increasing efficiency through the introduction of artificial intelligence tools.

This was followed by speeches on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS), the leading partner of the KCUI consortium. Vesna Nahtigal, Director General of GZS, Marko Štefančič, MBA, Director of the KCUI consortium, and Dr. Vida Groznik, Scientific Director of KCUI, addressed the audience.

The project to establish and operate the center at the UP is led by Dr. Marko Tkalčič (UP FAMNIT),  who stated at its establishment: “Artificial intelligence is a very powerful tool which, when used responsibly, can significantly contribute to the functioning of the economy, public administration, and people’s everyday lives. It is important to understand that Slovenia cannot afford to fall behind the rest of the world. We must be proactive and participate in research. Precisely the fact that knowledge gained through research can be transferred to Slovenia in a responsible manner seems to me to be the greatest advantage of this competence center. This project represents a structured framework in which the knowledge held by top Slovenian experts is transferred for the benefit of the Slovenian economy, public administration, and citizens in general. At the University of Primorska (UP), we are proud to be part of a consortium of exceptionally strong Slovenian institutions in the field of artificial intelligence, as we will also be able to contribute our expertise to the achievement of these goals.

The event was also attended by the Rector of the University of Primorska, Dr. Klavdija Kutnar, and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Dr. Ademir Hujdurović, along with the project leader, Dr. Marko Tkalčič, and other participants in the project – Dr. Jernej Vičič, Dr. Ernest Ženko, and Nataša Miletić.

The consortium, led by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, also includes: the University of Primorska, the University of Maribor, the University of Ljubljana, the University of Nova Gorica, the Jožef Stefan Institute, the Chamber of Craft and Small Businesses of Slovenia, and the ASEF Institute for Education and Research. The consortium was formed and successful in the context of the public call for (co-)financing the establishment and operation of a Competence Center for Artificial Intelligence (ARIS).

Wednesday, 14 January 2026 Famnits' Excursion into the mathematical universe: The role of dice in world domination - a case study of Risk: the board game

"The role of dice in world domination - a case study of Risk: the board game"

which will take place on Wednesday, 21. January 2026 at 16.00, VP 3 lecture room, UP FAMNIT and ZOOM link.

Board games have been an integral part of human history across cultures and societies, and the theory and strategies of traditional games such as Chess and Go have long been studied and analyzed. In this talk, we explore the mathematical mechanics behind a much more recent — though a classic by modern standards — board game: Risk. We will showcase how game states can be represented and how transitions between these states can be described with the help of probability theory, more specifically, Markov chains.

Balázs Dávid received his PhD in computer science in 2018 at the University of Szeged, Hungary. His research areas include combinatorial optimization, mathematical programming and algorithm development, particularly in public transport and logistics. His main research interest is the modelling and optimization of problems that are motivated by real-life industrial application. He is currently an assistant professor at InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM and UP FAMNIT. 

Tuesday, 13 January 2026 The doctoral thesis defence of Aljaž Kosmač

Aljaž Kosmač, student of the doctoral study programe Mathematical Sciences (in Slovene) at UP FAMNIT will defend his doctoral thesis On smooth spline spaces and isogeometric methods for solving high-order partial differential equations over multi-patch domains; under the mentorship of Prof. Vito Vitrih, PhD.

The defence will take place on Thursday, 5 February 2026 at 14:00 in Famnit-MP1.

The doctoral disertation is available in the University Library.

You are kindly invited!

Tuesday, 13 January 2026 Notice for Students - Use of Tables in the Lobby

Dear students,

The faculty has received several complaints from students regarding the use of the lobby.

We would like to inform you that the tables in the lobby are intended for actual use for studying or socializing and not for leaving personal belongings to reserve them for extended periods of time.

Only short absences (approximately up to 10 minutes), for example for a break, are considered acceptable. Leaving personal belongings on tables for several hours without being present is not permitted, as it unfairly prevents other students from using the space.

We kindly ask for your understanding, patience, and consideration for others, especially during periods of increased study demands and the exam period.

Thank you for your cooperation and for respecting shared spaces.

Kind regards,

Student Services Office of UP FAMNIT

Tuesday, 13 January 2026 (BIO)PSYCHOLOGICAL DAY AT UP FAMNIT

 Today, UP FAMNIT welcomed 40 students from Gimnazija Celje – Center.

As part of the event, Sara Vidmar and Polonca Borko led the workshop “Are You OK? OK! with the students. The workshop explored key aspects of mental health, including its definition, influencing factors, and the importance of self-care. Participants engaged in discussions and activities to deepen their understanding. The session also addressed stress and the factors that affect how it is experienced.

In addition, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vesna Posavčević and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nina Krohne presented the Biopsychology study programme and the Slovene Centre for Suicide Research.

Today, science explains the complexity of human perception, memory, thinking, emotions, personality, behaviour, and similar phenomena through an integration of insights from psychology and related fields such as medicine, biology, and pharmacy. With such knowledge, we gain a better understanding of human beings and can strengthen their qualities.

The coordinator of the study programme, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vesna Posavčević presented the Biopsychology study programme in more detail, including the course structure, timetable, and employment opportunities. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nina Krohne presented the Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, which focuses on studying various aspects of mental health and on the prevention of suicide and suicidal behaviour across different age groups – from adolescents to older adults.

Monday, 12 January 2026 A postdoctoral researcher position is available

The UP Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT) invites applications for postdoctoral researcher positions. We welcome outstanding candidates with a strong research record in mathematics who are motivated to develop independent research and to contribute to the preparation of competitive project proposals.

Position description

UP FAMNIT offers a dynamic international research environment and encourages postdoctoral researchers to pursue independent high-quality research, build collaborations, and contribute to the research profile of the faculty. Since this is an open call, the exact research topic and mentoring arrangements will be determined based on the candidate’s expertise and research plan, as well as alignment with UP FAMNIT’s research strengths.

A key expectation is that the successful candidate will be proactive in preparing and submitting competitive research proposals, in particular to:

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) postdoctoral calls,
• ERC Starting Grant,
• Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) research project calls.

The postdoctoral researcher is expected to:

• Develop and carry out an independent research programme leading to high-quality publications;
• Initiate and contribute to research proposals (MSCA, ERC, ARIS and other relevant schemes);
• Collaborate with UP FAMNIT researchers and engage in international scientific networks;
• Present results at seminars, conferences, and other dissemination activities;
• Contribute to the vibrant academic community at UP FAMNIT (mentoring of junior researchers and/or limited teaching may be possible depending on needs and mutual interest).

Conditions

• Duration: 2 years, with possible extension subject to funding and performance
• Starting date: flexible; preferably by June 2026
• Host institution: UP FAMNIT, University of Primorska, Slovenia
• Deadline for application: January 31^st 2026.

Requirements

• PhD in Mathematics;
• Strong research track record appropriate to career stage, evidenced by publications and research achievements;
• Demonstrated potential for scientific independence and leadership;
• Motivation and capability to prepare competitive research proposals (MSCA, ERC, ARIS);
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Employment terms

• Full-time employment, with contract conditions in line with Slovenian regulations;
• Salary and benefits according to Slovenian national postdoctoral salary scales (approximately 1900 EUR/month net, depending on individual circumstances);
• Support for research visits and conference participation.

How to apply

• To apply, please email the following documents to razpisi.famnitiam@upr.si with the subject line:
• “University of Primorska Postdoc – Open Call 2026”
• Curriculum Vitae,
• Publication list,
• Research statement (including a short outline of a project idea),
• Copies of up to three recent papers or preprints,
• Names and e-mail addresses of two or three persons who can be contacted for reference (and who have agreed to be contacted).

Thursday, 8 January 2026 Public Lecture by Dr. Julian Eliah Heger

Dr. Julian Eliah Heger will present a public lecture on Monday, 12 January 2026, at 10:00, as part of the procedure for his first appointment to the academic title of  higher education teacher – Assistant Professor in the field of Physics.

The lecture entitled “Understanding Functional Materials Through Synchrotron X ray Scattering” will take place at the InnoRenew CoE premises, Livade 6a, 6310 Izola.

You are kindly invited to attend.

Wednesday, 7 January 2026 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation of Ivan Damnjanović

We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Some results in spectral and extremal graph theory of the student Ivan Damnjanović, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Mathematical Sciences (in English).

The presentation will take place on Wednesday, 14 January 2026 at 11.00 in the classroom FAMNIT-MP6.

You are kindly invited!

Monday, 5 January 2026 Co-create the future of wood industry: New undergraduate programme at UP FAMNIT

UP FAMNIT will offer a new first-cycle (undergraduate) programme Innovations in Wood Innovation for Sustainability starting in the 2026/2027 academic year. The programme is designed to meet the modern needs of the wood industry in Slovenia and Europe and to prepare future professionals with a combination of innovative technologies, sustainable approaches, and digital skills. It will be implemented in Slovene and in English language.

The three-year programme is divided into six modules: foundational knowledge, core professional subjects, digital skills for working with wood, business and sustainability competencies, wooden built environments, and practical training, including an international mobility component. The mobility component allows students to gain experience abroad – at 12 partner universities and companies in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy and the USA – and to learn about different educational systems, work environments, and cultural approaches.

In addition to international experience, students will carry out practical training at leading Slovenian companies, giving them direct exposure to real projects and innovative technologies. This approach ensures that graduates are prepared to meet the challenges of the modern wood industry, which demands digital competencies, sustainable thinking, and the ability to solve complex problems.

The programme is based on an interdisciplinary approach and innovative teaching methods – from project work and collaborative learning to case studies and discussions. Students will gain skills that enable creative problem-solving and the integration of sustainable solutions in the wood industry. The programme includes 22 courses, practical training, a mobility component, and a final seminar.

The programme will be conducted in Izola, with some components also in Koper, providing students access to modern learning spaces and research environments.

»With the programme Innovations in Wood Industry for Sustainable Development, we are shaping the future leading experts in sustainable materials. The programme offers more than just a degree – it opens doors to innovation, international collaboration, and knowledge essential for the green transition,« summarized Prof. Dr. Andreja Kutnar, study programme coordinator.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the programme will be prepared for independent or collaborative work as professional and technical staff in the wood processing and construction industries, as technical associates in research and development activities of companies or research institutions, as entrepreneurs, producers, or consultants, and as professional staff in administrative institutions such as ministries, inspectorates, various agencies, and municipal offices. Graduates can further enhance their knowledge at the master’s level – UP FAMNIT offers a master’s study programme in Sustainable Built Environments.

More information about the new study programme is available here.

Students, join us and become part of the innovative world of wood industry!

Wednesday, 24 December 2025 Wishing you a happy, healthy, and successful 2026!

Wednesday, 24 December 2025 Deja Jordan Aiko, new Doctor of Science

Yesterday, 23 December 2025, we welcomed another Doctor of Science at UP FAMNIT.

Deja Jordan Aiko, student of the doctoral study programe Computer Science (in English) at UP FAMNIT, has successfully defended his doctoral thesis Designing Augmented Reality Training Systems for Piano and Jazz Improvisation: under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Matjaž Kljun and the co-mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Klen Čopič Pucihar

We sincerely congratulate the new Doctor of Science and wish him much success in his future research!

Wednesday, 24 December 2025 Six new ARIS projects for FAMNIT and IAM

The Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) has notified applicants of the results of the Public Call for the (co-)funding of research projects for 2025. UP FAMNIT and UP IAM have once again achieved excellent results, securing six research projects as the leading research organisation.

All projects will commence on 1 March 2026.

The results of ARIS projects in which the University of Primorska and its member institutions participate as partner institutions will also be announced shortly.

Raziskovanje uporabnosti v čuječnost in sočutje usmerjene integrativne psihoterapije pri obravnavi izgorelosti v poklicih pomoči / Investigating the Utility of Mindfulness- and Compassion-Oriented Integrative Psychotherapy for Burnout in Helping Professions (L5-70196, applied research project, leading partner: UP FAMNIT, project leader: Dr. Maša Žvelc, partner institution: UL FF)

Razumevanje vloge strukturnih lastnosti ternarnih kompleksov pri ciljni razgradnji proteinov: Mehanistična študija / Understanding the Role of Ternary Complex Structural Features in Targeted Protein Degradation: A Mechanistic Study (J1-70064, AD - basic project, leading partner: UP FAMNIT, project leader: Dr. Jelena Tošović)

Proučevanje 2-Y-homogenih dvodelnih grafov in njihovih povezav s Terwilligerjevi algebrami in kombinatoričnimi načrti / Studying 2-Y-homogeneous bipartite graphs and their connections with Terwilliger algebras and combinatorial designs (Z1-70008, postdoctoral project, leading partner: UP FAMNIT, project leader: Dr. Blas Fernández)

Simetrije grafovskih produktov / Symmetries of Graph Products (J1-70035, basic project, leading partner: UP FAMNIT, project leader: Dr. Ademir Hujdurović)

Krepko regularni grafi in CFSG prosto argumentiranje v algebraični teoriji grafov / Strongly Regular Graphs and CFSG-free Arguments in Algebraic Graph Theory (J1-70047, basic project, leading partner: UP IAM, project leader: Dr. Dragan Marušič, partner institution: UL PEF)

Simetrije v grafih skozi simplicialne avtomorfizme / Symmetries in Graphs via Simplicial Automorphisms (J1-70046, basic project, leading partner: UP IAM, project leader: Dr. Klavdija Kutnar)

Thursday, 18 December 2025 NOTICE TO STUDENTS – USE OF CLASSROOMS DURING THE EXAM PERIOD

Dear Students,

we would like to inform you that during the exam period, it will be possible to use classrooms for studying without prior approval or reservation.

Conditions of use:

• Classrooms will be available from 8:00 to 20:00.
• The rooms may be used exclusively for studying.

Students are responsible for checking the availability of classrooms via the online timetable.

Important limitations:

• This arrangement does not apply to RLABs.
• It applies to all other classrooms at Glagoljaška and Trg Brolo.
• At the Livade location, this option is available only for the classroom FAMNIT-3; it does not apply to other classrooms there.

Outside the exam period, the existing system remains in place, meaning that prior reservation is required. Reservations must be submitted by sending the appropriate form to the Students Services Office.

Please make sure to follow the above rules.

Kind regards,

Student Services

Wednesday, 17 December 2025 The doctoral thesis defence of Deja Jordan Aiko

Deja Jordan Aiko, student of the doctoral study programe Computer Science (in English) at UP FAMNIT will defend her doctoral thesis Designing Augmented Reality Training Systems for Piano and Jazz Improvisation; under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Matjaž Kljun and co-mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Klen Čopič Pucihar

The defence will take place on Tuesday, 23 December 2025 at 15:00 on Zoom:

https://upr-si.zoom.us/j/68558401899?pwd=Nryoy7ODxhgjdhvOaKtl6U4stVofVo.1

Meeting ID: 685 5840 1899

Passcode: 921481

The doctoral disertation is available in the University Library.

You are kindly invited!

Tuesday, 16 December 2025 Students of Mathematics with Financial Engineering Visit the Heart of Economic Decision-Making

On Friday, 12 December, students of the master’s study programme Mathematics with Financial Engineering, as part of the course Fiscal Policy Analysis, together with Dr. Ana Grdović Gnip, visited two key institutions of Slovenia’s economic and financial environment: the Fiscal Council of the Republic of Slovenia and the Bank of Slovenia.

At the Fiscal Council, the students were hosted by Aleš Delakorda, Head of the Analysis Division, who presented the work and role of the Fiscal Council. Particular emphasis was placed on fiscal rules, the sustainability of public debt, and the importance of independent oversight of public finances.

At the Bank of Slovenia, the students were welcomed by Dr. Arjana Brezigar and colleagues from the Bank of Slovenia’s Analytical and Research Centre – Milan Damjanović, Jan Radovan, and Matic Petriček. They introduced modern modelling approaches in central banking, innovative GDP nowcasting methods, and the role of economic modelling in monetary policy decision-making.

The visit provided students with valuable insight into the practical application of mathematical and statistical methods in a real institutional setting and deepened their understanding of the link between theory, modelling, and the design of economic policies.

We would like to thank the Fiscal Council of the Republic of Slovenia and the Bank of Slovenia for their hospitality and for the excellent presentation of their work.

Monday, 15 December 2025 Exhibition at the UP: Life in Goričko – Illustrations of Animal Species

On 11 December 2025, the Armeria Palace of the University of Primorska (UP) hosted the opening of the exhibition Life in Goričko: Illustrations of Animal Species by conservation biologist Manja Tišler, a UP alumni and graduate of the Conservation Biology study programme at UP FAMNIT.

Through 15 illustrations, which form part of a series commissioned by the Goričko Landscape Park, the author presents individual animal species that contribute to the rich biodiversity of the Goričko region. The full series of illustrations offers a broader insight into the diversity of these remarkable animal species, their habitats, and the conservation activities that shape the region’s rich ecosystem.

The author of the exhibition, Manja Tišler, describes her work as a search for balance between science and art. She has nurtured a love of nature and art since childhood, and her academic path at UP FAMNIT opened the door to in-depth knowledge of natural sciences. This has enabled her to create visually appealing and scientifically accurate materials. She draws inspiration from nature, and through her illustrations expresses her dedication to it, while also encouraging the preservation of precious natural heritage.

This series of illustrations, created with watercolours and coloured pencils, is not her first. She has extensive experience collaborating with various clients, and her illustrations adorn numerous informational boards throughout Slovenia.

You can find them along the Tromejnik forest educational trail by Lake Ledava, on the wooden boardwalk above the salt meadow in Ankaran near St Nicholas, at the shell mound in Ankaran on St Catherine’s Hill, in the Slovenian Museum of Natural History, in the Ljubljansko Barje Landscape Park along the themed trail Pot na Mah, which won first place in the “Best Themed Trail” category in 2024, and many others.

One of her illustrations also adorns the postcard and stamp of the Blue Crab, issued in honour of the 60th anniversary of the Piran Aquarium, which operates under the auspices of the UP Science Centre.

Scientific and natural history illustration has greater significance than one might think. Its roots stretch back to prehistory, when people depicted animals and natural phenomena on cave walls. For centuries it has played a key role in documenting nature, anatomy, astronomy, and other scientific fields. Despite advances in photography, illustration still holds an important place today, as it highlights and interprets processes and the smallest details that photography often cannot capture.

You are cordially invited to visit the exhibition at Armeria Palace UP and view the illustrations – works inspired by the landscape mosaic and the intertwining of natural and cultural features of the Goričko Landscape Park – on display until 14 January 2026.

Wednesday, 10 December 2025 Dr. Blas Fernández selected for the European Mathematical Society Young Academy (2026–2029)

Dr. Blas Fernández from the Department of Mathematics at UP FAMNIT has been selected to join the European Mathematical Society Young Academy (EMYA) for the term 2026–2029. 

EMYA recognizes outstanding early-career mathematicians across Europe. Candidates are nominated from a wide range of European countries and represent all major branches of mathematics. Selection to EMYA highlights not only exceptional scientific achievement, but also a demonstrated commitment to advancing the mathematical community through research, collaboration, and outreach.

In 2023, Dr. Fernández completed his doctoral thesis titled On certain problems related to Terwilliger algebras and distance-balanced graphs (under the mentorship of Prof. Štefko Miklavič and co-mentorship of Prof. Ademir Hujdurović), for which he was also awarded the Banach Prize for an outstanding doctoral dissertation in the mathematical sciences. He is also highly active in the popularization of mathematics and regularly mentors student groups at various international mathematical competitions.

By becoming part of the EMYA, Dr. Fernández will join a vibrant network of young mathematical leaders who contribute to shaping the future of mathematics in Europe. The Academy supports initiatives that promote excellence in research, foster international cooperation, and strengthen the role of mathematics in society.

More information about the European Mathematical Society Young Academy can be found on the European Mathematical Society (EMS) website: https://euromathsoc.org/EMYA

We congratulate to Dr. Fernández on his selection to EMYA!

Monday, 8 December 2025 Marko Grgurovič, new Doctor of Science

Today, 8 December 2025, we welcomed another Doctor of Science at UP FAMNIT.

Marko Grgurovič, student of the doctoral study programe Computer Science (in Slovene) at UP FAMNIT, has successfully defended his doctoral thesis Optimization and graphs: efficiency of some algorithms in theory and practice (Optimizacija in grafi: učinkovitost nekaterih algoritmov v teoriji in praksi); under the mentorship of Prof. Andrej Brodnik, PhD, and co-mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Rok Požar, PhD.

We sincerely congratulate the new Doctor of Science and wish him much success in his future research!

Friday, 5 December 2025 UP Alumni New Year's Toast

Dear members of the UP Alumni Club members and UP employees! We would like to invite you to the traditional gathering of the alumni and employees of the University of Primorska, where we will socialize, have fun and toast the upcoming challenges and adventures that the year 2026 will bring us. This year's gathering will take place on 11 December 2025, at 17.00 in the UP Armerija Lobby, Titov trg 4, 6000 Koper.

When?  Thursday, 11 December 2025, at 5 pm.

Where?  UP Armerija Lobby, Titov trg 4, 6000 Koper.

Registration:  until 8. 12. 2025 via e-form HERE.

Programme:

• 17.00 Start
• 17.10 Official speeches, exhibition presentation and toast
• 17.30 Banquet with socializing and musical accompaniment

We would like to inform you that we are collecting goods for Capris's Warm-Hearted Fridge (Caprisov Hladilnik toplega srca) at the university. The cooperation between UP and Radio Capris has been successful for many years, and we invite you to participate. You can also hand over donations for families in need (in the coastal-karst region) at our event. Thank you for showing UP.

To help us look forward to this year's meeting, let's remember how we enjoyed it last year.

Friday, 5 December 2025 UP and University of Trieste sign a double degree agreement in Data Science

UP and the University of Trieste (Università degli Studi di Trieste – UniTS) have signed an agreement establishing a new international double master’s degree programme in Data Science. Through this collaboration, students who fulfil all academic requirements will receive two fully recognized diplomas.

The programme is jointly developed by UP FAMNIT and the Department of Mathematics, Informatics and Geosciences at UniTS. It allows students to complete a portion of their studies at the partner institution, where they become part of the local academic community, engage in research-oriented environments, and gain insight into different methodological approaches in data science. The mobility period lasts at least one semester, and all academic achievements obtained at the host institution are fully recognized at both universities.

Designed to offer a comprehensive and international educational experience, the programme enables students to deepen their knowledge in data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and industry-oriented digital solutions. The master’s thesis is carried out under joint supervision from both universities, and the final defence is organized in accordance with the institution chosen within the student’s learning agreement. This structure ensures strong academic collaboration while providing students with valuable international exposure and enhanced career opportunities.

The signing of the agreement marks an important step in strengthening cross-border cooperation between the two universities. It supports joint research initiatives, encourages the mobility of students and staff, and fosters the exchange of teaching approaches and academic practices. Both institutions will publish an annual call for applications, open to students already enrolled in the relevant master’s programmes.

Friday, 28 November 2025 UP International Office successfully organized the first International Tuesday

On Tuesday, 25 November, the International Office of the University of Primorska held its very first International Tuesday event for students – a quiz night. The event gathered 45 students from all UP faculties. 

Students had the chance to test their general knowledge and win a prize. During the breaks, representatives of the UP International Office shared useful information about Erasmus+ study exchanges and traineeships, opportunities offered through T4EU, as well as traineeship options within EU institutions. 

Students got information about the new elective course, Study Without Borders, which will be available in the second semester. Covering topics such as intercultural communication, psychological support and the application process, the course is designed to help students prepare for an international exchange. 

International Tuesday is a series of events created to promote international exchanges and strengthen connections among UP students. 

Registrations for the International Tuesday planned on December 16, at 7 pm, are already open. Register here! 

Thursday, 27 November 2025 Constitution of the UP FAMNIT Student Council in the 2025/2026 Academic Year

The following students have been elected to the UP FAMNIT Student Council for the 2025/2026 academic year, which consists of 11 members (listed in alphabetical order by surname):

Undergraduate Studies (9):

• Matic Bončina, Computer Science (Slovene track),
• Vladimir Bondarev, Mathematics (English track),
• Anđela Bošnjak, Biopsychology,
• Ilija Chrchev, Computer Science (English track),
• Miloš Jakovljević, Bioinformatics (English track),
• Andrej Korošec, Bioinformatics (Slovene track),
• Makar Korshunov, Mediterranean Agriculture,
• Aljaž Kunstelj, Computer Science (Slovene track),
• Artem Nesterov, Mathematics (English track);

Postgraduate Studies (2):

• Jakob Beber, Computer Science, Master's study programme,
• Lina Mešič, Computer Science, Master's study programme.

On Wednesday, 26 November 2025, the constitutive meeting of the new UP FAMNIT Student Council took place, at which the president, vice-president, secretary, and the student representatives in the UP Student Council and the UP Senate were elected. The elected members are:

• Matic Bončina, Computer Science (Slovene track) – President of the UP FAMNIT Student Council, student representative in the UP Student Council (by position), and student representative in the UP Senate,
• Aljaž Kunstelj, Computer Science (Slovene track) – Vice-President of the UP FAMNIT Student Council,
• Artem Nesterov, Mathematics (English track) – Secretary of the UP FAMNIT Student Council and student representative in the UP Student Council.

Congratulations to the members of the Student Council on their election, and we wish them much success in their work!

Wednesday, 26 November 2025 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation of Domen Vake

We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Practical Applications of AI: Architectures, Methods, and Privacy Considerations of the student Domen Vake, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Computer Science (in Slovene).

The presentation will take place on Monday, 1 December 2025 at 15.45 in the classroom FAMNIT-MP4.

You are kindly invited!

Tuesday, 25 November 2025 Alumni UP with new president and coordinator

The University of Primorska Alumni Club is entering a new period of operation with new leadership. Martin Senič, a member of the UP Famnit Alumni Club, a doctoral student of Conservation Biology, and an assistant at the Department of Biodiversity, has taken over the position of president of the club, while Taja Pajmon Rak is taking on the role as the UP Alumni Club coordinator. In the coming period, in cooperation with the Alumni Clubs at the faculties, they will ensure the continuous operation of the club and the organization of activities for the members.

Martin Senič obtained his master's degree in Nature Conservation with a thesis entitled »Analysis of the life history patterns of the bare-faced curassow (Crax fasciolata) based on data obtained with camera traps in the northern Pantanal, Brazil,« for which he also received the Srečko Kosovel Award of the University of Primorska. He continues his research in the Pantanal as part of his doctoral thesis.

He has rich experience in the field of organization and coordination of educational, social, and professional events both within and outside the university environment. During his master's studies, he chaired the Student Council of UP Famnit and the Society of Conservation Biologists and participated in various university bodies and committees. Even then, he actively participated in numerous student projects, which he continues to do today. Among other things, he is also the coordinator of the Biological Evenings and student internships.

In addition to his membership in the Department of Biodiversity, Martin is also a member of the research group »Computational Bioacoustics Research Unit – CO.BRA« which operates under the auspices of the Federal University of Mato Grosso.

Taja Pajmon Rak is a member of the UP Famnit Alumni Club and a graduate of the Biodiversity study programme. Throughout her studies, she gained extensive experience in organizing student life by leading the Student Council of UP Famnit and the Student Council of the University of Primorska. In addition, she also has a lot of experience organizing numerous leisure activities and projects, such as managing associations, regular or project-based cultural events, and scientific conferences. Among other things, she has already executed several "alumni" projects within few various cultural associations on the occasion of milestone anniversaries.

She is looking forward to the new role and, on this occasion, wrote that she »is looking forward to new challenges and the implementation of her previous experiences in a new environment. I wish for the most productive and positive cooperation with other club members and the local community, and the inclusion of the members of both in the club's future activities. I believe that only together can we create a pleasant and stimulating environment for the further development of the club, as well as its members; both in a career or personal sense.«

Upon taking the position, Martin shared the following thoughts: »I hope that together with Taja and other coordinators and representatives of the Alumni Clubs at the faculties, we will succeed in directing the UP Alumni Club onto a new path. In this mandate, we still face some challenges and decisions, the goal of which is for UP Alumni to come to life in its true form and create an environment where our alumni members will gladly return, meet, and share their experiences.

I am aware that this requires regularly maintaining contact and building relationships with our alumni even after graduation, involving them in the university environment, and offering them opportunities for networking. It is also important to build a relationship and trust between the Alumni Club and the employees at UP who want to co-create the organization of various activities, as well as with the local environment. On this occasion, I want to invite all employees to contact us with ideas and initiatives at the email alumni@upr.si. We will gladly consider them when preparing the action plan for the coming period.

Our goal is to organize diverse events that will enable networking, the exchange of experiences, further education, or simply socializing with old friends who met in this environment as students. Alumni are also our potential partners, mentors, scholarship providers, and employers for our students in the future. Therefore, a key focus in the coming period will be on strengthening the network and creating a supportive environment where all these activities can truly come to life.

I look forward to the challenge ahead of us and hope to see you at one of our upcoming events. On this note, we can already invite all alumni and UP employees to the very next such event, the UP Alumni New Year's Toast, which will take place on December 11, 2025 (apply here).«

Tuesday, 25 November 2025 We are introducing a new study programme Wood Innovation for Sustainability

At its meeting held on 20 November 2025, the National Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Quality in Higher Education (NAKVIS) granted accreditation to the new higher education professional study programme "Wood Innovation for Sustainability", which will be implemented at the University of Primorska, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technology (UP FAMNIT). The programme addresses the current needs of the woodworking industry in Slovenia and Europe, promotes innovative technological approaches and focuses on the development of human resources. The latter is one of the central challenges of the wood industry, as both in Slovenia and elsewhere in Europe we are facing the need for modern knowledge, digital competencies and sustainable approaches. The study programme will be included in the call for enrolment in undergraduate study programmes of the University of Primorska in the academic year 2026/2027.

The three-year study programme includes six sections, namely basic knowledge subjects, basic subjects of the profession, digital skills for wood handling, business and economic skills and sustainability, wooden built environments and practical training and mobility window. The latter is intended to gain experience in an international environment, provides students with a structured international experience and represents an important part of European efforts to increase quality cross-border mobility.

The mandatory mobility window, which the University of Primorska has included in the curriculum of the new study programme, will contribute to the achievement of the strategic goals of both Slovenian and European higher education. The Resolution on the National Higher Education Programme until 2030 (ReNPVŠ30) and the Strategy for the Internationalisation of Higher Education and Science in Slovenia until 2030 define the increase in the quality and scope of international student mobility, the active inclusion of Slovenian institutions in the European area and internationalisation at home. The EU Strategy for Higher Education (EHEA) and the Council of the European Union Recommendation on student mobility further promote cross-border cooperation, knowledge exchange and access to educational and research opportunities across Europe.

The mobility window will be implemented in cooperation with 12 foreign universities and companies from Austria, Belgium, Italy, Germany and the USA. This will enable students to experience partner universities and companies abroad, learn about different educational systems, work and cultural environments, and the University of Primorska strengthens the international orientation and quality of education. Students will also undergo practical training at 12 Slovenian companies that are leaders in the wood processing chain.

When preparing the study program, the university pursued the principle of interdisciplinarity, as it identified the need to connect knowledge from different disciplines to solve complex issues in the wood industry. Through innovative teaching methods, such as brainstorming, case studies, collaborative learning, discussions, group research, problem-based learning or project work, which make courses more attractive, they prepare students to solve challenges in the industry after graduation.

The programme includes 22 courses (126 ECTS), practical training in a work environment (24 ECTS), a mobility window (24 ECTS) and a final seminar (6 ECTS). More specifically, it includes the following sets and subjects:

• Basic knowledge subjects (36 ECTS), which include subjects in the field of mathematics, English, chemistry, engineering mechanics, statistics and experimental methods.
• Basic professional subjects (33 ECTS), namely Practicum on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Wood Practicum, Engineered Wood Products, Advanced Manufacturing, Performance Modelling of Wood Products, Ergonomics in Wood Furniture Design and Wood Modification Technologies.
• Digital skills for woodworking (21 ECTS), which includes the subjects Computer Practicum, Digital Prototypes in Wood Product Design, Data Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
• Business and Economic Skills and Sustainability (24 ECTS), namely Business Communications, Project Management, Sustainability Assessment and Basics of Entrepreneurship and Marketing.
• Wooden Built Environments (12 ECTS), including the courses Timber Building Systems and Building Design driven by New European Bauhaus.
• Practical training (24 ECTS), which is carried out in the fourth and fifth semester as part of the two courses Practical Training in Work Environments I and II, but can also be carried out in the framework of the "Mobility Window".

With the new study programme, the University of Primorska strengthens the development of modern competences, encourages international cooperation and the acquisition of the necessary knowledge in the field of woodworking, which plays a key role in sustainable development in Slovenia and in the wider European area.

The study programme has been prepared taking into account the guidelines defined in the Policy Document 2024 of the European Policy Platform on Wood, WoodPoP "A Wood-Based Circular Bioeconomy for a Sustainable Europe", within the framework of the GDI UP project – Green, Digital and Inclusive University of Primorska, co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The project was implemented in accordance with the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) under the development area Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, component Strengthening competencies, in particular digital competencies and those required by the new professions and the green transition (C3 K5), for the investment measure Investment F. Implementation of pilot projects, the results of which will serve as a basis for the preparation of a roadmap for the reform of higher education for a green and resilient transition to a Society 5.0: project Pilot Projects for the Reform of Higher Education for a Green and Resilient Transition.

List of international partner institutions for the implementation of the Mobility Window:

• Saarland University, Germany
• Oregon State University, USA
• Holzforschung Austria, Austria
• BOKU University, Institute of Wood Technology and Renewable Materials, Austria
• HS Timber Group, Austria
• IBO - Austrian Institute for Building and Ecology, Austria
• European Panel Federation, Belgium
• Bauhaus der Erde gGmbH (Bauhaus Earth), Germany
• Raimund Beck Nageltechnik GmbH, Austria
• Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH (Wood KPLUS), Austria
• RothoBlass SRL, Italy
• Fraunhofer – Institute for Wood Research, Germany

The list of Slovenian companies or organizations within which students will carry out practical training:

• Alfa natura planje inženiring d.o.o.
• ALPLES, d.d.
• iQwood, wooden construction, d.o.o.
• Jelovica hiše d.o.o.
• Ledinek d.o.o.
• LUMAR IG d.o.o.
• M Sora, trade and production, d.d.
• SCM Adria d.o.o.
• Silent d.o.o.
• CBD construction and business design d.o.o.
• Gonzaga-pro d.o.o.
• Marles hiše Maribor d.o.o.

Monday, 24 November 2025 Preparations for the Biology Competition Took Place at UP FAMNIT This Saturday

On Saturday, November 22, a workshop on pollinators was held at the Livade 1.0 facility in Izola. The event was attended by 52 students and 10 teachers from various secondary schools in their 1st and 2nd years. It was organised by the Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT in preparation for the Biology Competition (ZOTKS) and the Ekokviz competition for secondary schools within the ECO-SCHOOL program.

Pollinators play a crucial role in ecosystems, so the workshop aimed to help young people understand their diversity and their importance in nature. Although the word “pollinator ” most commonly brings to mind the honeybee, many other groups of animals are also pollinators – wild bees, bumblebees, butterflies, flies, beetles, birds, and even bats.

Throughout a series of expert lectures, participants deepened their knowledge in the fields of plant biology, entomology, ecology and evolution. They learned about the structure and function of flowers, plant reproduction, pollination and fertilisation, as well as insect anatomy. The programme continued with content on wild pollinators, the honeybee, cultural heritage and bee diseases, followed by a practical laboratory session.

The students gained valuable knowledge that they can apply in upcoming competitions, and—more importantly—further strengthened their understanding of the natural sciences and the crucial role of pollinators in preserving biodiversity.

Wednesday, 19 November 2025 Job opening for an Assistant with a PhD – Analytical Chemist

 UP IAM InnoRenew CoE is seeking a highly qualified analytical chemist to join the Materials Group at our facilities in Izola. The selected candidate will be employed full-time at the University of Primorska.

InnoRenew CoE was established in 2017 and is funded by the European Commission and the Republic of Slovenia. Recently, InnoRenew CoE joined the Andrej Marušič Institute and is now part of the University of Primorska. The Materials Group focuses on the design, development, and testing of next-generation functional materials with improved properties, durability, and extended service life that support the use of renewable materials in the built environment. The selected candidate will work on the following projects: ERC CoG (#101044468), ARCHI-SKIN, EIC REMEDY (#101185862), and HE NEB MISS BIOARC (#101215956).

We are looking for a skilled expert in analytical chemistry with experience in GC-MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry), LC-MS (liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis) and IR spectroscopy, who will support our research activities with their expertise. The ideal candidate should possess a combination of technical skills, experience, and knowledge specific to these analytical techniques.

Tuesday, 18 November 2025 University of Primorska Again on the Shanghai Ranking for Mathematics

The University of Primorska (UP) has once again been included in the Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025 in the field of Mathematics, placing in the 401–500 group of the world’s best universities. This achievement confirms the quality of research work, international collaboration, and the university’s global recognition.

The Shanghai Ranking is one of the most recognized and influential international university rankings. The Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) evaluates universities across 57 academic subjects based on five categories, which include data on recipients of international awards, publications in top journals, citation impact, and international research collaboration.

This year, approximately 2,000 universities from 92 countries worldwide were ranked in GRAS. In the field of Mathematics, about 500 universities are on the list. The highest-ranked institutions come from the United States, China, and Europe, while the University of Primorska’s placement in the 401–500 group marks an important step forward for Slovenian science.

Monday, 17 November 2025 INTERNAL CALL FOR SUPPORT FOR APPLICATIONS TO THE ERC STARTING GRANT

The subject of the call is to provide support to researchers at UP IAM and UP FAMNIT in preparing and submitting applications to the ERC Starting Grant call. The purpose of the call is to promote the development of early-career researchers and to strengthen scientific excellence and the relevance of research results of younger researchers (realisation of research visits, participation in international conferences, organisation of scientific events, publication of scientific articles, etc.).

1. Eligibility criteria

Eligible applicants are early-career researchers employed at UP IAM or UP FAMNIT who meet the conditions listed below.

On the date of publication of the call, the candidate must meet the following conditions:

• They obtained a PhD between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2025. If the candidate has taken parental leave, one year is added for each child, and the period after the PhD defence is extended accordingly.
• In the last five years prior to the closing date of this call, they have published at least five scientific works in journals indexed in SSCI or SCI with IF>0.
• They have submitted an ERC Starting Grant application in 2025 or will submit such an application in 2026.

 2. Contents of the application

An application is considered complete if it contains the following completed forms:

• Description of the research project and CV (Appendix 1) – submitted in PDF format. Candidates who submitted an ERC Starting Grant application in 2025 shall submit that application instead of Appendix 1.
• A statement by the candidate that they will submit an ERC Starting Grant application in 2026 for which UP FAMNIT or UP IAM will be the host institution (Appendix 2), or confirmation of submission of an ERC Starting Grant application in 2025.

Applications must be submitted electronically.

3. Funding volume

The funding volume will be determined based on an internal assessment of the quality of the application and the references of the candidate. Projects will be classified into three categories:

• Category A – excellent potential: applications demonstrating outstanding research potential. Awarded co-funding: EUR 5,000.
• Category B – very good potential: applications of high research quality but with certain shortcomings. Awarded co-funding: EUR 2,000.
• Category C – limited potential: applications with a lower level of research preparation and more shortcomings. No co-funding is awarded.

 4. Eligible costs

Eligible costs and expenditures are those incurred until 31 December 2026.

The following costs and expenditures are eligible:

• material costs (e.g. purchase of literature, costs of scientific publications, purchase of material for laboratory research, registration fees for trainings or invited lectures at national or international scientific conferences or meetings, coverage of other costs related to the candidate’s stay abroad);
• purchase of research equipment.

5. Application procedure and deadline

Eligible applicants shall send the application with completed forms (Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 in PDF format, or confirmation of submission of an ERC Starting Grant application in 2025 together with the submitted application) to razpisi.famnitiam@upr.si, with the subject “APPLICANT’S SURNAME – APPLICATION FOR SUPPORT FOR ERC STARTING GRANT APPLICATION”.

Applications received by email to the indicated address by 15 January 2026, 15:00, will be considered.

6. Notification of the selection

The selection of candidates will be decided by the Director of UP IAM and the Dean of UP FAMNIT, based on the proposal of an internal evaluation committee. Applicants will be informed of the results of the call at their institutional email address no later than 30 days from the date of application review.

Internal call can be found HERE

Statement > HERE

Project description and curriculum vitae (CV) > HERE

Thursday, 13 November 2025 Exhibition Invitation: From Mathematical Calculations and Software Algorithms to a Work of Art

Did you know that with the right knowledge of mathematics and information technology, you can draw a picture? Yes, you read that correctly. Information technology offers numerous creative possibilities. With the support of software algorithms, which the user refines with mathematical calculations, a unique visual image can be created.

On Monday, November 17, 2025, at 12 noon, the University of Primorska will open an exhibition of computer-generated works by Bogdan Soban as part of his personal project "Reflections of Time," which he is dedicating to the European Capital of Culture.

With the slogan "Let's bring art closer to people, art is for everyone, not just for the chosen few" and an accompanying lecture for students, employees, and the general public, the artist wants to show a special, unconventional approach to creating images. The lecture will be held in Slovenian in the lobby of the Armerija after the opening of the exhibition.

The exhibition will be on display in the lobby of the Armerija Palace of the University of Primorska at Tito Square 4 in Koper every working day between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. until Thursday, December 4, 2025.

About the author: BOGDAN SOBAN

Bogdan Soban (1949), a graduate mechanical engineer, switched to the field of computer science after graduation. As an expert in computing and programming, he began developing a project in his spare time with the aim of exploring the creative possibilities of computers. He developed a series of computer programs that use mathematical algorithms to create abstract images on the screen. He often presents his project in the form of art exhibitions, projections, lectures, and workshops, as well as at international conferences and online presentations. Bogdan Soban has already collaborated with the University of Primorska and its members: in 2018 with a lecture as part of the series Excursions into Mathematical Space at the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies of the University of Primorska, in 2021 with an independent exhibition of mathematical art at the European Mathematical Congress, which took place in Portorož under the auspices of the University of Primorska, and this August in the charity project "Postcards of Kindness" with Dr. Danijela Horvat Samardžija from the Faculty of Education at the University of Primorska.

About the exhibition: REFLECTIONS OF TIME

Although mathematics is considered a relatively unknown approach in art, it has characteristics that distinguish it from more conventional methods of creation. One of these is creation with the help of computer programs. "Such images would be difficult to paint by hand, so we use various software programs to help us in our creative process. The first condition for an image to be considered mathematical art is therefore that as many mathematical laws as possible are built into the software. In addition, the image must give the impression of being mathematical in origin, and last but not least, the works must also comply with the basic concepts of visual art in terms of color harmony, composition, and structure," explained Soban.

The author dedicates the exhibition to the European Capital of Culture.

(*from an article, published in Primorske novice)

About the lecture: GENERATIVE ART – HOW A COMPUTER CREATES ARTWORK

Duration: estimated 12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Location: lobby of the Armerija Palace, University of Primorska

Author Bogdan Soban, who has been exploring the creative possibilities of information technology in the field of visual arts for four decades, will present his project, for which he developed the software himself using the VISUAL BASIC programming language. Supported by software algorithms refined with mathematical calculations, his programs create ever new and unique visual images.

In the first part, he will present several methodological approaches, such as the algorithmic approach, travelling into the third dimension of an image, the use of small geometric elements, deformation algorithms, drawing symmetrical shapes, the principle of a floating point, experiments with figurative art, and more. All presentations will take place live in front of the audience.

He will then focus on a more detailed presentation of the algorithmic approach, where attendees will have the opportunity to see how simple formulas create complex images in different coordinate planes (Cartesian, polar, and complex) and some of his innovative solutions.

The lecture will be understandable not only to computer scientists and mathematicians, but to anyone who still remembers high school mathematics.

Thursday, 13 November 2025 Citizen Science Day 2025 in Nova Gorica

UP actively participated in this year’s Citizen Science Day 2025, which took place in Nova Gorica. The event, organized by the Citizen Science Network in collaboration with the France Bevk Public Library Nova Gorica and the Central Technical Library at the University of Ljubljana, aimed to promote collaboration between researchers and the wider public, as well as to present projects involving volunteers, amateur researchers, and other interested groups.

At the event, Assist. Prof. Ana Slavec and Assoc. Prof. Živa Fišer presented a diverse range of research projects from UP FAMNIT, UP IAM, UP InnoRenew, and UP FHŠ, all with strong citizen involvement.

In the first part of the presentation, Assoc. Prof. Slavec highlighted six examples of collaboration between scientists and the public:

• SERVITE MONASTERY – OLD MATERNITY HOSPITAL IN KOPER,
• PROTECTION OF BRONZE MONUMENTS IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT,
• DEVELOPMENT OF WOODEN COMPOSITES WITH ENHANCED IMPACT NOISE PROTECTION,
• MODEL FOR CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY HOMES,
• CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN DESIGNING A DIGITAL TWIN FOR REAL ESTATE,
• SRNA: AN APPLICATION FOR MONITORING WILD ANIMALS.

Assoc. Prof. Fišer presented projects that involve the broader public in nature research:

• SEARCHING FOR NON-NATIVE FLATWORMS IN SLOVENIA,
• LOOKING FOR SPRING COWSLIPS (Primula veris).

UP’s contribution demonstrated how citizen involvement can support research work and contribute to a better understanding of social and environmental issues.

The event was part of Science Month 2025, funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

More about citizen science at UP and individual projects can be read here.

Wednesday, 12 November 2025 Tea Talk with Psychologists: A movie afternoon on breaking the silence about domestic violence

We successfully concluded another Tea with Psychologists, this time in a slightly different format – as a movie afternoon. We watched the ethnographic documentary “Chocolates & Roses: Breaking the Silence about Domestic Violence in the Philippines”, which, through personal stories of women from various social backgrounds, reveals the reality of domestic violence and explores how social norms, stigma, and legal systems affect the mental health and suicidal behavior of survivors.

The film was created by our guest, Prof. Dr. Erminia Colucci – psychologist, researcher, filmmaker, and activist, who works as a Professor of Visual Psychology and Cultural and Global Mental Health at Middlesex University in London. Her work brings together art, visual storytelling, and psychology, with a special focus on the cultural aspects of mental health, suicide prevention, human rights, social justice, and the inclusion of people with lived experience of mental distress.

The film tells not only a story of pain and struggle but also one of strength and resilience – of women and communities who, through courage, connection, and perseverance, break the silence and create paths toward recovery. 

Wednesday, 12 November 2025 Dr. Alan Said (University of Gothenburg) on the environmental impact of recommender systems

On Monday, 10 November 2025, the Monday Computer Science Seminar hosted Dr. Alan Said, Associate Professor at the University of Gothenburg.

In his lecture titled “The Environmental Cost of Recommender Systems,” Dr Said presented the findings of a study featured at the ACM RecSys 2024 conference. The research analysed 79 papers on recommender systems published between 2013 and 2023 and revealed that deep-learning-based recommender systems emit, on average, 42 times more CO₂ equivalents than traditional approaches.

Dr Said highlighted the importance of sustainable practices and greater awareness of environmental impacts in artificial-intelligence research.

We thank Dr. Said for his inspiring lecture and invite all participants to follow the upcoming seminars in the series: https://www.famnit.upr.si/sl/ponedeljkov-seminar-rin/latest

Tuesday, 11 November 2025 UP marked the first day of science with the Gallery of UP Zois Award Winners

In 2025, we will celebrate Slovenian Science Day for the first time. The Slovenian government approved this holiday in March 2025, and it will be celebrated every year on November 10. To mark the first celebration of this important national holiday, which highlights the respect for knowledge as one of the fundamental values of Slovenian society, the UP has chosen to set up and open a gallery of recipients of Zois awards and recognitions and Science Ambassador awards employed at the UP.

Knowledge is crucial for the development of society and the country, but scientific research and innovation achievements are not sufficiently recognized by the general public. Therefore, in order to raise awareness, the initiative for the holiday was launched by the prestigious scientific community – the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Rectors' Conference of the Republic of Slovenia, the Coordination of Independent Research Institutes of Slovenia, the Slovenian Academy of Engineering, and the Slovenian Medical Academy, based on a proposal by the Committee of the Republic of Slovenia for the awarding of prizes and recognitions for outstanding achievements in scientific research and development activities.

The date, November 10, was chosen because it is associated with Žiga Zois, a Slovenian enlightener, economist, writer, and patron of the arts, and because it is UNESCO's World Science Day for Peace and Development. The highest national awards in the field of science are named after Žiga Zois – on the eve of the event, the Zois and Puh awards and recognitions were presented in the Gallus Hall. Two UP employees were among the recipients: Dr. Tomaž Pisanski for his life's work and Dr. Urban Bren for his special achievements (more here).

Since its foundation, UP has been proud of the awards it has regularly received, so it was almost inevitable that the first anniversary would be marked by highlighting the award winners. The opening ceremony, with speeches and the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon by Prof. Dr. Klavdija Kutnar, Rector of the UP, and Prof. Dr. Štefko Miklavič, Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and Development at the UP, was a tribute to all those whom we have already congratulated and proudly listed as UP employees who have received these exceptional awards. The gallery is located in the library – a symbolic treasure trove of knowledge and science. In this way, future potential scientists – university students – will also be able to see the award winners, who will also serve as an inspiration to their colleagues. At the opening, there are 19 portraits in the gallery, and with such encouraging scientific excellence at UP, we all believe that there will be more every year – for now, we congratulate all the award winners.

The following are presented in the gallery at the opening:

• Dr. Dragan Marušič  (Zois Prize for outstanding achievements in scientific research in the field in the field of graph theory and algebra), 2002
• Dr. Maja Čemažar (Zois Award for important scientific achievements in the field of experimental oncology), 2006
• Dr. Štefan Bojnec (Zois Award for important scientific achievements in the field of economics),  2008
• Dr. Štefko Miklavič (Zois Award for important scientific achievements in mathematics), 2012
• Dr. Dušanka Janežič (Zois Prize for outstanding achievements in mathematics and science), 2013
• Dr. Tomaž Pisanski (Zois Prize for outstanding achievements in scientific research in the field of discrete mathematics and its applications), 2015
• Dr. Sara Dolničar (The Ambassador of Science Award for significant achievements in the promotion and development of Slovenian scientific and development activities abroad), 2016
• Dr. Martin Milanič (Zois Award for important scientific achievements in the field of discrete mathematics), 2017
• Dr. Andreja Kutnar (Zois Award for significant scientific achievements in the field of woodworking), 2018
• Dr. Enes Pasalic (Zois Prize for outstanding achievement in field of cryptography), 2019
• Dr. Lara Lusa (Zois Award for scientific achievements, namely for scientific achievements in the development of the methodology of medical statistics), 2020
• Dr. Vita Poštuvan (Zois Award for important scientific achievements in the field of suicidology and mental health), 2021
• Dr. István Kovács (Zois Prize for outstanding achievement in algebraic graph theory), 2021
• Dr. Bojan Kuzma (Zois Prize for outstanding achievement in the field of linear algebra), 2022
• Dr. Igor Klep (Zois Prize for outstanding achievement in the field of algebra and its applications), 2024
• Dr. Tomaž Grušovnik (Zois Award for important achievement in the field of environmental and animal ethics), 2024
• Dr. Vito Vitrih (Zois Award for important achievement in the field of numerical mathematics), 2024
• Dr. Urban Bren (Zois Award for significant achievements in the field of biomolecular simulations), 2025
• Dr. Tomaž Pisanski (Zois Prize for lifetime achievement in the field of discrete mathematics), 2025

Descriptions of the awards with justifications are available at the link.

Tuesday, 11 November 2025 Strengthening international cooperation: Hosting Dr. Carolline Zatta Fieker at UP FAMNIT

At the end of October, the Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT hosted Dr. Carolline Zatta Fieker, a researcher at the National Institute of Pantanal Research (INPP) and a member of the Computational Bioacoustics Research Unit (Co.BRA), which operates within the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá, Brazil. The visit took place within the framework of the Erasmus+ program, KA171 scheme, which enables mobility and strengthens cooperation between partner institutions outside the EU.

Dr. Zatta Fieker is a researcher whose work covers ecology, ornithology, fire ecology, and vertebrate bioacoustics. At FAMNIT, she gave two lectures in which she presented contemporary research approaches to the study of biodiversity and her experiences from one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world – the Brazilian Pantanal. Her lectures provided insight into this very different world, including the challenges and interesting aspects faced by researchers in this area.

In the first lecture, entitled Listening to Wildlife: Biodiversity Assessment with Passive Acoustic Monitoring, Dr. Zatta Fieker presented passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) as an innovative tool for biodiversity research. Based on her research in the Pantanal, she presented practical examples of the use of this method and highlighted advances in acoustic technology and analytical approaches. The lecture emphasized the growing importance of bioacoustics in ecology and conservation.

Her second lecture, The Pantanal: Ecological Overview and Wildlife Monitoring Approaches, provided an in-depth presentation of the Pantanal— the world’s largest tropical wetland, renowned for its exceptional biodiversity and seasonal floods that shape local habitats. She introduced participants to the unique features of this ecosystem and the methods essential for studying wildlife in such an environment, including the use of drones, bioacoustics, and camera traps.

Here are some highlights from the lectures, which Dr. Zatta Fieker brought to both students and department staff. We would like to thank the lecturer for a successful event and hope for similar collaborations in the future.

Monday, 10 November 2025 The doctoral thesis defence of Marko Grgurovič

Marko Grgurovič, student of the doctoral study programe Computer Science (in Slovene) at UP FAMNIT will defend his doctoral thesis Optimization and graphs: efficiency of some algorithms in theory and practice (Optimizacija in grafi: učinkovitost nekaterih algoritmov v teoriji in praksi); under the mentorship of Prof. Andrej Brodnik, PhD and co-mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Rok Požar, PhD.

The defence will take place on Monday, 8 December 2025 at 13:00 in Famnit-VP3.

The doctoral disertation is available in the University Library.

You are kindly invited!

Monday, 10 November 2025 Zois Prizes awarded

On Sunday, November 9, 2025, on the eve of the first celebration of the new Slovenian holiday, Science Day, this year's Zois Awards and Recognitions, the highest national awards for achievements in the field of scientific research and development in the Republic of Slovenia, and the Puh Awards and Recognitions, the highest national awards for inventions, technological and non-technological developments and the application of scientific findings in all fields of science in the introduction of innovations into economic and social practice, were awarded at a gala event in the Gallus Hall of the Cankarjev dom. They are awarded to researchers and innovators whose achievements have made a lasting contribution to the development of scientific research, development and innovation in the Republic of Slovenia.

Among this year's recipients of the Zois Award are two award winners employed at the University of Primorska. The announcement took place in October at an event organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, which also presents the awards. Dr. Tomaž Pisanski received the Zois Prize for lifetime achievement, while Dr. Urban Bren received the Zois Award for special achievements. We sincerely congratulate both of them on their awards.

The award, named after the Slovenian researcher Žiga Zois, has been awarded in Slovenia since 1998 to all outstanding researchers whose work has made a lasting mark on scientific research and development in the Republic of Slovenia and has made a significant contribution to its development.

The the Zois Prize for lifetime achievement in the field of discrete mathematics goes to Prof. Dr. Tomaž Pisanski (UP FAMNIT, UP IAM, IMFM)

Prof. Dr Tomaž Pisanski is a renowned researcher in discrete mathematics, a field that studies discrete structures such as integers, graphs and statements in logic that do not vary continuously, but have distinct, separated values. By establishing and developing the world-famous Slovenian school of discrete mathematics, he has significantly influenced the development of this field. He founded and led the Department of Theoretical Computer Science at the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics, contributed to the founding of the University of Primorska, established and co-edited three scientific journals, including the Slovenian leading scientific journal Ars Mathematica Contemporanea, and founded the Slovenian Discrete and Applied Mathematics Society.  He organised several international scientific meetings and also chaired the Organising Committee of the 8th European Congress of Mathematics in Portorož. In the history of mathematics, he researched Jurij Vega and Ivo Lah.

The Zois Award for significant achievements in the field of biomolecular simulations goes to Prof. Dr. Urban Bren (UM FKKT, UP FAMNIT, IOS)

Prof. Dr Urban Bren uses computer simulations to study how various chemicals affect human health and develops new, more selective diagnostic methods. He was the first to demonstrate that the chemical reactivity of substances is a good predictor of their potential carcinogenicity. He is also involved in the search for natural compounds that could inhibit cancer development – with the long-term goal of creating dietary supplements that would help prevent the disease. Additionally, he studies the impact of microwave radiation on the risk of developing cancer or neurological diseases. Using advanced computational tools, he designs new therapeutic agents, such as more effective antiviral drugs and safer painkillers.

Foto: Matjaž Tavčar for MVZI

Thursday, 6 November 2025 European Innovation Council (EIC) highlights the achievements of Dr. Anna Sandak in the Women Leadership Programme (EIC Women Leadership)

Recipient of an EIC Pathfinder project, researcher and head of the materials research group at InnoRenew CoE and UP IAM, participant of the seventh cohort of the EIC Women Leadership Programme, and much more. In a detailed interview, the European Innovation Council (EIC) highlights the achievements of Dr. Anna Sandak, with particular emphasis on the ARCHI-SKIN and REMEDY projects.

The EIC describes Dr. Sandak’s journey in the seventh cohort of the EIC Women Leadership Programme as an example of how confidence and well-developed communication skills can enhance scientific impact and help research move out of the laboratory and into real-world application.

The programme, launched as a pilot in 2021, has so far trained more than 300 researchers and entrepreneurs. The seventh cohort, which included Dr. Sandak, spent three months focusing on developing entrepreneurial skills aimed at founding and growing companies. The effects were immediate: shortly after the programme concluded, the ARCHI-SKIN project received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) and was selected for the Science4EU campaign, gaining the opportunity to be presented to the broader public. In the interview, Dr. Sandak emphasized: »The opportunity to work with experienced mentors, inspiring role models, and fellow participants gave me practical leadership tools, greater confidence, and a better understanding of how to navigate the complexities of innovation, technology transfer, and business strategies. I now feel better prepared to effectively lead my team and guide our project toward long-term goals.«

Even before entering the programme, Dr. Sandak’s team had secured EIC Pathfinder funding for the REMEDY project. As the first Pathfinder project in Slovenia led by a woman coordinator, it marked Dr. Sandak as the first researcher in Slovenia to receive both ERC and EIC funding for her projects. She adds that the EIC Women Leadership Programme changed her perspective on innovation and entrepreneurship. She continues: »I am already passing the tools and knowledge I gained on to my team. Together, we are now more aware of our shared abilities, strengths, and our potential to bring our research into the real world. The programme helped me better understand the entrepreneurial mindset and the strategic steps needed to move from scientific discovery to market application.«

Deeply embedded in the academic environment and oriented toward the future, Dr. Sandak continues to successfully lead her team toward new goals. Along this journey, science is accompanied by vision, leadership, and the courage to innovate.

We invite you to read the full interview.

Thursday, 30 October 2025 Domestic Violence and Mental Health: Culture, Stigma, and Resilience

As part of the next Tea Talk with a Psychologist at UP FAMNIT, we will host Prof. Dr. Erminia Colucci, a psychologist, researcher, filmmaker, and activist, and Professor of Visual Psychology and Cultural & Global Mental Health at Middlesex University London.

Her work bridges visual psychology, art, and mental health, focusing on cultural aspects of mental health, suicide prevention, human rights, social justice, prevention of domestic violence, inclusion of people with lived experience of mental health issues, and the mental health of ethnic minorities and refugees.

During the session, we will watch her ethnographic documentary film “Chocolates & Roses: Breaking the Silence about Domestic Violence in the Philippines”, which, through the personal stories of women from different social backgrounds, reveals the realities of domestic violence and the influence of social norms, stigma, and legal frameworks on the mental health and suicidal behaviour of survivors.

The film not only portrays suffering but also tells stories of strength and resilience – of individuals and communities who, through courage, connection, and perseverance, break the silence and build paths toward recovery .

After the screening, an interactive Q&A with Prof. Dr. Colucci will follow, where we will reflect together on how, as individuals and as a community, we can turn silence into spaces of empowerment and growth.

The film and the Q&A session will be held in English/with English subtitles.  

Tuesday, 28 October 2025 The First Tea Talk with the Psychologist of the year was successfully held

The first Tea Talk of the year, held on October 27th at 4 p.m., focused on the inclusion of people with disabilities, featuring Jeanette Hadaschik, who shared insights drawn from her experiences, research, and practice.

During the event, research psychologist and consultant Jeanette Hadaschik (MSc) provided insights into the inclusion of people with disabilities, drawing on her personal life experiences, academic research, and practical work in creating more inclusive workplaces. She introduced key concepts such as ableism, and the social and medical models of disability, illustrating how these influence participation and a sense of belonging in education, the workplace, and everyday life.

Jeanette also shared her experiences with disability inclusion at Maastricht University, where she collaborates with the UnliMited Network and the Disability Inclusion Group, and spoke about what can help institutions transition toward greater inclusivity.

Jeanette works as a researcher and consultant in behavioral science and disability inclusion at Evidentia Behavioral Insights. She is also an external PhD student in psychology at Maastricht University (Netherlands).

Thursday, 23 October 2025 Strengthening Cooperation with the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies

Last week, UP FAMNIT had the pleasure of hosting ASsoc. Prof. Tatjana Rubina from the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU).

Professor Rubina works in the fields of information technology and mathematics education. At her home institution, she teaches courses such as Advanced Mathematics, Numerical Methods, Mathematical Statistics, Software Project Management, Software Testing, User Interface Design, and Web Technologies.

In addition to her teaching activities, she taught courses such as Advanced Mathematics, Numerical Methods, Mathematical Statistics, Mathematical Modelling, and Software Project Management. She now teaches Software Testing, User Interface Design, Frontend Development Technologies, and E-commerce Technologies.

During her visit, hosted by the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies at UP FAMNIT, Professor Rubina delivered several lectures and presentations. She contributed to the Monday Seminar in Computer Science and Informatics, and held guest lectures for courses such as Human-Computer Interaction and Multimedia Design.

Her visit significantly contributed to strengthening the collaboration between UP FAMNIT and the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, particularly in the areas of knowledge exchange, research cooperation, and the development of innovative teaching approaches in information sciences.

Wednesday, 22 October 2025 Postdoctoral Position – Linear codes and special classes of functions

The UP Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT) invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to work on the research project “Linear codes through special classes of functions – relationship and design," led by Prof. Dr. Enes Pasalic and funded by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS).

Tuesday, 21 October 2025 Disability Inclusion: Insights from Lived Experience, Research, and Practice

At this Tea Time, research psychologist and consultant Jeanette Hadaschik (MSc) will share insights on disability inclusion, drawing from her own lived experience, academic research, and practical involvement in creating more inclusive work environments. The talk will introduce key concepts, such as ableism and the social versus medical model of disability, illustrating how they influence participation and belonging in education, work, and daily life. Jeanette will also share insights from her own experience contributing to disability inclusion initiatives at Maastricht University, including the UnliMited Network and the Disability Inclusion Group, and discuss what can help institutions move toward greater inclusion.

Jeanette works as a behavioral science and disability inclusion researcher and consultant at Evidentia Behavioral Insights. She is also an external PhD-candidate in psychology at Maastricht University (Netherlands).

The event will take place on 27 October at 4 PM in the lecture room VP3 at UP FAMNIT.

Friday, 17 October 2025 LISTENING TO WILDLIFE: BIODIVERSITY ASSESMENT WITH PASSIVE ACOUSTIC MONITORING

The University of Primorska will host a guest lecture by Dr. Carolline Zatta Fieker on Monday, October 21, at 11 a.m. in the Epsilon lecture room (Livade 1.0, Izola). Dr. Fieker, a researcher from the National Institute of Pantanal Research (INPP), Brazil, will present passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) as an innovative tool for biodiversity assessment. Drawing from her studies in the Brazilian Pantanal, she will showcase practical applications of this method and highlight recent advancements in acoustic technology and analysis. The lecture is open to students and staff of UP.

Thursday, 16 October 2025 Autumn graduation ceremony for doctors of science at the UP

On Thursday, October 14, 2025, the UP held its autumn graduation ceremony for doctors of science. The Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and Development at the UP, Prof. Dr. Štefko Miklavič, together with the deans of the member faculties and mentors, promoted 12 new doctors of science, who joined the ones who had completed their doctoral studies at the UP.

On this day, the following were promoted:

• Dr. Jesenko Hadžihasanović
• Dr. Marianna Gergely
• Dr. Nika Pavletić
• Dr. Meta Lavrič
• Dr. Monica Bertok Vatovec
• Dr. Jovan Mitrović
• Dr. Jernej Pleša
• Dr. Janja Zorko
• Dr. Benjamin Osmančević
• Dr. Leilani Štajer
• Dr. Karin Šik Novak
• Dr. Matic Sašek.

Meta Lavrič who defended her doctoral thesis at UP FAMNIT entiteled »Experiencing storytelling: Developing and sharing written stories as an intervention to strengthen mental health in gatekeepers « under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Vita Poštuvan

Doctoral dissertation summary

»Experiencing storytelling: Developing and sharing written stories as an intervention to strengthen mental health in gatekeepers«

Psychological storytelling interventions include creating, receiving, and sharing stories, yet research is inconsistent about which components are used, leaving gaps in knowledge about how these interventions work. 10 correctional officers who had experienced suicide in the course of their work participated in our intervention and study.

We examined perceived effects of each element on well-being and mental health and developed a Model of Processing and Integrating Experience in Storysharing, highlighting mutual story-sharing as key.

Thursday, 16 October 2025 New course at UP FAMNIT brings ethical perspectives to environmental, conservation and animal studies

A new course, Introduction to Environmental, Conservation and Animal Ethics, is being implemented at UP FAMNIT by esteemed Professor Carolyn Stephens.

The course offers students an in-depth introduction to the concepts and principles of environmental, conservation, and animal ethics, exploring how ethical frameworks shape research, policy, and decision-making across these fields. It also examines the historical development of ethical ideas in the context of global environmental change and the biodiversity crisis, as well as current trends in international ethical standards and policy frameworks.

Under Prof. Stephens’ guidance, students will engage with key topics such as environmental and animal ethics, land and ecosystem ethics, climate ethics and justice, and the integration of ethics and rights in environmental and conservation contexts.

Professor Carolyn Stephens is an environmental epidemiologist and ethics expert with appointments at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University College London, and the University of Primorska (since 2024). Her research focuses on equity, environment, health, ethics, and human and environmental rights worldwide. With over 25 years of teaching experience in international development and environmental ethics, she has worked extensively in countries such as India, Liberia, Brazil, and Argentina. She has led international research projects, advised UN agencies, serves on the editorial boards of five peer-reviewed journals, and has held executive roles in global organizations including the International Association of Ecology and Health and the Health and Environment Alliance. Professor Stephens also sits on the International Ethics Advisory Board of the EU’s BEPREP programme and has been recognized with the UK Royal Society Kohn Award for Public Engagement in Science and the Mayor of London’s Academic Excellence Award.

Thursday, 16 October 2025 MANAGING RESEARCH DATA IN THE ERA OF OPEN SCIENCE

You are invited to join the seminar and roundtable organized as part of Task 5.6: "T4EU Open Science in the T4Europe Area" The events will take place on October 22, 2025, at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania, and online via Microsoft Teams.

The event will take place in a hybrid format: on Teams and in person

13:15-15:00 The European Open Science Cloud: Vision for the Future and Core Challenge

We explore the evolving strategic directions of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), with particular emphasis on the key dimensions of interoperability—semantic, technical, and legal. Furthermore, we examine the specific case of the CLARIN-LT repository, highlighting the mechanisms through which it supports linguistic resource sharing and compliance with open science principles. Finally, we present national practices and policy initiatives in Portugal and Slovenia that align with EOSC objectives, illustrating how local infrastructures and governance models are adapting to broader European standards and ambitions.

Speakers :

• Dr. Ana Slavec, UP
• Prof. Rūta Petrauskaitė, VMU
• Dr. Darius Amilevičius, VMU
• Patrícia Carvalho, UCP
• Assoc. prof. Jurgita Vaičenonienė, VMU
• Prof. Saulė Milčiuvienė, VMU

15:15-16:45 Round table discussion: Building Capacity for Data Stewardship and Governance

This round table will focus on strengthening data stewardship roles and governance frameworks within research institutions. Participants will discuss the development of skills and training for data professionals, the implementation of FAIR principles, and the alignment of national practices with EOSC standards. Key challenges such as legal, ethical, and technical responsibilities in data management will be addressed, with the aim of identifying practical strategies and collaborative approaches to build sustainable capacity in data governance.

Moderate:   Dr. Ana Slavec, UP

Participants:

• Uroš Sergaš, UP
• Patrícia Carvalho, UCP
• Prof. Saulė Milčiuvienė, VMU
• Davide Franch, UNITS

Wednesday, 15 October 2025 Participation at the SMART2025 Conference in Reggio Calabria

Before the start of the new semester, between September 28 and October 2, 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Karla Ferjančič and Aljaž Kosmač attended the international SMART2025 conference, the fourth edition in the SMART conference series. This year, the event was held in the picturesque city of Reggio Calabria, Italy.

The conference brought together researchers from around the world working in the fields of subdivision, geometric and algebraic methods, isogeometric analysis, and related applications. Special emphasis was placed on new and emerging research areas that bridge theoretical approaches with advanced computational and engineering methods.

Tuesday, 14 October 2025 Two UP employees among this year's Zois Award winners

Today, October 14, 2025, this year's recipients of the highest national awards and recognitions for outstanding achievements in scientific research and development  (Zois and Puh awards and prizes, and the Ambassador of Science of the Republic of Slovenia) were announced in Ljubljana. Among the Zois Award winners are two UP employees – Prof. Dr. Tomaž Pisanski is the recipient of the Zois Prize for lifetime achievement in the field of discrete mathematics, and Prof. Dr. Urban Bren is the recipient of the Zois Award for significant achievements in the field of biomolecular simulations.

The recipients were announced by the chair of the Slovenian Committee for the Awarding of Prizes and Awards for Exceptional Achievements in Scientific Research and Development, Prof. Dr. Nataša Vaupotič, and the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr. Igor Papič, also spoke about the importance of awards and recognitions. The announcement took place today, and the awards will be presented at a ceremony in the Gallus Hall of Cankarjev dom on November 9, on the eve of Science Day, which will be celebrated for the first time in Slovenia on November 10.

We sincerely congratulate the winners and look forward to celebrating the new holiday!

Prof. Dr. Tomaž Pisanski, UP Famnit, UP IAM, IMFM

is awarded the Zois Prize for lifetime achievement in the field of discrete mathematics

Prof. Dr Tomaž Pisanski is a renowned researcher in discrete mathematics, a field that studies discrete structures such as integers, graphs and statements in logic that do not vary continuously, but have distinct, separated values. By establishing and developing the world-famous Slovenian school of discrete mathematics, he has significantly influenced the development of this field. He founded and led the Department of Theoretical Computer Science at the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics, contributed to the founding of the University of Primorska, established and co-edited three scientific journals, including the Slovenian leading scientific journal Ars Mathematica Contemporanea, and founded the Slovenian Discrete and Applied Mathematics Society.  He organised several international scientific meetings and also chaired the Organising Committee of the 8th European Congress of Mathematics in Portorož. In the history of mathematics, he researched Jurij Vega and Ivo Lah.

Prof. Dr. Urban Bren, UM FKKT, UP FAMNIT, IOS

is awarded the Zois Award for significant achievements in the field of biomolecular simulations

Prof. Dr Urban Bren uses computer simulations to study how various chemicals affect human health and develops new, more selective diagnostic methods. He was the first to demonstrate that the chemical reactivity of substances is a good predictor of their potential carcinogenicity. He is also involved in the search for natural compounds that could inhibit cancer development – with the long-term goal of creating dietary supplements that would help prevent the disease. Additionally, he studies the impact of microwave radiation on the risk of developing cancer or neurological diseases. Using advanced computational tools, he designs new therapeutic agents, such as more effective antiviral drugs and safer painkillers

Photos: Matjaž Tavčar for MVZI

Monday, 13 October 2025 PLAC priložnosti is coming to Koper - an educational and career festival where young people explore their future

The educational and career festival "Plac priložnosti", organized by the PiNA Cultural and Educational Association, the University of Primorska, the Employment Service of Slovenia (Koper Regional Office), and the Istria Counseling Center, is back.

• Friday, October 17, 2025
• Bonifika Hall, Koper
• From 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The festival offers young people a unique opportunity to meet a wide range of secondary schools, faculties, universities, and organizations from all over Slovenia — all in one place. They’ll be able to talk to representatives face to face, explore opportunities for further education, exchanges, training, and other possibilities.

A variety of institutions and organizations will be presented, including:

• Universities: University of Primorska, University of Ljubljana, University of Maribor, University of Nova Gorica, New University, EMUNI University, Alma Mater Europaea University, Sigmund Freud University Ljubljana.
• Secondary and higher education schools: Srečko Kosovel Sežana School Centre, Rogaška Slatina School Centre, Secondary School of Construction, Geodesy and Environmental Protection Ljubljana, Grm Novo mesto College of Rural Management, and others.
• Organizations and institutions: Employment Service of Slovenia, EURES network, Community of Higher Vocational Colleges of the Republic of Slovenia, Koper Adult Education Centre, Mjob Student Service, Institute for Youth, Culture and Tourism Koper.

A special feature of this year’s event is the European Avenue, where visitors will learn about programs offered by the European Union for young people — from study and volunteer experiences to opportunities for employment and education abroad.

Among those presenting will be Eurodesk Slovenia, EUROPE DIRECT Koper - Capodistria, the CERV Contact Point, and the Employment Service of Slovenia (EURES network).

The festival is intended for: final-year primary school pupils, secondary school students, parents, teachers, school counselors, university students, and anyone interested in discovering the world of education up close.

More information: www.plac-priloznosti.si

Welcome! 

Monday, 13 October 2025 Successfully held HCI SI 2025 conference

Today, the HCI SI 2025 – Human-Computer Interaction Slovenia conference took place at UP FAMNIT. Celebrating its tenth year, the event is organized by the Slovenian Human-Computer Interaction community (ACM Chapter Bled) and brings together HCI researchers and professionals from both academia and industry across the Alps-Danube-Adriatic region.

In addition to UP FAMNIT, 32 participants are joining from the following institutions:

• University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Computer and Information Science
• University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering
• University of Maribor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• Jožef Stefan Institute

The keynote speaker was Prof. Dr. Jürgen Ziegler, a full professor at the Faculty of Computer Science, University of Duisburg-Essen, where he conducts research in the field of intelligent interactive systems. His main research interests include human–computer interaction, human–AI collaboration, recommender systems, social media, and information visualization.

In his keynote lecture, Prof. Dr. Ziegler discussed how intelligent systems create uncertainty in user experiences and outlined user-centered strategies to address it. He used recommender systems to illustrate principles for enhancing user understanding, increasing control, and supporting effective human–AI collaboration.

The Slovenian HCI community began in 2008 as an informal group of researchers focused on human-computer interaction. The group’s main event is the annual HCI SI conference. In 2019, it also became the ACM SIGCHI Chapter Bled, bringing together researchers from different Slovenian universities and institutions to encourage collaboration and support the growth of HCI.

More about the community: [About | HCI Slovenia] More about this year’s conference: [HCI SI 2025 – CALL FOR PAPERS | HCI Slovenia]

Thursday, 9 October 2025 Researchers' call: Consider the risk of wildlife-spread diseases during ecosystem restoration

Researchers are urging adaptive ecosystem restoration, which implements key considerations for minimizing the zoonotic disease risk otherwise associated with restorations. A study, led by the University of Helsinki and involving researcher Prof. Elena Bužan from UP FAMNIT, is providing practical guidance for restoration project stakeholders. The full article, published in the journal Nature, is available here.

Ecosystem restoration projects aim to restore biodiversity and associated compromised ecosystem services. Evidence is persuasive of the increased risks of zoonotic diseases with degradation and disturbances. However, the scientific literature on the mitigating effects of ecosystem restoration on zoonotic spillover is scattered, inconclusive and challenged by the lack of a conceptual framework and practical guidance.

»There is a strong need for an adaptive process offering practical guidance on how to conduct ecosystem restoration to maximize biodiversity and ecosystem services while minimizing the risk of zoonotic diseases potentially induced by these restorations«, explains University of Helsinki professor Frauke Ecke.

One Health-based adaptive process

To maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of ecosystem restoration, the researchers urge for a One Health-based adaptive process that includes key considerations for ecosystem restoration assessment.

»The process is founded in stakeholder engagement and co-creation. Ecosystem restoration projects need to develop targets for environment (diversity, climate, land use), animals (species community structure, pathogen and disease prevalence, vectors and reservoir abundance), and humans (cases of disease, exposure)«, says Ecke.

Failure to follow the approach may jeopardize global efforts to reverse worldwide biodiversity decline.

Climate change must be considered in restorations

Climate change can modify the cause-and-effect relationship of restorations. Meanwhile, environmental contaminants can bias the restoration outcome.

»When habitats recover from restoration, climate change can result in changes of species assemblages with knock-on effects on presence and abundance of reservoirs, non-reservoirs, vectors, and pathogens as well as zoonotic risk«, explains Heidelberg University professor Joacim Rocklöv.

For more information about the study contact Prof. Elena Bužan.

The study was performed as part of the Horizon Europe Project BEPREP (Identification of best practices for biodiversity recovery and public health interventions to prevent future epidemics and pandemics). For more information about this and other ecosystem restoration projects, and elucidation of the link between biodiversity recovery and disease risk, see the project’s homepage.

Foto: Tim Hofmeester

Thursday, 9 October 2025 MATCOS-25 – The Middle-European Conference on Applied Theoretical Computer Science

The MATCOS-25 conference – The Middle-European Conference on Applied Theoretical Computer Science – was successfully held on October 9 and 10, 2025, at the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT). The two-day event was organized by the Andrej Marušič Institute of the University of Primorska (UP IAM) and UP FAMNIT, in collaboration with the research institute InnoRenew CoE.

The conference united practical application and theory within applied theoretical computer science. Topics included algorithms, data structures, optimization, artificial intelligence, machine learning, graph theory, and computational geometry.

"As in previous editions, this year’s program also included short presentations in addition to regular papers – a well-established practice that promotes broader participation and greater exchange of ideas. The program featured 20 regular and 14 short contributions. The conference welcomed more than 50 researchers from Slovenia and abroad – including **Hungary, Austria, Sweden, Poland, France, and Canada,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rok Požar, Chair of the MATCOS-25 Organizing Committee.

This year’s keynote speaker was Prof. Dr. Michel Bierlaire from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, where he also serves as the Director of the Transport and Mobility Laboratory. Prof. Bierlaire delivered a lecture titled Predicting Human Behaviour with Optimization.

In his talk, he emphasized that choice behaviour is central to many real-world applications, especially in areas such as transportation planning and marketing. Classical choice models, based on random utility theory, assume that individuals choose the alternative that provides the highest utility. However, these models require the explicit enumeration of all possible alternatives, which becomes impractical when the choice set is large or complex.

For more information about the conference, please visit the official website: matcos.iam.upr.si/en/

Tuesday, 7 October 2025 We welcomed students from Pietro Coppo Secondary School

Today, we hosted 25 students from Pietro Coppo Secondary School's Computer Science Technician program. First, we prepared a workshop on career advice regarding further education.

Later, during the 'Full Body Motion Capture' workshop, they learned the basics of capturing full-body movement using advanced technology. They learned how to use motion capture systems for animating characters in movies, video games, and virtual reality. Through practical exercises, they experimented with various motion capture techniques and gained insight into post-production and the application of data in digital environments.

Monday, 6 October 2025 ŠtartUP – A perfect kick-off to the 2025/26 academic year!

We have successfully wrapped up the fifth edition of the social-sports event Štart UP. Once again, the first Saturday of October was dedicated to relaxed mingling between first-year students, returning students, and the professional services of the University of Primorska (UP) – all those who have been, and continue to be, an invaluable support to students  throughout their studies at UP.

In addition to the academic members and institutes of UP, the university’s centers and units  also presented their work, showing students how they connect university activities with the wider community. A special role was played by the UP Tutors and the International Office, which introduced students to various opportunities abroad, especially in the context of UP’s participation in the European University Transform4Europe .

This year, more than 50 exhibitors joined us, enriching and diversifying our ŠtartUP even further. Thanks to their generous donations of gifts, the traditional ŠtartUP raffle  was once again a big success. As in previous years, the event carried a strong charitable note: each exhibitor confirmed their participation with a symbolic contribution, which was donated in full to the charity Palčica Pomagalčica, specifically to the Catch Your Dreams  fund for students in need.

We also remained faithful to our green commitment to sustainability. Everyone brought their own cup or bottle for drinks. At the Sustainability Corner, two second-hand clothing shops  – 2.0 Skica and Fashion Finds Koper – presented their work. Through their activities, Naja and Barbara highlighted the pressing issues of fast fashion and explained the many benefits of second-hand clothing for the sustainable development of our planet.

This year we were also joined by representatives of the company Tosama. Within the framework of their project Zdravko, which promotes wider access to hygiene products, they engaged participants with a quiz to raise awareness of the importance of providing sanitary pads in public spaces.

The program was further enriched by the Society for Advanced Defense and Martial Arts Methods (DNOBM), the Pobegi-Čežarji Volunteer Firefighters’ Association, and Vertigo – Center for Aerial Acrobatics and Dance. The KO-MET Association once again ensured plenty of sports fun with frisbees.

As tradition dictates, participants enjoyed a delicious lunch of bobiči (traditional corn and bean stew), which they could also take home after the event.

This year’s ŠtartUP was attended by more than 500 students, welcomed by over 100 staff members and association representatives. Together, we managed to organize one of the largest student events at the University of Primorska, marking a truly enriching start to the academic year.

We wish all students a successful start, progress, and completion of the 2025/26 academic year!

Monday, 6 October 2025 Join BIKE-HEI trainings: Empowering staff and students for green & digital innovations

O BIKE-HEI projektu

About the project BIKE-HEI “Boosting Innovative and Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship of HEIs” projectaims to improve business opportunities for innovative and knowledge entrepreneurs by using Artificial Intelligence in the area of Environmental Protection, Climate Action and Green Economy, promoting entrepreneurship and spin-off support services in HEIs and strengthening the HEIs’ role in the regional innovation ecosystem.

The BIKE-HEI Training Programme on Sustainable Innovation and Entrepreneurship aims to empower students, academic staff, and non-academic staff in higher education institutions (HEIs) with the knowledge and skills needed to foster sustainability-driven innovation ecosystems. Trainers include experts from the University of Alicante, University of Primorska, Saarland University, and Mariupol State University, offering real-world insights and interactive teaching.

Developed by a consortium of European universities, this interdisciplinary course covers key topics such as:

• Foundations of the green transition
• Sustainable start-ups
• Green communication skills
• Resilient management
• Digital tools for greener workplaces
• Sustainable academic practices (e.g., events, travel, catering)

• TRAINING FOR ACADEMIC STAFF (brochure) | LEAFLET -   "Enhancing Innovation and Entrepreneurship"   (Registration 25 September - 13 October / Course start: 20 October)
• TRAINING FOR NON-ACADEMIC STAFF (brochure) | LEAFLET -   "Empowering Sustainable Workplace Practices"   (Registration 25 September - 13 October / Course start: 20 October)
• TRAINING FOR STUDENTS (brochure) | LEAFLET -    "Driving Sustainable Innovation"    (Registration 25 September - 13 October / Course start: 20 October / 2 ECTS)

You are invited to review the training contents and register. Registration for all three trainings is open until October 13th!

Friday, 3 October 2025 Third symposium on Gender equality for an inclusive university and society - Call for participation

In 2021, UP adopted the UP Gender Equality Plan 2021-2027  (with an accompanying action plan). Within its community, UP builds and promotes interpersonal relationships based on the inclusion of diversity, as understanding and coexistence with those who think differently are the cornerstones of a critical (academic) community that respects human rights and has zero tolerance for discrimination and intolerance.

The UP sees regular and professional reflections on the current situation and possible improvements as key moments that ensure that the plan is not just a dead letter on paper, which it systematically implements through regular consultations on equality, justice, and gender inclusiveness  in the academic environment, which take place at the level of the entire UP. The third consultation will take place in December 2025, and you are  invited to submit your contribution.  

BRIDGES OF EQUALITY: GENDER EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN ACADEMIC SPACE AND SOCIETY

12 December 2025 | University of Primorska   

We invite you to contribute to a one-day symposium on gender equality for a more inclusive society. A wide range of disciplinary, theoretical, methodological, and epistemological approaches and perspectives are encouraged.

Some indicative topics for the preparation of short presentations:

• Gender equality and gender in theory and practice (theories and ethnographies of gender)
• Gender equality and (in)equalities (social, economic, generational, etc.)
• Gender equality and binarity (non-binary identities, transgender, intersex, etc.)
• Gender equality and language
• Gender equality and intersectionality (race, ethnicity, class, etc.)
• Gender and national minorities
• Roles and positions of genders in science
• Creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive academic space
• International and comparative studies of gender equality
• Gender equality and scientific disciplines
• Gender equality across different domains (universities, education, healthcare, business, media, private and public spheres, etc.)

The symposium will take place on 12 December 2025. Interested participants on the symposium, are asked to send the following information no later than 6 October 2025  to tadej.praprotnik@fhs.upr.si:  

• Title of the contribution (in Slovenian and English)
• Abstract (in Slovenian and English)
• Author’s name and surname, institutional affiliation, and (institutional) e-mail address (if there are multiple authors, please include information for each author) in Slovenian and English
• 3–5 keywords (in Slovenian and English)
• Length of submission (title, abstract, and keywords): 200-250 words (in both languages together 400-500 words)

The symposium will take place on 12 December 2025 and  will be held in Slovenian and English.   Presentations may be prepared as short discussion papers, PowerPoint presentations, or posters.

For additional information, please contact: 

• tadej.praprotnik@fhs.upr.si,
• lialola.kotnik@fhs.upr.si  
• alenka.janko.spreizer@fhs.upr.si 

Scientific Committee of the Symposium: Tadej Praprotnik, Lia Lola V. Kotnik, Alenka Janko Spreizer.

Thursday, 2 October 2025 Memorandum of Understanding between UP FAMNIT and the National Pantanal Research Institute (INPP)

UP FAMNIT,at the initiative of the Department of Biodiversity, has signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the National Pantanal Research Institute (INPP) from Brazil. The agreement opens new opportunities for joint research projects, student and staff exchanges, and further strengthens the already established collaboration with the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT).

INPP is a federal scientific research institute, established in 2014 with the aim of supporting the sustainable development of the Pantanal region – one of the largest and most biodiverse floodplains in the world. The institute connects research institutions from Brazil and abroad, focusing on the development of sustainable models for natural resource management and the transfer of scientific knowledge into practice.

In recent years, cooperation between UP FAMNIT and Brazilian partners has become increasingly stronger, particularly within the Erasmus+ programme and bilateral research projects. Students from both universities have already participated in exchanges and professional training. 

The establishment of this cooperation was also made possible thanks to the active role of researcher and doctoral candidate in the Conservation Biology program at UP FAMNIT, Martin Senič, whose research on the ecology of the Cracidae family and other selected groups of vertebrates in the Pantanal region is conducted in close collaboration with researchers from UFMT and INPP, who have also supported his work through the awarding of a research scholarship. Through his efforts, Martin has significantly contributed to strengthening the ties between institutions, enabling the expansion of joint activities. Consequently, collaboration between UP FAMNIT and Brazilian partners has grown increasingly close in recent years. Thanks to the Erasmus+ program and bilateral research projects, additional opportunities have opened for academic and practical exchanges between students of both universities.

As part of the new agreement, academic and research visits are also planned. In October 2025, UP FAMNIT will host Prof. Dr. Marinêz Isaac Marques, expert in an entomology expert and research coordinator at INPP and professor at UFMT, Prof. Dr. Karl-L. Schuchmann, also a professor at UFMT, an ornithology specialist, biogeographer, and tropical ecologist who is especially specialized in Neotropical birds, entomology and research coordinator at INPP, and Dr. Carolline Zatta Fieker, a researcher specializing in ecology, ornithology, fire ecology, and vertebrate bioacoustics. The guests will contribute as lecturers at the international summer school Science, how to write and talk about it, which will take place at UP FAMNIT in Izola from 13 to 27 October 2025.

The signing of this framework agreement represents an important step towards expanding the international research collaboration of UP FAMNIT and provides opportunities for the development of interdisciplinary research, exchanges, and new joint projects that will contribute to a better understanding and sustainable management of one of the most valuable ecosystems in the world.

The photos below show glimpses from the field work in Brazil.

Wednesday, 1 October 2025 Important notice - Introductory meeting for first-year students Data Science

According to the instructions of the coordinator, we would like to inform first-year students of the Master’s program in Data Science that the introductory meeting will take place at 11:30 via the following Zoom link: 

https://upr-si.zoom.us/j/5389732484?pwd=bUxySzZhRkFmUjMrekozdFE5NTBwUT09

Wednesday, 1 October 2025 The 19th generation of students is entering the new academic year at UP FAMNIT

UP Welcomes Freshmen at the Traditional Freshmen Reception, this Time Live at Campus Livade 1.0 in Izola.

At the reception, the Rector of UP, Prof. Dr. Klavdija Kutnar, addressed the students and wished them:
“ Do you remember your first day at secondary school? It all seemed full of challenges, and yet you overcame them. You made it then, and you will make it now. We are certain of it. For now, take that leap into the new academic year, a new challenge, a new chapter. You have made it this far – and we know you will keep going strong!” (The full speech is available via the link .)

At UP FAMNIT (in Koper and Izola), freshmen, along with the coordinators of their study programs, followed the introductory greeting, which was also attended by the Dean of UP FAMNIT, Prof. Dr. Ademir Hujdurović , via live broadcast. Afterwards, they continued in lecture halls with presentations of key information for the start of the new academic year. After the meetings with coordinators, there was a presentation of the Student Council, UP FAMNIT tutors, and the UP APZ.

Freshmen officially step through the faculty doors for the first time on October 1st – but at UP, foreign students were already welcomed last week during orientation days.

The activities marking the start of the new academic year will continue on Saturday, October 4th, when the event Štart UP – a sports and social event for all UP students will take place at Obmorski Park Žusterna. Various university organizations and local groups will present themselves, accompanied by a music program and prizes for completed activities at different stations.

Some Statistics

At UP FAMNIT, we have already welcomed the 19th generation of students, the largest so far.

Official enrollment data for the academic year 2025/26 will be available in about a month. According to unofficial data, 1072 students have enrolled at the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Information Technologies. International students come from 31 countries.

This year, 395 students enrolled in the first year for the first time. Of these, 786 are enrolled in undergraduate study programs, 232 in master's programs, and 54 in doctoral programs in the first year.

We wish all students a successful, interesting, and fun academic year!

Friday, 26 September 2025 20th Anniversary of the European Researchers’ Night

This year again, UP organized numerous activities as part of the European Researchers’ Night, which took place on Friday, 26 September 2025, at several locations in Koper, Izola, Piran, and Rodik. The project oooZnanost! – Fake news and conspiracy theories? Let’s empower (ourselves for) science! is funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions through the call HORIZON-MSCA-2023-CITIZENS-01-01: European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools 2024–2025. On 26 September 2025, Europe celebrated the 20th anniversary of the European Researchers’ Night in 25 countries and more than 460 cities.

Among the workshops organized by FAMNIT were:

• Exploring Statistics Through Play — children discovered the basics of statistics through games: data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Pop-it — using the popular fidget toy, participants learned the rules of the NIM game and playfully explored mathematical concepts.
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Record Them — a workshop on how to collect data on wildlife using the SRNA app and camera traps.
• Wildlife Detective: Revealing Invisible Wild Animals Around You — presenting modern methods such as environmental DNA to detect and monitor animal species even when they are not directly visible.

Thursday, 25 September 2025 DIGI-MAT: This year we talked about cryptography

From 23 to 27 September 2025, the training titled DIGI-MAT: Teaching Mathematical Content Using Digital Tools – Cryptography was held at UP FAMNIT. The program was delivered in a hybrid format: two days in person at the faculty (a total of 15 hours) and one introductory session via Zoom (1 hour).

The event was attended by 10 education professionals. Participants deepened their knowledge in cryptography and the use of digital tools in teaching mathematical content. The training counted for 1 point in the professional development system for educators.

We thank to all participants for their engagement and active participation, and to the instructors for their expert guidance.

Wednesday, 24 September 2025 21st Applied Statistics International Conference 2025

From 21 to 23 September 2025,  Koper hosted the 21st Applied Statistics International Conference, held here for the third time. The event brought together researchers and professionals from across the globe working in data analysis, data science, and statistics to showcase their most recent findings and exchange expertise. A total of 110 participants from 18 countries attended the conference.

The keynote lectures were delivered by Els Goetghebeur, Professor of Statistics at Ghent University, and Tamás Rudas, Emeritus Professor of Statistics at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest. The scientific programme featured invited talks, oral sessions, and poster presentations of accepted contributions. The main two-day conference (Monday and Tuesday) was preceded by a workshop day on Sunday. MORE

Wednesday, 24 September 2025 WEDNESDAY, 1ST OCTOBER – MEETINGS OF FRESHMEN WITH COORDINATORS

Dear freshmen!

Your first Academic year is about to start and we are warmly inviting you to take part of the activities of the first day! The meeting with the study programmes coordinators will take place on 2 locations: in Koper (Glagoljaška 8, Koper) and in the University campus Livade in Izola (Livade 6, Izola):

KOPER – students gather at 9:30 in the park in front of the faculty, and from 10.00 to 11.30 there will be meetings with the study programme coordinators:

• Mathematics (Slovene) and Mathematics in Economics and Finance: in classroom Famnit-MP1 (1st floor),
• Computer Science (Slovene): in classroom Famnit-VP3 (2nd floor),
• Biopsychology: in classroom Famnit-VP2 (1st floor),

IZOLA - students gather at 9:30 in front of the campus, and from 10.00 to 11. 30 there will be meetings with the study programme coordinators:

• Conservation Biology: in classroom Livade-FAMNIT 3 (3rd floor),
• Agronomy: in classroom Livade-Botanika (2nd floor),
• Bioinformatics (Slovene): in classroom Livade-Epsilon (ground floor).

At 11.30 students are invited to attend a joint presentation of the Student Council UP FAMNIT, Student Organization UP and Sport UP:

• Koper (Glagoljaška 8, Koper): classroom Famnit-VP3 (2nd floor),
• Izola (Livade 6, Izola): classroom Livade-FAMNIT 3 (3rd floor). 

We kindly ask you to come on time, as the meetings will start at 10.00 with the official welcome from the rector UP.

During the Orientation days at UP foreign students will meet with study programme coordinators. The meetings are for students enrolled in English programmes (Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Mathematics), but also for students enrolled in Slovene programmes (Biopsychology, Mathematics in Economics and Finance, Conservation Biology, Agronomy). More information: https://welcome.upr.si/en/arrive/orientation. You are kindly invited to apply, if you haven't so far.

All courses will start on Thursday, 2^nd October – please check the schedule here (https://www.famnit.upr.si//en/student-pages/timetables). Students should check the schedule daily. If a change of the schedulle occurs, Student Services arranges the change in the schedule. At the same time they publish the notice (in ŠIS, section Notices), but only for changes on the same day and the following 2 days.

Soon you'll receive the first NEWSLETTER FOR UP FAMNIT STUDENTS, through which the faculty will inform you about current events, career opportunities and other events during the academic year. If you do not want to receive news, you can unsubscribe.

On Saturday, 4th October in Žusterna Seaside Park, Koper, will take place ŠtartUP, a sports and social event organized by the University of Primorska. All information is available here: https://www.upr.si/en/students-up/activities-at-the-start-of-the-academic-year/start-up-. All students are kindly invited to join this event.

See you soon!

UP FAMNIT professors and staff

Wednesday, 24 September 2025 UNDERGRADUATE STUDY: Course schedules for Autumn Semester 2025/26

We would like to inform you that the course schedules for all study programmes for the Autumn Semester 2025/2026 are published on our website (https://www.famnit.upr.si//en/student-pages/timetables). Lectures start on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 and last until Friday, 16 January 2026.

On this website you can also find a short clip that will show you how to check the course schedule.

First, we would like to inform you that until October 17, all classrooms at the Trg Brolo 12 location (B7, B5, B6, B3, B2) will be unavailable. All courses that were scheduled to take place at this location during this period have been relocated to other classrooms. Please check the schedule carefully.

During this period, some external classroom (Rotunda, UP FM, etc.) will be in use. All students will be informed later regarding access.

Important information about the course schedule:

• Please check all weeks in the schedule, because weekly schedules can differ.
• The schedule might change until Tuesday, 30 September. Please check the schedule again before the beginning of the academic year. All changes from Wednesday, 1 October will be published in the Notices (ŠIS, section Notices). We would like to emphasize that Student Services will publish the notice about the change only for changes on the same day and the following 2 days.
• In some undergraduate courses, students are divided into groups for laboratory work. Students will receive the information about the group on their student university e-mail no later than Tuesday, 30 September or on their personal e-mail if they are enrolled in the 1^st year of study.

We would like to inform you:

• BP2, BP3: the course Psychology Practicum is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later,
• BP2, BP3: the course Selected Biopsychological Topics in the English Language is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later,
• VB: Practical training is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later.

Freshman will have meeting with the study programme coordinators on Wednesday, 1^st October. All information is published on our website. All lectures and tutorials start on Thursday, 2^nd October.

Students of the 2^nd and 3^rd year start with lectures and tutorials on Wednesday, 1^st October (acording to the course schedule).

Meetings with study programme coordinators for students enrolled in English programmes (Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Mathematics) as well for foreing students enrolled in Slovene programmes (Biopsychology, Mathematics in Economics and Finance, Conservation Biology and Agronomy) will take place during Orientation days at UP (for more info please check: https://welcome.upr.si/en/arrive/orientation).

In the beginning of October, study programme coordinators will meet all 2^nd and 3^rd year students. Exact terms will be published in the notices of Student Services.

Student Services UP FAMNIT