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Tuesday, 30 June 2026 IRIC2026 keynote speaker

The keynote speaker at the InnoRenew CoE International Conference 2026 (IRIC2026) will be Gijs Bruggink.

Gijs Bruggink works at ORGA architect while also pursuing his career as a consultant and researcher in the regenerative built environment. He is a Living Future Accredited Professional and has contributed to award-winning building projects, led architecture competitions, and spoken at international conferences. He currently leads the research team behind the Wood & Wellbeing report on the health benefits of building with timber.

IRIC2026 will take place 5–6 November 2026 in Izola and will provide a forum to explore renewable materials and their use for creating healthy, sustainable buildings during different thematic sessions:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Information Processing
• Creativity & Society
• Buildings
• Health
• Materials

Other topics are also welcome.

You are kindly invited to submit your abstract by 15 August 2026 and join IRIC2026!

Visit the IRIC2026 website for more information.

Wednesday, 24 June 2026 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation of Iva Antončič

We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Some structural results on tetravalent edge-transitive graphs of the student Iva Antončič, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Mathematical Sciences (in Slovenian).

The presentation will take place on Wednesday, 01.07.2026 at 9.00 via Zoom on link:

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/323173083564199?p=vSKYCETTbLdlsfvYhL 

Wednesday, 24 June 2026 The Department of Biodiversity UP FAMNIT has successfully secured a new Interreg SI-HR project – RESILIO

We are pleased to announce that the Department of Biodiversity at the University of Primorska (UP FAMNIT), together with its project partners and under the leadership of Assist. Prof. Dr. Martina Lužnik , has successfully secured a new Interreg SI-HR project titled RESILIO – Strengthening resilience and reducing climate change risks in the cross-border area through the restoration and management of green and blue infrastructure, with a total value of €1,802,093.60. The University of Primorska also serves as the lead partner in the project. The project partners with whom we will collaborate in its implementation are Udruga Hyla, Žumberak–Samoborsko Gorje Nature Park, the Municipality of Ilirska Bistrica, the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts Research Centre, the Municipality of Pivka, and the City of Ogulin.

On 8 May 2026, the RESILIO project kick-off meeting was held in Livade (Izola), marking the official start of cross-border cooperation between partners from Slovenia and Croatia in addressing shared climate challenges – from droughts and extreme weather events to ecosystem degradation and the pollution of karst groundwater systems.

The meeting was opened by Prof. Dr. Ademir Hujdurović, Dean of UP FAMNIT, and Assist. Prof. Dr. Martina Lužnik, Project Leader, emphasised the importance of connecting different institutions and sectors in strengthening the resilience of both natural and urban environments to climate change.

The first meeting already demonstrated a high level of motivation to achieve common goals. Partners discussed upcoming activities, field interventions, methodological approaches, and the development of tools for better understanding climate change impacts and strengthening green and blue infrastructure in the cross-border area.

Key expected project results include:

• three pilot sinkhole clearing activities to reduce flood risk,
• restoration of small water bodies to improve water retention and increase drought resilience,
• development of a pilot management system for selected invasive alien species, including an open-access database,
• establishment of a long-term monitoring system for climate change impacts and habitat resilience,
• development of harmonised methodological protocols for monitoring aquatic ecosystems,
• design of joint solutions for climate change adaptation and response,
• organisation of four cross-border events (photography exhibition, REGAlnica, final conference).

Key activities of the University of Primorska in the project implementation:

• Role as lead partner: coordination and management of the consortium, ensuring timely implementation of activities and achievement of project objectives.
• Expert contribution to ecosystem restoration for climate resilience, with a focus on the restoration of small wetlands.
• Development and harmonisation of common methodological approaches (protocols) for monitoring vulnerable ecosystems and species.
• Implementation of field activities: monitoring the effects of green and blue infrastructure measures (including the establishment of monitoring stations), surveying indicators and invasive alien species, and developing predictive models for selected species.
• Strengthening the expert community in the field of climate change adaptation and promoting knowledge transfer among partners.

In addition to its scientific and research activities, the RESILIO project also focuses on knowledge exchange, encouraging citizen engagement in environmental monitoring and restoration activities, and jointly developing sustainable solutions to climate challenges that increasingly affect our lives.

 Updates on the RESILIO project will be available via the official project website and the communication channels of the project partners.

Monday, 22 June 2026 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation of Alen Hausmeister

We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Inform better Planning Decisions in the Built Environment through the use of detailed Site-specific Input Data of Micro-locations in Energy Modeling Applications of the student Alen Hausmeister, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments (in English).

The presentation will take place on Wednesday, 08 July 2026 at 13.00 in the classroom Pseudotsuga (InnoRenew CoE, Livade 6a) and via Zoom on link:

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/38456709862865?p=UdhhrRJcw6Nhonzi2a

Monday, 22 June 2026 New research on endangered humpback whales in the Arabian Sea

A new international study, which included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tilen Genov from the Department of Biodiversity UP FAMNIT, offers important new insights into the humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) of the Arabian Sea. This group is one of the most endangered and least studied large whale populations in the world. The study appeared in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.

Arabian Sea humpback whales are unique because, unlike other humpback whale populations, they do not undertake long seasonal migrations between feeding and breeding grounds. They remain year-round in the waters of the northwestern Indian Ocean. “Arabian Sea humpback whales are a biological anomaly,” said Dr. Andrew Willson from Future Seas, the lead author of the study. Due to their small numbers and long-term isolation, this population is classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with its size estimated at approximately 82 individuals. “Many humpback whale populations have recovered significantly since the end of whaling, but this population is on the brink of extinction,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tilen Genov from UP FAMNIT, co-author of the study.

To better understand their movements and habitat use, researchers tracked 14 humpback whales along the coast of Oman using satellite tags between 2014 and 2017. The results showed that they spend most of their time over the continental shelf, with the Gulf of Masirah in Oman identified as the most important area. This is where researchers recorded the highest number of behavioural patterns indicating intensive habitat use.

One of the most interesting findings was a female whale that crossed the Arabian Sea and reached waters off southern India. In 103 days, she travelled at least 7,330 kilometres between the Gulf of Masirah and the Gulf of Mannar, before returning to Oman. This is the first direct evidence of such a crossing of the Arabian Sea by this humpback whale population.

The study also showed that key habitat areas for humpback whales overlap with regions of intense fishing and shipping activity. This increases the risk of entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, and other human impacts. The authors therefore emphasize that the new findings will be important for designing more effective conservation measures to protect this small and endangered population.

The research represents an important contribution to understanding the ecology of Arabian Sea humpback whales and highlights the need for international cooperation in their conservation, as their range extends across the borders of multiple countries.

Thursday, 18 June 2026 The Alpine Europe: Innovation in the Circular Economy Summer School 2026 with students from the University of Primorska, Saarland University and Oregon State University has started!

Yesterday marked the beginning of the Alpine Europe: Innovation in the Circular Economy Summer School 2026, bringing together students from the University of Primorska, Oregon State University, Saarland University and partner institutions for two weeks of learning, collaboration and cultural exchange.

The first day included a guided tour of Ljubljana, where participants explored the city’s rich history, culture and architecture. The tour was led by Dr. Črtomir Tavzes, InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM researcher, who introduced the group to Slovenia’s capital and its unique heritage.

The participants were accompanied by Dr. Andreja Kutnar, department chair of InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM and Dr. Mohammad Derikvand, InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM researcher.

Led by faculty from the University of Primorska and Oregon State University (USA), the Summer School is organised by UP FAMNIT, UP IAM and the NEBAP Hub in collaboration with Oregon State University, a global partner of the T4EU Alliance. As such, this summer school presents a crucial step in strengthening the global relevance of T4EU and its partners.

We look forward to an inspiring programme of lectures, field visits, practical workshops and new international connections!

Tuesday, 16 June 2026 Graduation Ceremony celebrates 166 new graduates

Today, June 16, 2025, the 16th Graduation Ceremony of UP FAMNIT took place in the hall of Sv. Frančišek Asiški in Koper. The ceremony once again brought together graduates, their families, and academic staff in celebration of the completion of their studies.

At the threshold of its 20th anniversary, FAMNIT’s study and research activities are today strongly interconnected and clearly oriented towards interdisciplinarity. This close integration, together with high-quality academic work, is reflected both in research achievements and in the faculty’s diverse study portfolio. It currently comprises 7 (and from the next academic year 9) undergraduate programmes, 8 master’s programmes, and 6 doctoral programmes, more than half of which are also offered in English.

The number of graduates continues to grow year by year. This year, there are 166 graduates, which is why, for the second consecutive year, the Graduation Ceremony is held in two separate sessions. In the morning, degrees were awarded to most undergraduate graduates, while in the afternoon the ceremony continued for graduates of the undergraduate Biopsychology study programme and all master’s programmes.

In both parts of the ceremony, graduates and alumni of the faculty addressed the audience, sharing stories that reflected the connection between academic paths and professional development. In the morning session, the speakers were graduates Ivana Kresevič (B.Sc. in Finance Mathematics) and Jernej Grubar (B.Sc. in Conservation Biology). In the afternoon session, the addresses were delivered by graduate Jani Suban (Master’s degree in Computer Science) and Iza Resnik Strozak, our successful alumna (she concluded the master’s study programme of Nature Conservation), who currently serves in the management of MM Količevo leading transformations in quality management, environmental standards, and sustainability strategies in a complex industrial environment.

The musical programme was performed by a student of the Music School Koper, Anna Sofia Dodič (harp), and by students of Koper Gymnasium (Art Gymnasium – Music programme), Maša Kogovšek (guitar) and Vita Novak (accordion).

As every year, the faculty also awarded commendations to students who excelled in their studies, research, or extracurricular activities. This year’s recipients are: Alja Šlenc, Makar Korshunov, Hristina Gelevska, Nina Jovčić, Bogdan Šinik, Sofija Kochovska, Laura Ogrin, Eric González Vicent, Adrian Požun, Vanja Gomboc, and Artem Nesterov.

Monday, 15 June 2026 T4EU Pupils Labs: workshops for Škofja Loka Gymansium students

On 12 June, 30 students from Škofja Loka Gymnasium visited us as part of the T4EU Pupils Labs initiative, which aims to bring research, science, and the concept of knowledge-based entrepreneurship closer to young people.

Following an introductory presentation of the UP FAMNIT and the T4EU initiative, the students participated in two workshops. In the first workshop, they explored medicinal and aromatic plants characteristic of the Mediterranean environment, such as immortelle (Helichrysum italicum), winter savory, and lavender. They learned about their properties and the methods used to obtain essential oils and other plant extracts.

During the second workshop, the students investigated the importance of pollinators for food production and ecosystem conservation. Through hands-on activities, they learned about pollen development, carried out experiments to determine pollen viability and germination, and observed the results under a microscope.

After the workshops, the students visited the Piran Aquarium, which is part of the University of Primorska Science Centre. There, they learned about the characteristic organisms of the northern Adriatic Sea and gained a deeper understanding of the marine environment and its conservation.

Monday, 15 June 2026 University of Primorska participated at a High-Level Meeting on the future of the European bioeconomy with European Commissioner Jessika Roswall

Dr. Andreja Kutnar, InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM’s department chair, was among the invited speakers of the High-Level Stakeholder Dialogue “From Strategy to Action: Accelerating Europe’s Bioeconomy Revolution”, which was held in Brussels in the presence of Jessika Roswall, the European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy. The event provided an important opportunity for the University of Primorska’s expertise to be represented in the discussion shaping the future development of Europe’s bioeconomy. The meeting took place on 12 June 2026 and was organised as part of the New European Bauhaus Festival.

The discussion at the high-level meeting involved experts and representatives of European institutions, research organisations, industry and civil society, enabling an open and substantive exchange of views about the further implementation of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and the key steps needed to accelerate the development of a competitive and sustainable European bioeconomy.

Dr. Andreja Kutnar contributed to the discussion on the development of sustainable bio-based materials, the circular economy and the role of research and innovation in the transition towards a climate-neutral and competitive Europe:

“This meeting offered a valuable opportunity to exchange perspectives and outline our ambitious goals. It is essential that wood, as one of Europe’s key materials, receives the recognition it deserves. The discussion clearly contributed to advancing the transition toward a sustainable bioeconomy.”

Key topics at the meeting included several European Commission initiatives related to bioeconomy, such as the European Bioeconomy Regulators and Innovators’ Forum, the European Bioeconomy Investment Deployment Group, Biotech Act II and EU bioeconomy dialogues with Member States on the implementation of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy. Particular attention was also given to the preparation of the Bio-Based Europe Alliance (BEA), a voluntary initiative of companies committed to collectively purchasing bio-based materials, products and applications worth 10 billion euros by 2030.

Throughout the participation in this high-level meeting, the University of Primorska further strengthened its role in European discussions on the development of the bioeconomy and in fostering cooperation between the research, industry, and policy sectors in shaping sustainable and circular solutions.

 Image: European Commission

 Image: European Commission

 

Image: European Commission

Friday, 12 June 2026 University of Primorska at the NEB Festival in Brussels

The New European Bauhaus (NEB) Festival opened yesterday in Brussels, Belgium, with the opening ceremony attended by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Durin her visit to the NEB Festival fair, she visited selected stands, including the NEB Academy Alliance project booth, where she meet with Dr. Andreja Kutnar, coordinator of the project. The President of the European Commission, together with António Costa, the President of the Council of the European Union, were the first visitors to the NEB Academy Alliance booth, marking a great start of the festival.

Together they discussed about the project’s progress, which is led by University of Primorska, and shared its vision for developing the skills needed to support the New European Bauhaus transition, particularly in relation to the future of the built environment.

The NEB Festival is bringing together a wide range of innovative initiatives that are helping to shape Europe’s sustainable and inclusive future. The festival highlights projects that combine design, sustainability, and new approaches to the built environment.

NEB Academy Alliance project has received notable high-level recognition for its role in advancing education and skills development for the green transition. The project is being presented as an important contribution to strengthening competencies aligned with the goals of the New European Bauhaus. It focuses on developing future-oriented knowledge and skills needed to support sustainable transformation in the built environment, combining innovation, design, and environmental responsibility.

The University of Primorska is represented also at the WoodStock project booth, which today had the honor of welcoming Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation. During her visit, she also admired the WoodStock rulers, made from wood reclaimed from the historic Servite Monastery, which is currently undergoing renovation by the University of Primorska.

The NEB Festival offers a rich program and provides anunique forum for connecting, creating new partnerships and sharing best practices. The University of Primorska is present at the NEB Festival with several projects that are being showcased at the festival fair, besides the NEB Academy Alliance and WoodStock, also Life BE-Wooden, and BIOARCH, as well as several other projects, which is highlighting its commitment to advance sustainable solutions with research education and cooperation.

Foto: European Commission

  

Thursday, 11 June 2026 Best Paper Award at ACM UMAP 2026 for UP FAMNIT researchers

Dr. Marko Tkalčič and Assist. Uroš Sergaš have received the Best Paper Award in the late-breaking results (LBR) track at the ACM UMAP 2026 conference, which is taking place from June 8 to 11 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

ACM UMAP (User Modeling, Adaptation and Personalization) is one of the leading international conferences in the field of user modeling, personalization, and adaptive intelligent systems, and is ranked as an A-category conference according to the CORE ranking.

The award-winning paper, titled "Progress Feedback for Countering Selective Exposure: When Visualization Can Backfire", was developed in collaboration with researchers from Jönköping University, Sweden. The authors include Janine Riemann, Jasmin Alt, Uroš Sergaš, Marko Tkalčič, and Bruce Ferwerda.

The study explores whether different types of visual feedback about users’ news consumption can reduce selective exposure—i.e., the tendency to prefer information that confirms existing beliefs. The authors compared an analytic visualization of viewpoint balance with a metaphorical “growth” visualization framing exposure to opposing views as personal development. In a controlled experiment with 84 participants, neither approach significantly increased engagement with belief-opposing content compared to a control condition.

These results suggest that simple visualization-based feedback alone is not sufficient to meaningfully change users’ information-seeking behavior, and that more advanced or structural interventions may be needed.

We sincerely congratulate the award recipients on this achievement.

Wednesday, 10 June 2026 UP FAMNIT students take first place at national BISC-E competition with the SediMateria project

A team of students from the University of Primorska, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT), has won first place in the Slovenian round of the Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge Europe (BISC-E), a Europe-wide student competition that promotes bio-based innovation and entrepreneurship. With this achievement, the team has qualified for the European final, where it will represent Slovenia in September 2026. This is also the first time the University of Primorska has participated in the competition.

The winning project, From Sawmill Residues and Marine Sediments to Sustainable Construction (SediMateria), explores the development of a sustainable building product by combining marine sediments from the Port of Koper with sawmill residues. The project investigates the development of a bio-clay board, a non-load-bearing building element made from biological and geological resources for insulation and interior finishing. By linking waste and residual streams, the project proposes an innovative product that reduces resource consumption, lowers environmental impact, and supports the transition to a bio-based, circular construction sector.

The project was developed under the supervision of Dr. Andreja Kutnar, department chair of InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM. The team consists of Katarina Legat and Zoja Mohorčič, students of the Master’s programme Sustainable Built Environments, and Špela Vrtovec, Una Vuletić, Erfan Asgari and Olga Srejić, PhD candidates in the doctoral programme Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments, who are also involved in research activities at InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM.

BISC-E (Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge Europe) is a Europe-wide student competition that promotes entrepreneurship and encourages students to develop innovative bio-based products and processes that address technological, environmental, and societal challenges. The European final brings together the winning teams from national competitions across participating European countries. The national coordinator of the competition is SRIP – Circular Economy, in collaboration with the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana.

Tuesday, 9 June 2026 We Hosted Students from the Technical Gymnasium of the ŠC Kranj

Today, we welcomed 53 students and four accompanying teachers from the Technical Gymnasium of the Kranj School Centre to UP FAMNIT's premises.

Upon arrival, the students were divided into two groups and given a detailed introduction to our Computer Science programme. They learned about the curriculum, practical work opportunities, research activities, and career prospects for graduates.

After the presentation, the students attended a workshop titled "Full Body Motion Capture ," where they explored the basics of full-body motion capture technology. They learned how these systems are used for character animation in films, video games, and virtual reality. Through hands-on activities, they tested different techniques and gained insight into data processing and its use in digital environments.

As part of their visit, the students also visited the company Titus in Dekani, where they were introduced to the company's operations and activities.

Monday, 8 June 2026 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation of Aja Bončina

We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Application of novel molecular tools to investigate ecology and immunological traits of wild boar of the student Aja Bončina, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Conservation Biology (in Slovene).

The presentation will take place on Wednesday, 17 June 2026 at 11.00 in the classroom Livade-BOTANIKA.

You are kindly invited!

Thursday, 4 June 2026 International Academy of Wood Science Appoints First Female Vice President on Its 60th Anniversary – Prof Andreja Kutnar from University of Primorska

On the occasion of its 60th anniversary, the International Academy of Wood Science (IAWS) has appointed its first female Vice President. Professor Andreja Kutnar of the University of Primorska was elected to this historic role on June 2, 2026. She has been a Fellow of the IAWS since 2021.

Founded on June 2, 1966, in Paris, the IAWS is a non-profit global organization that brings together leading experts across all fields of wood science and related technologies. With more than 400 Fellows representing every continent, the Academy has, for six decades, fostered international collaboration and excellence in wood science. Fellowship in the IAWS is awarded through a rigorous process of nomination and election, recognizing outstanding contributions to the field.

Marking a significant milestone in its history, the IAWS has, for the first time, elected a woman to its executive leadership. Professor Kutnar succeeds Professor Ingo Burgert from ETH Zurich, who assumed the role of IAWS President on the same day.

The 60th anniversary celebrations took place during an international conference held in Zurich, Switzerland, from June 1 to June 4, 2026, hosted by ETH Zurich. The event brought together more than 100 participants from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in wood and wood-based materials. During the conference, Professor Kutnar delivered a plenary lecture highlighting the research activities of InnoRenew CoE in the field of wood science.

Her election as IAWS Vice President further strengthens the University of Primorska's international standing within the global scientific community.

Reflecting on her appointment, Professor Kutnar stated: “The IAWS is home to many renowned wood scientists with exceptional knowledge from around the globe. My ambition is to open doors for young wood scientists, supporting them in becoming the future leaders of wood science worldwide.”

Photo: Miran Kambič

Thursday, 4 June 2026 Visit of Pupils from Vojka Šmuc Primary School, Izola: From aromatic plants and Markov chains to Slovenia’s largest wooden building

Today, 16 pupils from Vojka Šmuc Primary School in Izola visited us as part of the T4EU Pupils Labs initiative, which aims to bring research, science, and the concept of knowledge-based entrepreneurship closer to young people.

Following an introductory presentation of the UP FAMNIT and the T4EU initiative, the pupils participated in two interactive workshops. Dr. Alenka Baruca Arbeiter led the workshop Exploring Aromatic Plants Through Research, during which the pupils learned about medicinal and aromatic Mediterranean plants such as immortelle (Helichrysum italicum), winter savory, and lavender. They explored the characteristics and uses of these plants, learned about the production of essential oils, hydrolats, and other plant extracts, and gained insight into research activities related to their sustainable cultivation. Dr. Ana Zalokar conducted the workshop From Snakes and Ladders to Stock Prices. Through board games, pupils were introduced to Markov chains and their application in predicting various processes. During the workshop, they counted pathways, forecast weather patterns, and explored stock market price movements.

A special highlight of the visit was a tour of the InnoRenew CoE laboratories, guided by Dr. Črtomir Tavzes. The pupils visited Slovenia’s largest wooden building and learned about its sustainable features, the use of locally sourced materials, and energy-efficient solutions that help reduce the environmental impact of modern construction.