The multidisciplinary research of the Department of Environmental Sciences focuses on the combination of physical, chemical and biological processes that influence the environment, man and human activities. Therefore, the work is based on three main areas: development, optimisation and validation of analytical methods, study of geochemical processes that influence cycling and transformations of substances and elements, and environmental impact assessment which evaluates the risk that human activities present for human health and for the environment. Within the Department there are also two infrastructural centres: the Centre for Mass Spectrometry and the Centre for Radon, as well as the Ecological Laboratory with a mobile unit. The Department is involved in a number of national and international research projects and directly with the users of applied research. In order to stay abreast of the constant advances in science, much effort is put into development of knowledge and modernisation of scientific equipment.

In 2004 - 2007, the Department coordinated the activities of the  “Environmental Technologies” Centre of Excellence, partially funded by the EU Structural Funds, which connected the scientific excellence of the Institute with industry. Collaboration with the Slovenian water technology platform is also aimed at making our knowledge available to industry, agriculture and people through the institutions that are responsible for water management and protection in Slovenia.

Department Head: Prof Dr Milena Horvat

Last update: April 17, 2012

New articles

The distribution of total and methylmercury concentrations
in soils near the Idrija mercury mine, Slovenia,
and the dependence of the mercury concentrations
on the chemical composition and organic carbon levels of the soil