Final Report Summary - SUNGREEN (Strengthening University of Nova Gorica Research Potential in Environmental Sciences and Novel Nanomaterials)
Executive Summary:
The SUNGREEN project reinforced the University of Nova Gorica, strengthening its innovative approach for research and development of new knowledge in environmental science and novel nano-structured materials. The reinforcement was realized through establishment of strategic partnerships with top European R&D centres, recruitment of experienced researchers, acquisition of state-of-the-art research infrastructure, enhancement of UNG visibility and its collaboration with different stakeholders in the region. Through the implementation of the project, UNG has reached its full potential for research and technological innovation and became one of the leading European research centres in the field environmental sciences and nano-materials, fully integrated in ERA, and a provider of new environmental technologies at European level.
Project Context and Objectives:
The main objective of the SUNGREEN project is stated in its title: to strengthen the University of Nova Gorica’s research excellence in environmental sciences and novel nano-materials. Project SUNGREEN dealt with research related capacity building.
Strengthening of the research potential of UNG and support to its development is being realized with the help of new knowledge and research equipment. Project is enhancing the capacity of UNG’s researchers to successfully participate in research activities at EU level. The objective will be fully achieved through networking with other European world class research players, upgrading of relevant RTD infrastructure, recruitment of experienced researchers as well as through dynamic contribution to the regional and European sustainable socio-economic development through networking and dissemination activities.
Project SUNGREEN will result in strengthened UNG’s research potential in the fields of environmental sciences and nano-structured materials. It is enabling continuous excellent research in photo-catalysis, water and air purification, alternative energy technologies, energy efficiency, bioconjugated systems, organic solar cells, plasmonics, food science, and other direction that are very timely and relevant for the wellbeing of our society.
Acquisition of research infrastructure for characterization of the microscopy structure of nano- material is essential (transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM)).
Project will upgrade UNG infrastructure has strengthened research teams that will become able to conduct highest level of scientific research in the field of environmental sciences and novel nanomaterials.
New knowledge that is being acquired through exchange of know-how and recruitment of experienced researchers is crucial for the fundamental understanding of synthesis of nano-materials with optimal characteristics.
The aim of project is to improve the level of scientific research and reinforce human potential of the UNG in the field of environmental science and novel nano-materials and nanotechnologies by:
• Increasing collaboration potential of UNG with complementary research groups from EU, Building a network of partners with experience in technology transfer to applications,
• Upgrading research infrastructure,
• Fostering the influx of critical know-how, through trainings and study visits, focused
international workshops, and conferences,
• Recruitment of prominent scientists in the field of environmental science and novel nanomaterials.
Through these actions UNG is paving paths for industrial uptake of new environmental technologies and is contributing to knowledge based economy and last but not least to cleaner environment.
Transfer of know how is enabling industries in the region at European level to produce innovative new products with high added value. Through project implementation, UNG is establishing partnerships that will enable economically sustainable research both alone and in collaboration with network of partnering organizations.
The project addresses specific objectives designed to have maximal impact on enhancement of UNG research potential in environmental sciences, novel nano-materials and related technologies. The key concept of the project is to build on the UNG's existing strengths in environmental science and eliminate its weaknesses in order to be able to exploit opportunities in the environment and minimise threats.
The realization of SUNGREEN project will create conditions for and enable further intensive and ambitious research in the very timely and relevant directions in the field of environmental science and nano-materials.
Project Results:
The academic excellence in the field of environmental sciences and novel nanomaterials that was strongly present at the UNG at the beginning of the project implementation has been further strengthened through recruitment of experienced researchers and exchange of know how, thus creating the necessary conditions for further growth and international recognition, with the possibility of diversification of funding sources and attraction of high level researchers and students. Academic excellence of UNG reseach has been strengthened through the following achievements:
• Number of experienced researchers recruited by SUNGREEN project: 10
• Number of outgoing visits within SUNGREEN project: 60
• Number of incoming visits within SUNGREEN project: 52
• Number of incoming experienced researchers within SUNGREEN project: 18
• Number of outgoing experienced researchers within SUNGREEN project: 8
Research at the University of Nova Gorica has been traditionally oriented towards environmental sciences from a very broad perspective. Today, this is reflected in the activities of different research groups. Research related to environmental sciences ranges from investigations at the molecular level to investigations of phenomena originating in the universe. Currently, environmental or environment-related research is conducted in nine departments: the Laboratory for Environmental Research, the Laboratory for Astroparticle Physics, the Laboratory for Multiphase Processes, Laboratory of Organic Matter Physics, Materials Research Laboratory, Centre for Systems and Information Technologies and Centre for Atmospheric Research, Laboratory for quantum optics and Centre for biomedical research and engineering. During the project implementation two additional departments were established: Laboratory for quantum optics and Centre for biomedical research and engineering. University’s researchers strongly enter and participate in international research processes and projects.
UNG has recruited several world class scientists and experienced researchers within SUNGREEN project. The number of “significant research lines”, in relation to the number of research staff has dropped. The research teams have been strengthened. The number of experienced researchers in the field of synthesis of nano-materials, structural characterization and spectroscopy applied to nano-materials for environment and energy was significantly increased in order to realise UNG’s full research potential. The recruited experienced researchers have brought different added values to the UNG:
New know how for the establishment of new research facilities
The Experienced SEM Microscopy expert coordinated the establishment of the center for electron microscopy which comprehends a SEM, a TEM and a workshop equipped
with several specimen preparation facilities. He supervised the preparation of the rooms hosting the two facilities (reduction of vibration, air condition, power supply etc.), the installation of the new instruments and their tests. He organized the training for the internal and external users, the access to the two research facilities and the provision of consumables. The Experienced TEM Microscopy expert with his knowledge and experience contribute on effective operating procedures for High-Resolution TEM work and training of new users, and guidance in the upgrade of sample preparation facilities to enhance the capacity of MRL to work with single-crystalline materials. The two experienced researchers on theoretical physics have planned the computing modelling facilities required for starting up the theoretical activity within UNG for performing predictive materials science modelling with microscopic understanding.
The expert in synthesis of oxide and metallic nanostructures has planned the required technical facilities in order to conduct the carbothermal reduction synthesis of nanoparticles of SiC.
The experienced researcher in interface of nano material & bioactive molecules is co-founder of the recently established Centre for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering of UNG and she managed the setting up of the new laboratories for Ca2+ imaging technique, electrophysiology and optical manipulation technology.
The experienced researcher in experimental solid state physics thanks to his know-how improved the experimental facilities for performing state of the art growth and characterization of thin organic semiconducting layers. He is developing numerical methods for electric charge transport in organic semiconductors and experimental set ups for electric transport characterization of semiconductor devices. The experienced researcher in pump and probe spectroscopy planned the establishment and commissioning of the Laboratory of Quantum Optics. The laboratory is based on an innovative light source, generating soft X rays by means of an ultrafast laser, and an experimental apparatus with which it is possible to study systems of interest for nano-photocatalysis, nano-magnetism, organic electronics and nanobiology.
The employed experienced researchers contribute in opening and developing research topics in the field of environmental sciences and novel nano-materials:
- Morphological characterization of polymer/graphene hybrids film
- Characterization of oxides nanoparticles synthesized for catalytic purposes.
- Electron microscopy for artistic images.
- Characterization by TEM and EDX of II-VI binary semiconductor nanowires
- Characterization of doped optical fibers through SEM and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy.
- Characterization of samples of concrete: morphology and composition by SEM and EDX.
- Characterization by SEM and EDX of doped optical fiber.
- Study of compositional mapping (EDX) and grain structure (SEM) of magnets used in automotive industry.
- SEM study of samples of aluminium alloys for characterization of inclusions
- Synchrotron photoemission studies of orientation-dependent oxidation phenomena in magnesium (Mg)
- TEM and SAXS/WAXS control of nano-scale precipitation phenomena in Mg alloys.
- Development of the software Quantum ESPRESSO for performing electronic structure calculations and modelling in the field of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), Raman and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, Photoemission spectroscopy etc.
- Atomistic modeling of defects on amorphous materials (i.e. silica). c) Modeling electronic and optical excitations in organic semiconductors from first principles. Future experiments on the optoelectronic properties of curannulene have been planned in view to get a one-to-one comparison between experimental results and theoretical modelling.
- Study of 3C-SiC material as a candidate for photocatalysis
- Synthesis of silicon carbide SiC nanoparticles in the form of whiskers, fibers, nanowires
- Neurophysiological characterization of nano-interfaces with quantum dots (QDs)
- Environmental stressors and neurodegeneration
- Synchrotron radiation Infrared Microspectroscopy (SR-IRMS) as a tool for characterization of epigenetic events.
- Raman spectroscopy as a tool for detection of cell aging.
- Charge carrier transport characterization with time-of-flight photoconductivity method (TOF)
- Spin glass state in pyrochlore materials
- Statistical theory of electrocaloric effect
- DFT simulations of biopolymer systems and scaling in polymer theories
- Molecular dynamics simulations of a model polymer chain using Wang-Landau microcanonical sampling
- General model for solvent-biopolymer interactions, suitable for both theory and simulation
- Photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in gas- and liquid-phase reactions metal porphyrines and pthalocyanines) with application on organic electronics devices.
- Time resolved optical nuclear polarization experiment
- Photoemission measurements on solar cells
The experienced researchers submitted several project proposals thanks to their knowledge, expertise and networking activities. As a consequence of the intense activities of realization of research infrastructures, planning of new research topics, fundraising activities etc., conducted by the experienced researchers, several new research collaborations have been established with outstanding researchers and research institutions of in and outside Europe.
The Experienced Research Project manager is in assuring expert support and consultancy in the filed of project management to the management structure of UNG on one hand and in assuring expert support and consultancy to the researcher of UNG involved in project implementation. Establishment of a system of continuous research project application will assure sound and sustainable financial situation in the future. It has been established a system of project management based on flexible procedures and management by objectives. The rapid increase in number of UNG running research projects required urgent strengthening of expertise in fundraising and management of research projects. The recruitment of the industrial liaison expert contributed to the development and implementation a practices for the technology transfer of the University of Nova Gorica. He worked closely to the different researchers of the University to support them to recruit new industrial partners by networking and actively seeking opportunities for industrial participation in research as well as educational University activities. Assist in the formation of new partnerships, start ups and other industrial partnerships. He retained and increased interaction with the heads of the different laboratories and research centres of the University. Maintain an active website of the ILO office. Facilitate student/industry relations through internships, student participation in joint projects with industry, fellowships, seminars, career placement, etc The experienced researchers builded on best practices of institutions they are arriving from, as a way for nurturing a competitive environment of research at the frontier of the different fields, particularly for the young scientist. We consider the employment of a Slovenian citizen an important result of the project because we contribute to avoid national and institutional brain drain. Slovenian speaking experienced researchers also enhance the research potential because of their knowledge of the national culture, language and regulation which are considered essential for fast integration with local environment and within the institution. In this way we avoid the transitional period that is required by foreign experts in order to become fully engaged in the working process.
The SWOT analysis, performed for identifying weaknesses of the UNG at the stage of the SUNGREEN project application, has shown that a major infrastructural hindrance for a further development of excellent research is in the lack of electron microscopy that is an essential research tool for the majority of the involved laboratories and centres.
In the first reporting period the procedures of tender writing and publication, the collection of offers, the selection of the best offer and the sign of purchase contract have been accomplished.
The equipment purchased are: Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Air-condition system, cathodoluminaces detector, Beam shutter interface kit, Goniometer for sample preparation, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Thermal analyzer (TA).
Before the installation of the equipment, the following action have been performed: Planning, design and preparation of the rooms hosting the microscopes and sample preparation facilities. Room walls have been modified in order to optimize the operating area for SEM and TEM. Electromagnetic and mechanical vibrations have to be minimized below a specified threshold to effectively exploit the microscope capabilities. Power supply dedicated system has been set up, separated by the building power network, together with dedicated transformers. air conditioning dedicated and independent systems are necessary to keep the temperature of the microscope rooms adequate.
The technical specification of the instruments are the following:
Field-emission SEM specifications (JEOL JSM-7100F):
Energy range: 0.1 – 30 KeV
Probe current range: 5 – 400 nA
Maximum resolution: 1.2 nm at 30 KeV and WD 4 mm
Electron detectors: SE in chamber detector, Back-scattered short WD retractable detector, TTL BE/SE energy filtered detector
EDS system: X-MAX 80 SDD detector (Oxford Instruments), measured resolution at Mn Ka: 126 eV, Aztech software package for data acquisition and analysis
CL system: MONO CL4 (Gatan) high resolution photospectrometer, high collection efficiency parabolic mirror, Digital Micrograph software for data acquisition and analysis
Field-emission TEM specifications (JEOL JEM-2100F UHR):
Max. Energy: 200 KeV
Max. resolution in TEM mode: 0.1 nm
Max resolution in STEM mode: 0.19 nm
STEM unit available with Bright field detector and Dark field annular detector
Digital acquisition: Orius SC100 CCD (Gatan) with Digital Micrograph software
EDS system: X-Max TTEM 80 SDD (Oxford) with Aztec software for data acquisition and analysis. Resolution: 127 eV at MnKα
Sample preparation facilities have also been installed: Precision Ion Polishing System (PIPS), cross section polisher, diamond wire saw, Precision Etching and Coating System (PECS), dimple grinder, disc grinder and ultrasonic disc cutter. In October 2014 the diamond wire saw was upgraded with a goniometer to improve the capacity of working with single/crystalline materials. UNG staff received training on their use and on sample preparation processes.
X-ray diffractometer
The MiniFlex 600 is a benchtop X-ray diffractometer (XRD) produced by Rigaku company, Japan. It is a general purpose X-ray diffractometer that can perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of polycrystalline materials. MiniFlex600 comes standard with the latest version of PDXL, Rigaku's full-function powder diffraction analysis package. The latest version of PDXL offers important new functionality; including a fundamental parameter method (FP) for more accurate peak calculation, phase identification using the Crystallography Open Database (COD), and a wizard for ab inito crystal structure analysis. The machine is equiped with Cu X-ray source operating at 600 W. The scanning angle range can vary from -3 to 145° (2θ) with minimum step width of 0.005°. The graphite monochromator, coupled with the standard scintillation counter, maximizes sensitivity by optimizing peak-to-background ratios.
The machine is very well suited for routine measurements of inorganic materials such as metal oxides, metals chalcogenides or complex inorganic material formulations.
XRD technical specifications
- Generator tube voltage: 20-40kV
- Generator tube current: 10mA
- X-ray tube: Cu
- Detector: Silicon strip detector
- Goniometer: scanning range -3 do 145o 2θ
Scanning speed 0.01 do 100o /min (2θ)
Minimum step width: 0.002o 2θ
- Close circuit cooling
TA-MS specifications (Mettler Toledo TGA/DSC 2 – Pfeiffer vacuum ThermoStar GSD 320) :
- Temperature range: room temperature to 1600 °C
- Sample volume: up to 900 μL (mikroliter)
- Scale range: ≥1 g
- Furnace temperature resolution: 0.002 K
- Temperature desolution of the DSC sensor: 0.0001 K
- Coulpled to a mass spectrometer
- Mass spectrometer scale: 1-300 amu
During the installation, the UNG staff has been trained in the use of the equipment by the specialized technicians of the apparatus providers. After SEM and TEM installation conclusion, training activity of potential users has been performed. The training activity has been addressed mainly to young UNG researchers, but also to PhD, master and undergraduate students. Several students performed (or have been performing) their thesis work exploiting SEM and TEM. The training is carried out both trough dedicated lectures and practical measurement sessions according to established procedures. Dedicated digital log-book and online booking systems have been set up to manage the record keeping of working history and access to the microscopes.TG-MS and XRD systems were ready to use immediately after installation. The training activity based mainly on samples from Material Research Laboratory was addressed to young UNG researchers and PhD students. Potential other users will be trained before use to independently set up experiments and analyse data by Material Research Laboratory staff.
After their installation, the microscopes have been immediately exploited as an essential support in the research lines of several UNG groups, in particular Materials Research Laboratory, Organic Matter Laboratory and Environmental Science Laboratory. Coordination of interactions between the microscope laboratories and UNG departments is constantly carried out. After the installation of the microscopes and supporting instrumentation the research capability at UNG has been significantly improved. The microscope characterization capacity and versatility are currently routinely exploited in supporting several research line within UNG laboratories, in particular the ones focused on synthesis, functionalization and characterization of nano-materials.
Besides the support for running research activities at UNG, the acquisition of the microscopes gave ample opportunities for the establishment of new collaborations and connections between UNG and external institutions, both academic and industrial. The growing of scientific interconnections is greatly enhancing the research capacity of UNG, because of improvement of knowledge exchange and opportunity to join a larger number of consortia and projects.
During the implementation of the SUNGREEN project, UNG established the Industrial Liaison Office of the University. The industrial liaison expert was the responsible and the only member of the ILO at UNG, under the supervision of the vice rector for research activity at UNG. The general aim of the ILO was defined: encourage and promote the dissemination of Intellectual Property (IP) and commercialization of research endeavours of UNG. During his activity, the ILO expert, had a series of meetings with the heads of the different laboratories, research centres, and schools for collecting all the information necessary for establishing list of knowledge, technologies, products that may be considered eligible for the IP protection and/or commercialization. The information collected by the ILO officer served for the construction and developement of the ILO web page and catalogue of offered products and all the dissemination materials. The ILO officer did several meetings with the UNG heads of research unites (12) for planning work priorities and agreements during the project implementation. He Established contact and agreement for collaboration with different SMEs. He did meetings with the ILO of ST about the establishment of IL Office at UNG. A catalogue of possible relevant industrial stakeholders and industrial needs in region of Friuli Venetia Giulia has been realized.
He organized a workshops about Start Ups and technology transfer done in Nova Gorica. Several presentations with local companies start-ups, business mentors and business angels. The workshops was for students, entrepreneurs and investors.
During the project has been prepared the IP Management strategy of UNG. The process of IP management strategy preparation was based on the analysis of scientific documents, academic web pages and regulatory rules relating to the roles and purposes of academic technology transfer offices/IPR offices. The analysis was focused on the key issues of academic entrepreneurship that occur inside and outside an academic IP system. As the conclusion, it was established that the internal processes of academic IP protection and commercialization are usually based on department/faculty efforts that are usually supported by formal academic IPR office assistance. But the main problem in this context is that the sizeable amount of academic IP commercialization still occurs outside this formal system that may have a significant effect on the real efficiency of formal academic IPR activities. Hence, the key preconditions, responsibilities, rules, and interplays of three major actors in an academic IP commercialization process were studied: department/faculty, IPR office, and central administration. These interplays must be clearly defined, monitored and maintained, if an academic IP system should be truly effective. As the result, the IP management strategy suitable for a smaller university based on the studied key issues of academic IP management processes and based on related meetings was formulated.
ILO Officer established the link between the UNG and two of the Slovenian representatives of the Enterprise European Network (EEN). A networking through Slovenian Technology platforms has been also done. Positive contacts were established with Industrial development Centre of Slovenian spinning industry (IRSPIN) and with Slovenian Photovoltaic Technology Platform (http://www.pv-platforma.si) (SI-PV TP). IRSPIN was founded by textile companies in order to connect companies in field of development and technology, education, dissemination and liaison of knowledge from educational and developmental institutions inside and among enterprises. SI-PV TP platform works in field of photovoltaic: exchange of knowledge, research projects, PV partners collaborating, production of equipment for PV plants in Slovenia.
During the project activities devoted to networking with European Technology Platforms were done. The list of existing technology platforms in Europe was made by the ILO officer.
As a result of the LEIT Meeting on 27th of Feb. 2014 in Brussels, that was organized by the EC Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Directorate D – Key Enabling Technologies, Unit D.3 – Advanced Materials and Nanotechnologies, a number of experts in the field of material modelling met in Covent-Garden in Brussels on 5th of Nov. 2014 to discuss several issues pertaining to the future of materials modelling in Europe. The coordinator of the project, t has been invited to the assembly of experts formed the initial core of the European Material Modelling Council (EMMC). The new Materials Modelling Council aims to be a network of all stakeholders in materials modelling. It links the scientists and engineering communities developing different models (electronic/atomistic/mesoscopic/continuum), software houses and end-users. It addresses all possible application areas and all possible materials. The Council plans to cover the following activities:
• Development of materials models
• Industrial Software Exploitation
• Supporting measures
• Tailoring for industrial needs
• Road mapping
Networking with Slovenian industry associations have been done by the ILO officer. The contacts with Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia (GZS) has been established and it has been agreed for their support on promoting UNG initiatives and access to database information related to Slovenian companies. On January 2013, the Rector of the University of Nova Gorica, the President of the Assembly of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia, and the Chairman of the Science and Technology Chamber of Craft of Slovenia, have signed a cooperation agreement.
The agreement on cooperation is especially important for the development and use of new materials and meet new technological processes and to gain knowledge in the field of nanotechnology, energy and environmental technologies. It will allow better integration of economy and science and the use of new technologies in the development of new products and services with higher added value. The agreement covers the business and technical cooperation in the transfer of new technologies in the enterprise, providing assistance in the implementation of new knowledge in contemporary craft and entrepreneurship, cooperation in organizing seminars, technology and nanotechnology days, conferences, workshops, forums, participation in fairs and plan joint projects.The agreement on cooperation also means better integration of economy and science, and in particular the transfer of knowledge in the small and micro enterprises. University of Nova Gorica will be entrepreneurs and craftsmen in professional assistance in the development and use of new technologies with the aim of successful development of new products and services with higher added value. Options for collaborations also see the total of running the fairs.
Another important part of networking activities that has been done by the ILO officer is the one related to the networking with neighboring region.
The ILO office of UNG contributes to enhance the capacity of UNG in technology transfer by defining its role within the University with respect to the Laboratories, Centers, Schools and Project Office. Thanks to the interaction between ILO officer and the researchers of UNG, practices for approaching companies and the preparation of meetings with their representatives have been established. It has been also defined what is the role of the ILO officer and of the researchers during meetings with companies. After collecting all the information related to the knowledge available in the different Laboratories, Centres and Schools of the University, the ILO officer identified the corresponding added value to be use for technology transfer.
Moreover, the ILO officer worked on the establishment of the price list of the services that UNG can offer to the companies. Through the project Nanoforce (Slovenian partner UNG) and their substantive program, the ILO prepared invitation "From the laboratory to the market" for companies, researchers, scientists and for potential corporate group where 12 of them will be invited for a three-day event presentation to investors (November 2013) for nano materials. The summonses were also conducted in the Technology Park Ljubljana and Nova Gorica and consequently with Start-up initiative Slovenia.
During the SUNGREEN project 4 conferences and 4 workshops were organized.
Conference "Time and Matter 2013"
http://tam.ung.si/
In the framework of the SUNGREEN project, University of Nova Gorica's Laboratory for astroparticle physics organized an international conference »Time and Matter 2013«. The conference took place from 4-8 March 2013 on the University of Nova Gorica's premises at Campo della Chiesa 3, island of sant'Elena, Venice, Italy. The aim of the conference was to present multiple aspects of time and matter in all fields of physics, from elementary particles to galactic and cosmological proportions. In the light of the latest experimental results at the CERN's Large Hadron Collider, topics related to the mechanism providing mass to all particles in nature and the related recent discovery of the Higgs boson were covered in detail, in fact, the most recent results of the ATLAS and CMS collaborations were disclosed just a few hours after the information embargo set by the Moriond Conference was lifted.
The invited lecturers included the 1999 Nobel laureate for physics Gerard 't Hooft and a number of other distinguished researchers in their corresponding fields, selected by the International advisory committee of the conference. In addition the latest findings on the origin of matter on the most fundamental level, related to Higgs bosons, these lecturers covered in detail the most recent achievements in the research of the origin of matter and dark matter, violation of discrete symmetries in nature, quantum gravity, time reversal and arrow of time. There was also a session dedicated to a philosophical discussion of time and matter.
The regular presentations at Time and Matter 2013 were be divided into six sections. In each section there was a Plenary lecture, possible invited presentations, regular presentations and student presentations. In addition there was one general poster session.
- Precision time measurements
- The evolution of time
- The Origins of Mass, Higgs Boson
- Dark Matter and Dark Energy
- Matter and Gravity
- Philosophical Perspectives
Conference: European Symposium on Photocatalysis JEP 2013
http://www.photocatalysis-federation.eu/jep2013/
Within Sungreen project, in the period 25th- 27th of September 2013, we have successfully organized one of the biggest events in WP6 – 3rd European Symposium on Photocatalysis. This conference was organized in collaboration with the European Photocatalysis Federation, EPF (prof. U. Lavrenčič Štangar of UNG is a member of its academic committee).
The conference took place in the congress centre Bernardin in Portorož, a famous small town on the Adriatic coast.
The main topic of the conference was photocatalysis as a sustainable development for improving the quality of life. Many undesirable by-products present in water or in air because of human activity can be eliminated (or mineralized) by this emergent technology, using cheap and readily available materials. This process, mainly based on semi-conductors activated by light, has benefited from academic and industrial research over the last 20 years. Photocatalysis is implemented in many materials such as glasses, ceramics, paints, metals, lighting bulbs, road coatings and cement binders. For users, domestic or industrial applications are available for air or water purification, for mould removal, or for indoor and outdoor coatings. Current environmental concern promises a bright future for this technology, particularly applications to improving the quality of water and of indoor and outdoor air.
In addition to environmental remediation, promising results are being obtained in energy oriented applications of photocatalysis like the obtention of solar fuels by water splitting (solar hydrogen) or by the reduction of carbon dioxide, in an artificial photosynthetic process that would lead to the highly desirable re-usage and revalorisation of CO2 emissions
JEP 2013 provided a timely update on
• research breakthroughs on Photocatalytic materials and methods devoted to mechanisms understanding
• recent European and International standards
• latest applications of photocatalysis, including:
• - air and water purification,
• sterilization,
• self-cleaning materials,
• outdoor and indoor coatings for roads and buildings
• energy applications
JEP 2013 was successful with 200 attendees from 31 countries over the world. The main representation came from France, followed by Slovenia, Germany, Italy and Spain. Most of the audience was academics and students, with 14 % from companies dealing with photocatalysis, in slight decrease relative to the previous edition JEP2011 in Bordeaux. Good organization and warm welcome from Slovenian colleagues from Nova Gorica University was acknowledged, with a special mention for the dancing Gala dinner. The location in front of the Adriatic coast was gorgeous and the venue in Grand Hotel Bernardin luxurious.
The 33 plenary lectures and oral communications gave the general trends of photocatalysis, in such various applications as energy, water treatment, air treatment, new catalytic nanomaterials, self-cleaning surfaces.
Ppecial plenary speaker Kazuhito Hashimoto from the University of Tokyo, pioneer in the photocatalysis field.
The 120 posters left hanged during the whole symposium in a wonderful room front to the sea and allowed numerous visits, debates and contacts making this session alive and very fruitful. The JEP2013 scientific committee rewarded three students posters: the first price was given to Sammy Verbruggen from Antwerpen University for plasmonic AuxAg(1-x)TiO2. Twenty bilateral meetings were organized to favour privileged relationships and new collaborations.
About ten exhibitors presented their products, among which the Kronos one was rather illustrative on de-NOx properties of TiO2 coatings, and the stand of the Photocatalysis Industry Association of Japan (PIAJ).
Conference: European Conference on Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Growth
http://eco-matech.ung.si/
In the framework of the SUNGREEN project, University of Nova Gorica's Materials Research Laboratory organized an international conference » European Conference on Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Growth - ECoMaTech 2013«. The conference took place from 18-21 September 2013 in Bled at Kompas Hotel, Cankarjeva cesta 2, 4260 Bled, Slovenia.
The aim of the ECo MaTech conference was to gather representatives of academic and R&D institutions, industry, governmental agencies and civil society to present their work, ideas and products, increase fruitful exhanges between all the actors involved in sustainable growth technologies, to increase the networking with sustainable growth professionals and establish a general discussion platform on sustainable growth.
Among the distinguished guests that were invited speakers and were supported by the SUNGREEN funds, were prof. dr. Hans Lundberg and prof. dr. Martin Chaplin who held the plenary talks. All the invited speakers are prominent researchers in their respective fields that have, with their lectures, greatly contributed to the aim of the conference and gave specific views of how different scientific fields can contribute to sustainable growth. The lecturers covered the topics from nanoscience and technologies, materials research to their applications in energy conversion, waste and pollution treatment. The conference has succeeded to present to the participants how combined efforts of specific fields can result in future sustainable growth. Detailed information on the conference is available on its web page: http://eco-matech.ung.si/ .
The scientific programme of the conference Conference " ECoMaTech 2013". The presentations at ECoMaTech 2013 were divided into several sections. Opening held two Plenary lectures, followed by presentations of invited speakers, regular presentations and student presentations. One general poster session was also held.
The sections in which lectures were presented were the following:
o New Cooling Technologies
o Technologies for Energy Conversion
o Energy Storage and Distribution
o FEL and Synchrotron based techniques
o Environmental Impact
o Waste and Pollution Treatment
o Surface Science in Environmental Research
o Operando Methods in Energy Research
ECoMaTech 2013 has set as its goal a difficult task of presenting the new ideas and findings in the field of sustainable development, where different areas of research were presented. Combining technology and concepts from social sciences has been a difficult task, however the conference has managed to fulfill its mission of bringing together different partakers who have an interest in sustainable growth. We can also add that several positive feedbacks have been received from the participants.
Third International conference on Computational Methods for Thermal Problems
In the framework of the SUNGREEN project, University of Nova Gorica's Laboratory for Multiphase Processes organized an international conference » Third International Conference on Computational Methods for Thermal Problems«. The conference took place from 2-4 June 2014 at Lake Bled, Hotel Kompas, Cankarjeva cesta 2, 4260 Bled, Slovenia. The conference was organized together with the University Parthenope from Naples, Italy, University of Wales, Swansea, U.K. and Institute of Metals and Technology, Ljubljana, Slovenia. The originally focused subject of the conference: Solid-liquid phase change problems was enhanced to a broader spectra of numerical heat transfer phenomena.
The aim of the Third International Conference o conference was to bring together researchers interested in fundamental numerical methods for heat and fluid flow and those who use such methods to solve complex, real-life applications in the fields: Conduction, convection and radiation, Phase-change pheneomena, Coupled problems, Reactive heat and mass transport, Heat and mass transfer in porous media, Numerical methods, High performance computing, Biological heat and mass transfer, Heat exchangers and fuel cells, Boiling and condensation, Power plants and equipment, Energy conversion, Refrigeration and air-conditioning, Chemical processes and heat transfer, Micro- and nano- heat transport.
The conference consisted of three plenary lectures, six keynote lectures, seven mini-symposia and seven parallel sessions. 150 participants were present at the conference.
The minisymposia organized were:
Heat Transfer in Foams and Nanofluids
Modelling & Applications of Bioheat & Mass Transfer
Numerical Modelling of Systems for the Exploatation of Low Enthalpy Geothermal Energy Sources
Numerical Modelling of Vulcanoes and High Enthalpy Geothermal Systems
Numerical Modelling and Simulation of Enery Conversion in Waste-to-Energy Plants
Meshless Methods for Thermofluid Problems
Multi-Stream Heat Excangers
The parallel sessions organized were:
Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Reactive Heat and Mass Transport
Heat and Mass Transfer in Porous Media
Numerical Methods
Power Plants and Equipment
Chemical Processes and Heat Trasfer
Micro- and Nano- Heat Transport
Thematic workshop – Instrumental analytical methods for environmental monitoring
(http://conferences.ung.si/sungreen/).
The thematic workshop » Instrumental analytical methods for environmental monitoring« took place at UNG in the period 22-23 June 2012.
This thematic workshop was dedicated to presentations of recent progress in development and application of state of the art instrumental analytical methods for environmental monitoring with particular emphasis on water quality control and surface water monitoring. Experts in this field were invited to participate as lecturers.
Thematic workshop 2 – Thematic workshop in Toxicology Related Topics:*eco- *nano-
The thematic workshop »Thematic workshop in Toxicology Related Topics:*eco- *nano- « took place at UNG in the period June 14-15, 2013. This thematic workshop was dedicated to presentations of recent progress in field of new methods for toxicology assessment. The workshop was jointly organized by Laboratory for Environmental sciences and Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering of University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia. Experts in this field were invited to participate as lecturers.
Thematic workshop 3 – International Workshop on Solar Energy Materials (SOLMAT 2014)
The thematic workshop »International Workshop on Solar Energy Materials (SOLMAT 2014)« took place at UNG in the period June 17-18, 2014 at the Lanthieri mansion at Vipava (Slovenia). The primary aim of the workshop was to discuss and disseminate state-of-the-art research, recent achievements, an exchange of novel ideas, concepts, techniques and exciting perspectives in nanomaterials preparation. The event also served as educational platform for young researchers. The SOLMAT2014 was organized by the University of Nova Gorica The scopes of the program were mainly in the field of (photo)catalysis, Li-ion batteries, fuel-cells and advanced characterization tools of (nano)materials. The SLOMAT2014 lectures were given by famous scientists in each field. This unique scientific event was also supported by the European Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Association.
Thematic workshop 4 “Photocatalysis as a Tool for Sustainability”
(http://conferences.ung.si/photocatalysis/
This thematic workshop took place in the Congress Centre St. Bernardin in Portoroz, Slovenia, on the dates September 24-25th 2013, prior to the celebration of the 3rd European Symposium on Photocatalysis JEP2013. It reviewed the fundamentals of photocatalytic processes and their application to environmental remediation, solar fuels production and green chemical synthesis. It was mainly aimed at young researchers, although some later stage scientists did also attend. Its strategic schedule as a »pre-conference« of JEP2013 allowed to have lectures given by top researchers and professors attending this conference.
During the implementation of the project, the researchers of UNG active participed to more than 35 international scientific conferences and workshops in the field of novel materials and environmental sciences s.
As a direct result of project SUNGREEN activities, the new communication strategy that is directed towards achieving economic sustainability was developed and adopted by the UNG. Visibility of the UNG outside its home region that was very low is becoming better and better. Especially in the field of connection between RTD and industry, the notion of importance of the knowledge and innovation for the growth of the industry was significantly raised. Distinguishing qualities and UNG’s identity is becoming well known in the region and on the national level, although there is still significant lack of name recognition outside of Primorska region and Slovenia. UNG has established strong and pervasive presence in some of the external research communities where we have been presen for a long time (e.g. Pierre Auger Collaboration, etc.). The communication strategy is aimed towards overcoming missing targeted advertisements to important target groups out-of-state or out-of-region which should result in larger political and industrial financial support base and is opening new ways of finding sufficient alternative sources of revenue.
During the project a Pilot brochure was developed. The approach to the promotional booklet is an innovative one, a lot of emphasis is put on the imagery produced by various microscopy techniques. In the concept of the booklet lies the understanding that the images are in this case a metonymy for the research into nano-scale features of materials. The series of fascinating images with gnomic sentences are meant to evoke interest in the subject of nano-research in the wider audiences similar to the research interest of the specialists. The project was integrated in the development of the Communication strategy, which is intended to combine the focus of the UNG on the so-called hard sciences with the humanities research and the artistic creativity. The brochure – useful also as an informative handout for the project – is intended to be part of a series of communicative interventions, which will attempt to bring closer the horizons of scientific and technological exploration of nano-level features and the common-sense understanding of our reality by the widest spectrum of audiences.
In the beginning of 2013 the SUNGREEN website was launched. The School of Art and the School of Humanities of the University of Nova Gorica contributed the competences on information communication, graphic design and information sicience. The initial state of the site includes the information on the SUNGREEN project and the partners, as well as on a plethora activities that run as part of the project. In particular regarding the SUNGREEN visual design, the School of Art worked on the Sungreen identity, stationery and website design. The Sungreen project required both the visual identity and online presence visually designed.
Sungreen identity consists of a mark on the left and typography in two (three lines in the case of the web) on the right of the mark. The Mark is aligned with Sungreen typographic name and is followed by the University of Nova Gorica name underneath. The mark represents an abstract sun with rays pointing to six directions. The mark is constructed with three equilateral arrows – two in lime and one in cyan colour – pointing to the centre of the “sun”. The cyan arrow pointing towards top left – the symbolic direction of progress in western cultures – represents the mission of the project Sungreen and the direction of University’s vision. The Typography: the project’s name and mother organisation are positioned right of the mark in two contrasting colour – cyan and lime. Typography used for the name is “Bebas Regular” in all capitals for both “Sungreen” and “University of Nova Gorica”. Colour: cyan (C100 M0 Y0 K0) and lime (C15 M0 Y100 K0). Two bright contrasting colours have been chosen to represent the new, fresh and bright aspects of project’s mission – to promote and disseminate technological knowhow and scientific achievements. Bright but cold colour spectrum also represents the science as a discipline.
Website follows the simple guideline of Sungreen identity described above. The web structure follows a simple top-left to bottom-right approach: (a) logo in top-left corner, (b) navigation left underneath the logo, (c) content starting right from navigation and continues through out the browser window. The idea of the structure (of the wireframe) is modular, where the modules (sections in the content area) float depending on the importance and currency. Colours in the website are taken from Sungreen identity and adds black and grey colours for most of the text and some graphic elements. Website design consisted of a home page and two subpages that are then applied throughout the entire site online. Website is based on Drupal an open-code and open-source engines. Stationery follows a simple identity style a website guideline. Logo in the top left corner in the header with basic projects information in the footer of the letterhead (A4). Stationery design required a basic project’s letterhead and an A4 report document, both single page documents.
As a part of the project web site and in the cooperation of the Materials Research Laboratory and the School for Arts, have been prepared video presentations to expose communication of the world of science with the ‘everyday’, lay world. Scientists have been putted into the center of the interest, but the scientists as 'ordinary people with unusual occupations’. In this context another important dissemination activity was performed wit the aim of connecting scientific measurements and artistic exploration. Using the newly acquired electron microscopes the digital graphics and videos were realized.
Several articles in popular magazines and newspapers have been published, videos for TV and interviews for the radio were realized.
Open Days at UNG was organized at the beginning of each academic year. The aim of the Open day of UNG was to present UNG and all of its subunits to the interested public. The Open day presentation of UNG was conducted in two timely and localy parallel and complementary events, namely lectures and a fair. Each UNG member faculty and research center or laboratory presented itself through one or two lectures given by its most prominent professors and subunits to the interested public. Lectures covered latest scientific, artistic and cultural advances in an easy to grasp, public friendly way. Simultaneously in the neighboring hall faculties and related centres have presented themselves on individual stands, where visitors were able to watch videos, exhibits, publications, talk to researchers, perform simple experiments and use scientific equipment.
Potential Impact:
During the SUNGREEN project 4 conferences and 4 workshops were organized.
Conference "Time and Matter 2013"
http://tam.ung.si/
In the framework of the SUNGREEN project, University of Nova Gorica's Laboratory for astroparticle physics organized an international conference »Time and Matter 2013«. The conference took place from 4-8 March 2013 on the University of Nova Gorica's premises at Campo della Chiesa 3, island of sant'Elena, Venice, Italy. The aim of the conference was to present multiple aspects of time and matter in all fields of physics, from elementary particles to galactic and cosmological proportions. In the light of the latest experimental results at the CERN's Large Hadron Collider, topics related to the mechanism providing mass to all particles in nature and the related recent discovery of the Higgs boson were covered in detail, in fact, the most recent results of the ATLAS and CMS collaborations were disclosed just a few hours after the information embargo set by the Moriond Conference was lifted.
The invited lecturers included the 1999 Nobel laureate for physics Gerard 't Hooft and a number of other distinguished researchers in their corresponding fields, selected by the International advisory committee of the conference. In addition the latest findings on the origin of matter on the most fundamental level, related to Higgs bosons, these lecturers covered in detail the most recent achievements in the research of the origin of matter and dark matter, violation of discrete symmetries in nature, quantum gravity, time reversal and arrow of time. There was also a session dedicated to a philosophical discussion of time and matter.
The regular presentations at Time and Matter 2013 were be divided into six sections. In each section there was a Plenary lecture, possible invited presentations, regular presentations and student presentations. In addition there was one general poster session.
- Precision time measurements
- The evolution of time
- The Origins of Mass, Higgs Boson
- Dark Matter and Dark Energy
- Matter and Gravity
- Philosophical Perspectives
Conference: European Symposium on Photocatalysis JEP 2013
http://www.photocatalysis-federation.eu/jep2013/
Within Sungreen project, in the period 25th- 27th of September 2013, we have successfully organized one of the biggest events in WP6 – 3rd European Symposium on Photocatalysis. This conference was organized in collaboration with the European Photocatalysis Federation, EPF (prof. U. Lavrenčič Štangar of UNG is a member of its academic committee).
The conference took place in the congress centre Bernardin in Portorož, a famous small town on the Adriatic coast.
The main topic of the conference was photocatalysis as a sustainable development for improving the quality of life. Many undesirable by-products present in water or in air because of human activity can be eliminated (or mineralized) by this emergent technology, using cheap and readily available materials. This process, mainly based on semi-conductors activated by light, has benefited from academic and industrial research over the last 20 years. Photocatalysis is implemented in many materials such as glasses, ceramics, paints, metals, lighting bulbs, road coatings and cement binders. For users, domestic or industrial applications are available for air or water purification, for mould removal, or for indoor and outdoor coatings. Current environmental concern promises a bright future for this technology, particularly applications to improving the quality of water and of indoor and outdoor air.
In addition to environmental remediation, promising results are being obtained in energy oriented applications of photocatalysis like the obtention of solar fuels by water splitting (solar hydrogen) or by the reduction of carbon dioxide, in an artificial photosynthetic process that would lead to the highly desirable re-usage and revalorisation of CO2 emissions
JEP 2013 provided a timely update on
• research breakthroughs on Photocatalytic materials and methods devoted to mechanisms understanding
• recent European and International standards
• latest applications of photocatalysis, including:
• - air and water purification,
• sterilization,
• self-cleaning materials,
• outdoor and indoor coatings for roads and buildings
• energy applications
JEP 2013 was successful with 200 attendees from 31 countries over the world. The main representation came from France, followed by Slovenia, Germany, Italy and Spain. Most of the audience was academics and students, with 14 % from companies dealing with photocatalysis, in slight decrease relative to the previous edition JEP2011 in Bordeaux. Good organization and warm welcome from Slovenian colleagues from Nova Gorica University was acknowledged, with a special mention for the dancing Gala dinner. The location in front of the Adriatic coast was gorgeous and the venue in Grand Hotel Bernardin luxurious.
The 33 plenary lectures and oral communications gave the general trends of photocatalysis, in such various applications as energy, water treatment, air treatment, new catalytic nanomaterials, self-cleaning surfaces.
Ppecial plenary speaker Kazuhito Hashimoto from the University of Tokyo, pioneer in the photocatalysis field.
The 120 posters left hanged during the whole symposium in a wonderful room front to the sea and allowed numerous visits, debates and contacts making this session alive and very fruitful. The JEP2013 scientific committee rewarded three students posters: the first price was given to Sammy Verbruggen from Antwerpen University for plasmonic AuxAg(1-x)TiO2. Twenty bilateral meetings were organized to favour privileged relationships and new collaborations.
About ten exhibitors presented their products, among which the Kronos one was rather illustrative on de-NOx properties of TiO2 coatings, and the stand of the Photocatalysis Industry Association of Japan (PIAJ).
Conference: European Conference on Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Growth
http://eco-matech.ung.si/
In the framework of the SUNGREEN project, University of Nova Gorica's Materials Research Laboratory organized an international conference » European Conference on Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Growth - ECoMaTech 2013«. The conference took place from 18-21 September 2013 in Bled at Kompas Hotel, Cankarjeva cesta 2, 4260 Bled, Slovenia.
The aim of the ECo MaTech conference was to gather representatives of academic and R&D institutions, industry, governmental agencies and civil society to present their work, ideas and products, increase fruitful exhanges between all the actors involved in sustainable growth technologies, to increase the networking with sustainable growth professionals and establish a general discussion platform on sustainable growth.
Among the distinguished guests that were invited speakers and were supported by the SUNGREEN funds, were prof. dr. Hans Lundberg and prof. dr. Martin Chaplin who held the plenary talks. All the invited speakers are prominent researchers in their respective fields that have, with their lectures, greatly contributed to the aim of the conference and gave specific views of how different scientific fields can contribute to sustainable growth. The lecturers covered the topics from nanoscience and technologies, materials research to their applications in energy conversion, waste and pollution treatment. The conference has succeeded to present to the participants how combined efforts of specific fields can result in future sustainable growth. Detailed information on the conference is available on its web page: http://eco-matech.ung.si/ .
The scientific programme of the conference Conference " ECoMaTech 2013". The presentations at ECoMaTech 2013 were divided into several sections. Opening held two Plenary lectures, followed by presentations of invited speakers, regular presentations and student presentations. One general poster session was also held.
The sections in which lectures were presented were the following:
o New Cooling Technologies
o Technologies for Energy Conversion
o Energy Storage and Distribution
o FEL and Synchrotron based techniques
o Environmental Impact
o Waste and Pollution Treatment
o Surface Science in Environmental Research
o Operando Methods in Energy Research
ECoMaTech 2013 has set as its goal a difficult task of presenting the new ideas and findings in the field of sustainable development, where different areas of research were presented. Combining technology and concepts from social sciences has been a difficult task, however the conference has managed to fulfill its mission of bringing together different partakers who have an interest in sustainable growth. We can also add that several positive feedbacks have been received from the participants.
Third International conference on Computational Methods for Thermal Problems
In the framework of the SUNGREEN project, University of Nova Gorica's Laboratory for Multiphase Processes organized an international conference » Third International Conference on Computational Methods for Thermal Problems«. The conference took place from 2-4 June 2014 at Lake Bled, Hotel Kompas, Cankarjeva cesta 2, 4260 Bled, Slovenia. The conference was organized together with the University Parthenope from Naples, Italy, University of Wales, Swansea, U.K. and Institute of Metals and Technology, Ljubljana, Slovenia. The originally focused subject of the conference: Solid-liquid phase change problems was enhanced to a broader spectra of numerical heat transfer phenomena.
The aim of the Third International Conference o conference was to bring together researchers interested in fundamental numerical methods for heat and fluid flow and those who use such methods to solve complex, real-life applications in the fields: Conduction, convection and radiation, Phase-change pheneomena, Coupled problems, Reactive heat and mass transport, Heat and mass transfer in porous media, Numerical methods, High performance computing, Biological heat and mass transfer, Heat exchangers and fuel cells, Boiling and condensation, Power plants and equipment, Energy conversion, Refrigeration and air-conditioning, Chemical processes and heat transfer, Micro- and nano- heat transport.
The conference consisted of three plenary lectures, six keynote lectures, seven mini-symposia and seven parallel sessions. 150 participants were present at the conference.
The minisymposia organized were:
Heat Transfer in Foams and Nanofluids
Modelling & Applications of Bioheat & Mass Transfer
Numerical Modelling of Systems for the Exploatation of Low Enthalpy Geothermal Energy Sources
Numerical Modelling of Vulcanoes and High Enthalpy Geothermal Systems
Numerical Modelling and Simulation of Enery Conversion in Waste-to-Energy Plants
Meshless Methods for Thermofluid Problems
Multi-Stream Heat Excangers
The parallel sessions organized were:
Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Reactive Heat and Mass Transport
Heat and Mass Transfer in Porous Media
Numerical Methods
Power Plants and Equipment
Chemical Processes and Heat Trasfer
Micro- and Nano- Heat Transport
Thematic workshop – Instrumental analytical methods for environmental monitoring
(http://conferences.ung.si/sungreen/).
The thematic workshop » Instrumental analytical methods for environmental monitoring« took place at UNG in the period 22-23 June 2012.
This thematic workshop was dedicated to presentations of recent progress in development and application of state of the art instrumental analytical methods for environmental monitoring with particular emphasis on water quality control and surface water monitoring. Experts in this field were invited to participate as lecturers.
Thematic workshop 2 – Thematic workshop in Toxicology Related Topics:*eco- *nano-
The thematic workshop »Thematic workshop in Toxicology Related Topics:*eco- *nano- « took place at UNG in the period June 14-15, 2013. This thematic workshop was dedicated to presentations of recent progress in field of new methods for toxicology assessment. The workshop was jointly organized by Laboratory for Environmental sciences and Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering of University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia. Experts in this field were invited to participate as lecturers.
Thematic workshop 3 – International Workshop on Solar Energy Materials (SOLMAT 2014)
http://www.nanovipava.com/
The thematic workshop »International Workshop on Solar Energy Materials (SOLMAT 2014)« took place at UNG in the period June 17-18, 2014 at the Lanthieri mansion at Vipava (Slovenia). The primary aim of the workshop was to discuss and disseminate state-of-the-art research, recent achievements, an exchange of novel ideas, concepts, techniques and exciting perspectives in nanomaterials preparation. The event also served as educational platform for young researchers. The SOLMAT2014 was organized by the University of Nova Gorica The scopes of the program were mainly in the field of (photo)catalysis, Li-ion batteries, fuel-cells and advanced characterization tools of (nano)materials. The SLOMAT2014 lectures were given by famous scientists in each field. This unique scientific event was also supported by the European Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Association.
Thematic workshop 4 “Photocatalysis as a Tool for Sustainability”
(http://conferences.ung.si/photocatalysis/
This thematic workshop took place in the Congress Centre St. Bernardin in Portoroz, Slovenia, on the dates September 24-25th 2013, prior to the celebration of the 3rd European Symposium on Photocatalysis JEP2013. It reviewed the fundamentals of photocatalytic processes and their application to environmental remediation, solar fuels production and green chemical synthesis. It was mainly aimed at young researchers, although some later stage scientists did also attend. Its strategic schedule as a »pre-conference« of JEP2013 allowed to have lectures given by top researchers and professors attending this conference.
During the implementation of the project, the researchers of UNG active participed to more than 35 international scientific conferences and workshops in the field of novel materials and environmental sciences s.
As a direct result of project SUNGREEN activities, the new communication strategy that is directed towards achieving economic sustainability was developed and adopted by the UNG. Visibility of the UNG outside its home region that was very low is becoming better and better. Especially in the field of connection between RTD and industry, the notion of importance of the knowledge and innovation for the growth of the industry was significantly raised. Distinguishing qualities and UNG’s identity is becoming well known in the region and on the national level, although there is still significant lack of name recognition outside of Primorska region and Slovenia. UNG has established strong and pervasive presence in some of the external research communities where we have been presen for a long time (e.g. Pierre Auger Collaboration, etc.). The communication strategy is aimed towards overcoming missing targeted advertisements to important target groups out-of-state or out-of-region which should result in larger political and industrial financial support base and is opening new ways of finding sufficient alternative sources of revenue.
During the project a Pilot brochure was developed. The approach to the promotional booklet is an innovative one, a lot of emphasis is put on the imagery produced by various microscopy techniques. In the concept of the booklet lies the understanding that the images are in this case a metonymy for the research into nano-scale features of materials. The series of fascinating images with gnomic sentences are meant to evoke interest in the subject of nano-research in the wider audiences similar to the research interest of the specialists. The project was integrated in the development of the Communication strategy, which is intended to combine the focus of the UNG on the so-called hard sciences with the humanities research and the artistic creativity. The brochure – useful also as an informative handout for the project – is intended to be part of a series of communicative interventions, which will attempt to bring closer the horizons of scientific and technological exploration of nano-level features and the common-sense understanding of our reality by the widest spectrum of audiences.
In the beginning of 2013 the SUNGREEN website was launched. The School of Art and the School of Humanities of the University of Nova Gorica contributed the competences on information communication, graphic design and information sicience. The initial state of the site includes the information on the SUNGREEN project and the partners, as well as on a plethora activities that run as part of the project. In particular regarding the SUNGREEN visual design, the School of Art worked on the Sungreen identity, stationery and website design. The Sungreen project required both the visual identity and online presence visually designed.
Sungreen identity consists of a mark on the left and typography in two (three lines in the case of the web) on the right of the mark. The Mark is aligned with Sungreen typographic name and is followed by the University of Nova Gorica name underneath. The mark represents an abstract sun with rays pointing to six directions. The mark is constructed with three equilateral arrows – two in lime and one in cyan colour – pointing to the centre of the “sun”. The cyan arrow pointing towards top left – the symbolic direction of progress in western cultures – represents the mission of the project Sungreen and the direction of University’s vision. The Typography: the project’s name and mother organisation are positioned right of the mark in two contrasting colour – cyan and lime. Typography used for the name is “Bebas Regular” in all capitals for both “Sungreen” and “University of Nova Gorica”. Colour: cyan (C100 M0 Y0 K0) and lime (C15 M0 Y100 K0). Two bright contrasting colours have been chosen to represent the new, fresh and bright aspects of project’s mission – to promote and disseminate technological knowhow and scientific achievements. Bright but cold colour spectrum also represents the science as a discipline.
Website follows the simple guideline of Sungreen identity described above. The web structure follows a simple top-left to bottom-right approach: (a) logo in top-left corner, (b) navigation left underneath the logo, (c) content starting right from navigation and continues through out the browser window. The idea of the structure (of the wireframe) is modular, where the modules (sections in the content area) float depending on the importance and currency. Colours in the website are taken from Sungreen identity and adds black and grey colours for most of the text and some graphic elements. Website design consisted of a home page and two subpages that are then applied throughout the entire site online. Website is based on Drupal an open-code and open-source engines. Stationery follows a simple identity style a website guideline. Logo in the top left corner in the header with basic projects information in the footer of the letterhead (A4). Stationery design required a basic project’s letterhead and an A4 report document, both single page documents.
As a part of the project web site and in the cooperation of the Materials Research Laboratory and the School for Arts, have been prepared video presentations to expose communication of the world of science with the ‘everyday’, lay world. Scientists have been putted into the center of the interest, but the scientists as 'ordinary people with unusual occupations’. In this context another important dissemination activity was performed wit the aim of connecting scientific measurements and artistic exploration. Using the newly acquired electron microscopes the digital graphics and videos were realized.
Several articles in popular magazines and newspapers have been published, videos for TV and interviews for the radio were realized.
Open Days at UNG was organized at the beginning of each academic year. The aim of the Open day of UNG was to present UNG and all of its subunits to the interested public. The Open day presentation of UNG was conducted in two timely and localy parallel and complementary events, namely lectures and a fair. Each UNG member faculty and research center or laboratory presented itself through one or two lectures given by its most prominent professors and subunits to the interested public. Lectures covered latest scientific, artistic and cultural advances in an easy to grasp, public friendly way. Simultaneously in the neighboring hall faculties and related centers have presented themselves on individual stands, where visitors were able to watch videos, exhibits, publications, talk to researchers, perform simple experiments and use scientific equipment.
List of Websites:
Website: http://sungreen.ung.si
Contact:
Matjaž Valant (SUNGREEN project coordinator)
Univerza v Novi Gorici, Vipavska 11c, 5270 Ajdovščina, Slovenija
matjaz.valant@ung.si
T: +386 5 365 3502
F: +386 5 365 3527
The SUNGREEN project reinforced the University of Nova Gorica, strengthening its innovative approach for research and development of new knowledge in environmental science and novel nano-structured materials. The reinforcement was realized through establishment of strategic partnerships with top European R&D centres, recruitment of experienced researchers, acquisition of state-of-the-art research infrastructure, enhancement of UNG visibility and its collaboration with different stakeholders in the region. Through the implementation of the project, UNG has reached its full potential for research and technological innovation and became one of the leading European research centres in the field environmental sciences and nano-materials, fully integrated in ERA, and a provider of new environmental technologies at European level.
Project Context and Objectives:
The main objective of the SUNGREEN project is stated in its title: to strengthen the University of Nova Gorica’s research excellence in environmental sciences and novel nano-materials. Project SUNGREEN dealt with research related capacity building.
Strengthening of the research potential of UNG and support to its development is being realized with the help of new knowledge and research equipment. Project is enhancing the capacity of UNG’s researchers to successfully participate in research activities at EU level. The objective will be fully achieved through networking with other European world class research players, upgrading of relevant RTD infrastructure, recruitment of experienced researchers as well as through dynamic contribution to the regional and European sustainable socio-economic development through networking and dissemination activities.
Project SUNGREEN will result in strengthened UNG’s research potential in the fields of environmental sciences and nano-structured materials. It is enabling continuous excellent research in photo-catalysis, water and air purification, alternative energy technologies, energy efficiency, bioconjugated systems, organic solar cells, plasmonics, food science, and other direction that are very timely and relevant for the wellbeing of our society.
Acquisition of research infrastructure for characterization of the microscopy structure of nano- material is essential (transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM)).
Project will upgrade UNG infrastructure has strengthened research teams that will become able to conduct highest level of scientific research in the field of environmental sciences and novel nanomaterials.
New knowledge that is being acquired through exchange of know-how and recruitment of experienced researchers is crucial for the fundamental understanding of synthesis of nano-materials with optimal characteristics.
The aim of project is to improve the level of scientific research and reinforce human potential of the UNG in the field of environmental science and novel nano-materials and nanotechnologies by:
• Increasing collaboration potential of UNG with complementary research groups from EU, Building a network of partners with experience in technology transfer to applications,
• Upgrading research infrastructure,
• Fostering the influx of critical know-how, through trainings and study visits, focused
international workshops, and conferences,
• Recruitment of prominent scientists in the field of environmental science and novel nanomaterials.
Through these actions UNG is paving paths for industrial uptake of new environmental technologies and is contributing to knowledge based economy and last but not least to cleaner environment.
Transfer of know how is enabling industries in the region at European level to produce innovative new products with high added value. Through project implementation, UNG is establishing partnerships that will enable economically sustainable research both alone and in collaboration with network of partnering organizations.
The project addresses specific objectives designed to have maximal impact on enhancement of UNG research potential in environmental sciences, novel nano-materials and related technologies. The key concept of the project is to build on the UNG's existing strengths in environmental science and eliminate its weaknesses in order to be able to exploit opportunities in the environment and minimise threats.
The realization of SUNGREEN project will create conditions for and enable further intensive and ambitious research in the very timely and relevant directions in the field of environmental science and nano-materials.
Project Results:
The academic excellence in the field of environmental sciences and novel nanomaterials that was strongly present at the UNG at the beginning of the project implementation has been further strengthened through recruitment of experienced researchers and exchange of know how, thus creating the necessary conditions for further growth and international recognition, with the possibility of diversification of funding sources and attraction of high level researchers and students. Academic excellence of UNG reseach has been strengthened through the following achievements:
• Number of experienced researchers recruited by SUNGREEN project: 10
• Number of outgoing visits within SUNGREEN project: 60
• Number of incoming visits within SUNGREEN project: 52
• Number of incoming experienced researchers within SUNGREEN project: 18
• Number of outgoing experienced researchers within SUNGREEN project: 8
Research at the University of Nova Gorica has been traditionally oriented towards environmental sciences from a very broad perspective. Today, this is reflected in the activities of different research groups. Research related to environmental sciences ranges from investigations at the molecular level to investigations of phenomena originating in the universe. Currently, environmental or environment-related research is conducted in nine departments: the Laboratory for Environmental Research, the Laboratory for Astroparticle Physics, the Laboratory for Multiphase Processes, Laboratory of Organic Matter Physics, Materials Research Laboratory, Centre for Systems and Information Technologies and Centre for Atmospheric Research, Laboratory for quantum optics and Centre for biomedical research and engineering. During the project implementation two additional departments were established: Laboratory for quantum optics and Centre for biomedical research and engineering. University’s researchers strongly enter and participate in international research processes and projects.
UNG has recruited several world class scientists and experienced researchers within SUNGREEN project. The number of “significant research lines”, in relation to the number of research staff has dropped. The research teams have been strengthened. The number of experienced researchers in the field of synthesis of nano-materials, structural characterization and spectroscopy applied to nano-materials for environment and energy was significantly increased in order to realise UNG’s full research potential. The recruited experienced researchers have brought different added values to the UNG:
New know how for the establishment of new research facilities
The Experienced SEM Microscopy expert coordinated the establishment of the center for electron microscopy which comprehends a SEM, a TEM and a workshop equipped
with several specimen preparation facilities. He supervised the preparation of the rooms hosting the two facilities (reduction of vibration, air condition, power supply etc.), the installation of the new instruments and their tests. He organized the training for the internal and external users, the access to the two research facilities and the provision of consumables. The Experienced TEM Microscopy expert with his knowledge and experience contribute on effective operating procedures for High-Resolution TEM work and training of new users, and guidance in the upgrade of sample preparation facilities to enhance the capacity of MRL to work with single-crystalline materials. The two experienced researchers on theoretical physics have planned the computing modelling facilities required for starting up the theoretical activity within UNG for performing predictive materials science modelling with microscopic understanding.
The expert in synthesis of oxide and metallic nanostructures has planned the required technical facilities in order to conduct the carbothermal reduction synthesis of nanoparticles of SiC.
The experienced researcher in interface of nano material & bioactive molecules is co-founder of the recently established Centre for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering of UNG and she managed the setting up of the new laboratories for Ca2+ imaging technique, electrophysiology and optical manipulation technology.
The experienced researcher in experimental solid state physics thanks to his know-how improved the experimental facilities for performing state of the art growth and characterization of thin organic semiconducting layers. He is developing numerical methods for electric charge transport in organic semiconductors and experimental set ups for electric transport characterization of semiconductor devices. The experienced researcher in pump and probe spectroscopy planned the establishment and commissioning of the Laboratory of Quantum Optics. The laboratory is based on an innovative light source, generating soft X rays by means of an ultrafast laser, and an experimental apparatus with which it is possible to study systems of interest for nano-photocatalysis, nano-magnetism, organic electronics and nanobiology.
The employed experienced researchers contribute in opening and developing research topics in the field of environmental sciences and novel nano-materials:
- Morphological characterization of polymer/graphene hybrids film
- Characterization of oxides nanoparticles synthesized for catalytic purposes.
- Electron microscopy for artistic images.
- Characterization by TEM and EDX of II-VI binary semiconductor nanowires
- Characterization of doped optical fibers through SEM and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy.
- Characterization of samples of concrete: morphology and composition by SEM and EDX.
- Characterization by SEM and EDX of doped optical fiber.
- Study of compositional mapping (EDX) and grain structure (SEM) of magnets used in automotive industry.
- SEM study of samples of aluminium alloys for characterization of inclusions
- Synchrotron photoemission studies of orientation-dependent oxidation phenomena in magnesium (Mg)
- TEM and SAXS/WAXS control of nano-scale precipitation phenomena in Mg alloys.
- Development of the software Quantum ESPRESSO for performing electronic structure calculations and modelling in the field of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), Raman and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, Photoemission spectroscopy etc.
- Atomistic modeling of defects on amorphous materials (i.e. silica). c) Modeling electronic and optical excitations in organic semiconductors from first principles. Future experiments on the optoelectronic properties of curannulene have been planned in view to get a one-to-one comparison between experimental results and theoretical modelling.
- Study of 3C-SiC material as a candidate for photocatalysis
- Synthesis of silicon carbide SiC nanoparticles in the form of whiskers, fibers, nanowires
- Neurophysiological characterization of nano-interfaces with quantum dots (QDs)
- Environmental stressors and neurodegeneration
- Synchrotron radiation Infrared Microspectroscopy (SR-IRMS) as a tool for characterization of epigenetic events.
- Raman spectroscopy as a tool for detection of cell aging.
- Charge carrier transport characterization with time-of-flight photoconductivity method (TOF)
- Spin glass state in pyrochlore materials
- Statistical theory of electrocaloric effect
- DFT simulations of biopolymer systems and scaling in polymer theories
- Molecular dynamics simulations of a model polymer chain using Wang-Landau microcanonical sampling
- General model for solvent-biopolymer interactions, suitable for both theory and simulation
- Photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in gas- and liquid-phase reactions metal porphyrines and pthalocyanines) with application on organic electronics devices.
- Time resolved optical nuclear polarization experiment
- Photoemission measurements on solar cells
The experienced researchers submitted several project proposals thanks to their knowledge, expertise and networking activities. As a consequence of the intense activities of realization of research infrastructures, planning of new research topics, fundraising activities etc., conducted by the experienced researchers, several new research collaborations have been established with outstanding researchers and research institutions of in and outside Europe.
The Experienced Research Project manager is in assuring expert support and consultancy in the filed of project management to the management structure of UNG on one hand and in assuring expert support and consultancy to the researcher of UNG involved in project implementation. Establishment of a system of continuous research project application will assure sound and sustainable financial situation in the future. It has been established a system of project management based on flexible procedures and management by objectives. The rapid increase in number of UNG running research projects required urgent strengthening of expertise in fundraising and management of research projects. The recruitment of the industrial liaison expert contributed to the development and implementation a practices for the technology transfer of the University of Nova Gorica. He worked closely to the different researchers of the University to support them to recruit new industrial partners by networking and actively seeking opportunities for industrial participation in research as well as educational University activities. Assist in the formation of new partnerships, start ups and other industrial partnerships. He retained and increased interaction with the heads of the different laboratories and research centres of the University. Maintain an active website of the ILO office. Facilitate student/industry relations through internships, student participation in joint projects with industry, fellowships, seminars, career placement, etc The experienced researchers builded on best practices of institutions they are arriving from, as a way for nurturing a competitive environment of research at the frontier of the different fields, particularly for the young scientist. We consider the employment of a Slovenian citizen an important result of the project because we contribute to avoid national and institutional brain drain. Slovenian speaking experienced researchers also enhance the research potential because of their knowledge of the national culture, language and regulation which are considered essential for fast integration with local environment and within the institution. In this way we avoid the transitional period that is required by foreign experts in order to become fully engaged in the working process.
The SWOT analysis, performed for identifying weaknesses of the UNG at the stage of the SUNGREEN project application, has shown that a major infrastructural hindrance for a further development of excellent research is in the lack of electron microscopy that is an essential research tool for the majority of the involved laboratories and centres.
In the first reporting period the procedures of tender writing and publication, the collection of offers, the selection of the best offer and the sign of purchase contract have been accomplished.
The equipment purchased are: Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Air-condition system, cathodoluminaces detector, Beam shutter interface kit, Goniometer for sample preparation, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Thermal analyzer (TA).
Before the installation of the equipment, the following action have been performed: Planning, design and preparation of the rooms hosting the microscopes and sample preparation facilities. Room walls have been modified in order to optimize the operating area for SEM and TEM. Electromagnetic and mechanical vibrations have to be minimized below a specified threshold to effectively exploit the microscope capabilities. Power supply dedicated system has been set up, separated by the building power network, together with dedicated transformers. air conditioning dedicated and independent systems are necessary to keep the temperature of the microscope rooms adequate.
The technical specification of the instruments are the following:
Field-emission SEM specifications (JEOL JSM-7100F):
Energy range: 0.1 – 30 KeV
Probe current range: 5 – 400 nA
Maximum resolution: 1.2 nm at 30 KeV and WD 4 mm
Electron detectors: SE in chamber detector, Back-scattered short WD retractable detector, TTL BE/SE energy filtered detector
EDS system: X-MAX 80 SDD detector (Oxford Instruments), measured resolution at Mn Ka: 126 eV, Aztech software package for data acquisition and analysis
CL system: MONO CL4 (Gatan) high resolution photospectrometer, high collection efficiency parabolic mirror, Digital Micrograph software for data acquisition and analysis
Field-emission TEM specifications (JEOL JEM-2100F UHR):
Max. Energy: 200 KeV
Max. resolution in TEM mode: 0.1 nm
Max resolution in STEM mode: 0.19 nm
STEM unit available with Bright field detector and Dark field annular detector
Digital acquisition: Orius SC100 CCD (Gatan) with Digital Micrograph software
EDS system: X-Max TTEM 80 SDD (Oxford) with Aztec software for data acquisition and analysis. Resolution: 127 eV at MnKα
Sample preparation facilities have also been installed: Precision Ion Polishing System (PIPS), cross section polisher, diamond wire saw, Precision Etching and Coating System (PECS), dimple grinder, disc grinder and ultrasonic disc cutter. In October 2014 the diamond wire saw was upgraded with a goniometer to improve the capacity of working with single/crystalline materials. UNG staff received training on their use and on sample preparation processes.
X-ray diffractometer
The MiniFlex 600 is a benchtop X-ray diffractometer (XRD) produced by Rigaku company, Japan. It is a general purpose X-ray diffractometer that can perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of polycrystalline materials. MiniFlex600 comes standard with the latest version of PDXL, Rigaku's full-function powder diffraction analysis package. The latest version of PDXL offers important new functionality; including a fundamental parameter method (FP) for more accurate peak calculation, phase identification using the Crystallography Open Database (COD), and a wizard for ab inito crystal structure analysis. The machine is equiped with Cu X-ray source operating at 600 W. The scanning angle range can vary from -3 to 145° (2θ) with minimum step width of 0.005°. The graphite monochromator, coupled with the standard scintillation counter, maximizes sensitivity by optimizing peak-to-background ratios.
The machine is very well suited for routine measurements of inorganic materials such as metal oxides, metals chalcogenides or complex inorganic material formulations.
XRD technical specifications
- Generator tube voltage: 20-40kV
- Generator tube current: 10mA
- X-ray tube: Cu
- Detector: Silicon strip detector
- Goniometer: scanning range -3 do 145o 2θ
Scanning speed 0.01 do 100o /min (2θ)
Minimum step width: 0.002o 2θ
- Close circuit cooling
TA-MS specifications (Mettler Toledo TGA/DSC 2 – Pfeiffer vacuum ThermoStar GSD 320) :
- Temperature range: room temperature to 1600 °C
- Sample volume: up to 900 μL (mikroliter)
- Scale range: ≥1 g
- Furnace temperature resolution: 0.002 K
- Temperature desolution of the DSC sensor: 0.0001 K
- Coulpled to a mass spectrometer
- Mass spectrometer scale: 1-300 amu
During the installation, the UNG staff has been trained in the use of the equipment by the specialized technicians of the apparatus providers. After SEM and TEM installation conclusion, training activity of potential users has been performed. The training activity has been addressed mainly to young UNG researchers, but also to PhD, master and undergraduate students. Several students performed (or have been performing) their thesis work exploiting SEM and TEM. The training is carried out both trough dedicated lectures and practical measurement sessions according to established procedures. Dedicated digital log-book and online booking systems have been set up to manage the record keeping of working history and access to the microscopes.TG-MS and XRD systems were ready to use immediately after installation. The training activity based mainly on samples from Material Research Laboratory was addressed to young UNG researchers and PhD students. Potential other users will be trained before use to independently set up experiments and analyse data by Material Research Laboratory staff.
After their installation, the microscopes have been immediately exploited as an essential support in the research lines of several UNG groups, in particular Materials Research Laboratory, Organic Matter Laboratory and Environmental Science Laboratory. Coordination of interactions between the microscope laboratories and UNG departments is constantly carried out. After the installation of the microscopes and supporting instrumentation the research capability at UNG has been significantly improved. The microscope characterization capacity and versatility are currently routinely exploited in supporting several research line within UNG laboratories, in particular the ones focused on synthesis, functionalization and characterization of nano-materials.
Besides the support for running research activities at UNG, the acquisition of the microscopes gave ample opportunities for the establishment of new collaborations and connections between UNG and external institutions, both academic and industrial. The growing of scientific interconnections is greatly enhancing the research capacity of UNG, because of improvement of knowledge exchange and opportunity to join a larger number of consortia and projects.
During the implementation of the SUNGREEN project, UNG established the Industrial Liaison Office of the University. The industrial liaison expert was the responsible and the only member of the ILO at UNG, under the supervision of the vice rector for research activity at UNG. The general aim of the ILO was defined: encourage and promote the dissemination of Intellectual Property (IP) and commercialization of research endeavours of UNG. During his activity, the ILO expert, had a series of meetings with the heads of the different laboratories, research centres, and schools for collecting all the information necessary for establishing list of knowledge, technologies, products that may be considered eligible for the IP protection and/or commercialization. The information collected by the ILO officer served for the construction and developement of the ILO web page and catalogue of offered products and all the dissemination materials. The ILO officer did several meetings with the UNG heads of research unites (12) for planning work priorities and agreements during the project implementation. He Established contact and agreement for collaboration with different SMEs. He did meetings with the ILO of ST about the establishment of IL Office at UNG. A catalogue of possible relevant industrial stakeholders and industrial needs in region of Friuli Venetia Giulia has been realized.
He organized a workshops about Start Ups and technology transfer done in Nova Gorica. Several presentations with local companies start-ups, business mentors and business angels. The workshops was for students, entrepreneurs and investors.
During the project has been prepared the IP Management strategy of UNG. The process of IP management strategy preparation was based on the analysis of scientific documents, academic web pages and regulatory rules relating to the roles and purposes of academic technology transfer offices/IPR offices. The analysis was focused on the key issues of academic entrepreneurship that occur inside and outside an academic IP system. As the conclusion, it was established that the internal processes of academic IP protection and commercialization are usually based on department/faculty efforts that are usually supported by formal academic IPR office assistance. But the main problem in this context is that the sizeable amount of academic IP commercialization still occurs outside this formal system that may have a significant effect on the real efficiency of formal academic IPR activities. Hence, the key preconditions, responsibilities, rules, and interplays of three major actors in an academic IP commercialization process were studied: department/faculty, IPR office, and central administration. These interplays must be clearly defined, monitored and maintained, if an academic IP system should be truly effective. As the result, the IP management strategy suitable for a smaller university based on the studied key issues of academic IP management processes and based on related meetings was formulated.
ILO Officer established the link between the UNG and two of the Slovenian representatives of the Enterprise European Network (EEN). A networking through Slovenian Technology platforms has been also done. Positive contacts were established with Industrial development Centre of Slovenian spinning industry (IRSPIN) and with Slovenian Photovoltaic Technology Platform (http://www.pv-platforma.si) (SI-PV TP). IRSPIN was founded by textile companies in order to connect companies in field of development and technology, education, dissemination and liaison of knowledge from educational and developmental institutions inside and among enterprises. SI-PV TP platform works in field of photovoltaic: exchange of knowledge, research projects, PV partners collaborating, production of equipment for PV plants in Slovenia.
During the project activities devoted to networking with European Technology Platforms were done. The list of existing technology platforms in Europe was made by the ILO officer.
As a result of the LEIT Meeting on 27th of Feb. 2014 in Brussels, that was organized by the EC Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Directorate D – Key Enabling Technologies, Unit D.3 – Advanced Materials and Nanotechnologies, a number of experts in the field of material modelling met in Covent-Garden in Brussels on 5th of Nov. 2014 to discuss several issues pertaining to the future of materials modelling in Europe. The coordinator of the project, t has been invited to the assembly of experts formed the initial core of the European Material Modelling Council (EMMC). The new Materials Modelling Council aims to be a network of all stakeholders in materials modelling. It links the scientists and engineering communities developing different models (electronic/atomistic/mesoscopic/continuum), software houses and end-users. It addresses all possible application areas and all possible materials. The Council plans to cover the following activities:
• Development of materials models
• Industrial Software Exploitation
• Supporting measures
• Tailoring for industrial needs
• Road mapping
Networking with Slovenian industry associations have been done by the ILO officer. The contacts with Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia (GZS) has been established and it has been agreed for their support on promoting UNG initiatives and access to database information related to Slovenian companies. On January 2013, the Rector of the University of Nova Gorica, the President of the Assembly of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia, and the Chairman of the Science and Technology Chamber of Craft of Slovenia, have signed a cooperation agreement.
The agreement on cooperation is especially important for the development and use of new materials and meet new technological processes and to gain knowledge in the field of nanotechnology, energy and environmental technologies. It will allow better integration of economy and science and the use of new technologies in the development of new products and services with higher added value. The agreement covers the business and technical cooperation in the transfer of new technologies in the enterprise, providing assistance in the implementation of new knowledge in contemporary craft and entrepreneurship, cooperation in organizing seminars, technology and nanotechnology days, conferences, workshops, forums, participation in fairs and plan joint projects.The agreement on cooperation also means better integration of economy and science, and in particular the transfer of knowledge in the small and micro enterprises. University of Nova Gorica will be entrepreneurs and craftsmen in professional assistance in the development and use of new technologies with the aim of successful development of new products and services with higher added value. Options for collaborations also see the total of running the fairs.
Another important part of networking activities that has been done by the ILO officer is the one related to the networking with neighboring region.
The ILO office of UNG contributes to enhance the capacity of UNG in technology transfer by defining its role within the University with respect to the Laboratories, Centers, Schools and Project Office. Thanks to the interaction between ILO officer and the researchers of UNG, practices for approaching companies and the preparation of meetings with their representatives have been established. It has been also defined what is the role of the ILO officer and of the researchers during meetings with companies. After collecting all the information related to the knowledge available in the different Laboratories, Centres and Schools of the University, the ILO officer identified the corresponding added value to be use for technology transfer.
Moreover, the ILO officer worked on the establishment of the price list of the services that UNG can offer to the companies. Through the project Nanoforce (Slovenian partner UNG) and their substantive program, the ILO prepared invitation "From the laboratory to the market" for companies, researchers, scientists and for potential corporate group where 12 of them will be invited for a three-day event presentation to investors (November 2013) for nano materials. The summonses were also conducted in the Technology Park Ljubljana and Nova Gorica and consequently with Start-up initiative Slovenia.
During the SUNGREEN project 4 conferences and 4 workshops were organized.
Conference "Time and Matter 2013"
http://tam.ung.si/
In the framework of the SUNGREEN project, University of Nova Gorica's Laboratory for astroparticle physics organized an international conference »Time and Matter 2013«. The conference took place from 4-8 March 2013 on the University of Nova Gorica's premises at Campo della Chiesa 3, island of sant'Elena, Venice, Italy. The aim of the conference was to present multiple aspects of time and matter in all fields of physics, from elementary particles to galactic and cosmological proportions. In the light of the latest experimental results at the CERN's Large Hadron Collider, topics related to the mechanism providing mass to all particles in nature and the related recent discovery of the Higgs boson were covered in detail, in fact, the most recent results of the ATLAS and CMS collaborations were disclosed just a few hours after the information embargo set by the Moriond Conference was lifted.
The invited lecturers included the 1999 Nobel laureate for physics Gerard 't Hooft and a number of other distinguished researchers in their corresponding fields, selected by the International advisory committee of the conference. In addition the latest findings on the origin of matter on the most fundamental level, related to Higgs bosons, these lecturers covered in detail the most recent achievements in the research of the origin of matter and dark matter, violation of discrete symmetries in nature, quantum gravity, time reversal and arrow of time. There was also a session dedicated to a philosophical discussion of time and matter.
The regular presentations at Time and Matter 2013 were be divided into six sections. In each section there was a Plenary lecture, possible invited presentations, regular presentations and student presentations. In addition there was one general poster session.
- Precision time measurements
- The evolution of time
- The Origins of Mass, Higgs Boson
- Dark Matter and Dark Energy
- Matter and Gravity
- Philosophical Perspectives
Conference: European Symposium on Photocatalysis JEP 2013
http://www.photocatalysis-federation.eu/jep2013/
Within Sungreen project, in the period 25th- 27th of September 2013, we have successfully organized one of the biggest events in WP6 – 3rd European Symposium on Photocatalysis. This conference was organized in collaboration with the European Photocatalysis Federation, EPF (prof. U. Lavrenčič Štangar of UNG is a member of its academic committee).
The conference took place in the congress centre Bernardin in Portorož, a famous small town on the Adriatic coast.
The main topic of the conference was photocatalysis as a sustainable development for improving the quality of life. Many undesirable by-products present in water or in air because of human activity can be eliminated (or mineralized) by this emergent technology, using cheap and readily available materials. This process, mainly based on semi-conductors activated by light, has benefited from academic and industrial research over the last 20 years. Photocatalysis is implemented in many materials such as glasses, ceramics, paints, metals, lighting bulbs, road coatings and cement binders. For users, domestic or industrial applications are available for air or water purification, for mould removal, or for indoor and outdoor coatings. Current environmental concern promises a bright future for this technology, particularly applications to improving the quality of water and of indoor and outdoor air.
In addition to environmental remediation, promising results are being obtained in energy oriented applications of photocatalysis like the obtention of solar fuels by water splitting (solar hydrogen) or by the reduction of carbon dioxide, in an artificial photosynthetic process that would lead to the highly desirable re-usage and revalorisation of CO2 emissions
JEP 2013 provided a timely update on
• research breakthroughs on Photocatalytic materials and methods devoted to mechanisms understanding
• recent European and International standards
• latest applications of photocatalysis, including:
• - air and water purification,
• sterilization,
• self-cleaning materials,
• outdoor and indoor coatings for roads and buildings
• energy applications
JEP 2013 was successful with 200 attendees from 31 countries over the world. The main representation came from France, followed by Slovenia, Germany, Italy and Spain. Most of the audience was academics and students, with 14 % from companies dealing with photocatalysis, in slight decrease relative to the previous edition JEP2011 in Bordeaux. Good organization and warm welcome from Slovenian colleagues from Nova Gorica University was acknowledged, with a special mention for the dancing Gala dinner. The location in front of the Adriatic coast was gorgeous and the venue in Grand Hotel Bernardin luxurious.
The 33 plenary lectures and oral communications gave the general trends of photocatalysis, in such various applications as energy, water treatment, air treatment, new catalytic nanomaterials, self-cleaning surfaces.
Ppecial plenary speaker Kazuhito Hashimoto from the University of Tokyo, pioneer in the photocatalysis field.
The 120 posters left hanged during the whole symposium in a wonderful room front to the sea and allowed numerous visits, debates and contacts making this session alive and very fruitful. The JEP2013 scientific committee rewarded three students posters: the first price was given to Sammy Verbruggen from Antwerpen University for plasmonic AuxAg(1-x)TiO2. Twenty bilateral meetings were organized to favour privileged relationships and new collaborations.
About ten exhibitors presented their products, among which the Kronos one was rather illustrative on de-NOx properties of TiO2 coatings, and the stand of the Photocatalysis Industry Association of Japan (PIAJ).
Conference: European Conference on Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Growth
http://eco-matech.ung.si/
In the framework of the SUNGREEN project, University of Nova Gorica's Materials Research Laboratory organized an international conference » European Conference on Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Growth - ECoMaTech 2013«. The conference took place from 18-21 September 2013 in Bled at Kompas Hotel, Cankarjeva cesta 2, 4260 Bled, Slovenia.
The aim of the ECo MaTech conference was to gather representatives of academic and R&D institutions, industry, governmental agencies and civil society to present their work, ideas and products, increase fruitful exhanges between all the actors involved in sustainable growth technologies, to increase the networking with sustainable growth professionals and establish a general discussion platform on sustainable growth.
Among the distinguished guests that were invited speakers and were supported by the SUNGREEN funds, were prof. dr. Hans Lundberg and prof. dr. Martin Chaplin who held the plenary talks. All the invited speakers are prominent researchers in their respective fields that have, with their lectures, greatly contributed to the aim of the conference and gave specific views of how different scientific fields can contribute to sustainable growth. The lecturers covered the topics from nanoscience and technologies, materials research to their applications in energy conversion, waste and pollution treatment. The conference has succeeded to present to the participants how combined efforts of specific fields can result in future sustainable growth. Detailed information on the conference is available on its web page: http://eco-matech.ung.si/ .
The scientific programme of the conference Conference " ECoMaTech 2013". The presentations at ECoMaTech 2013 were divided into several sections. Opening held two Plenary lectures, followed by presentations of invited speakers, regular presentations and student presentations. One general poster session was also held.
The sections in which lectures were presented were the following:
o New Cooling Technologies
o Technologies for Energy Conversion
o Energy Storage and Distribution
o FEL and Synchrotron based techniques
o Environmental Impact
o Waste and Pollution Treatment
o Surface Science in Environmental Research
o Operando Methods in Energy Research
ECoMaTech 2013 has set as its goal a difficult task of presenting the new ideas and findings in the field of sustainable development, where different areas of research were presented. Combining technology and concepts from social sciences has been a difficult task, however the conference has managed to fulfill its mission of bringing together different partakers who have an interest in sustainable growth. We can also add that several positive feedbacks have been received from the participants.
Third International conference on Computational Methods for Thermal Problems
In the framework of the SUNGREEN project, University of Nova Gorica's Laboratory for Multiphase Processes organized an international conference » Third International Conference on Computational Methods for Thermal Problems«. The conference took place from 2-4 June 2014 at Lake Bled, Hotel Kompas, Cankarjeva cesta 2, 4260 Bled, Slovenia. The conference was organized together with the University Parthenope from Naples, Italy, University of Wales, Swansea, U.K. and Institute of Metals and Technology, Ljubljana, Slovenia. The originally focused subject of the conference: Solid-liquid phase change problems was enhanced to a broader spectra of numerical heat transfer phenomena.
The aim of the Third International Conference o conference was to bring together researchers interested in fundamental numerical methods for heat and fluid flow and those who use such methods to solve complex, real-life applications in the fields: Conduction, convection and radiation, Phase-change pheneomena, Coupled problems, Reactive heat and mass transport, Heat and mass transfer in porous media, Numerical methods, High performance computing, Biological heat and mass transfer, Heat exchangers and fuel cells, Boiling and condensation, Power plants and equipment, Energy conversion, Refrigeration and air-conditioning, Chemical processes and heat transfer, Micro- and nano- heat transport.
The conference consisted of three plenary lectures, six keynote lectures, seven mini-symposia and seven parallel sessions. 150 participants were present at the conference.
The minisymposia organized were:
Heat Transfer in Foams and Nanofluids
Modelling & Applications of Bioheat & Mass Transfer
Numerical Modelling of Systems for the Exploatation of Low Enthalpy Geothermal Energy Sources
Numerical Modelling of Vulcanoes and High Enthalpy Geothermal Systems
Numerical Modelling and Simulation of Enery Conversion in Waste-to-Energy Plants
Meshless Methods for Thermofluid Problems
Multi-Stream Heat Excangers
The parallel sessions organized were:
Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Reactive Heat and Mass Transport
Heat and Mass Transfer in Porous Media
Numerical Methods
Power Plants and Equipment
Chemical Processes and Heat Trasfer
Micro- and Nano- Heat Transport
Thematic workshop – Instrumental analytical methods for environmental monitoring
(http://conferences.ung.si/sungreen/).
The thematic workshop » Instrumental analytical methods for environmental monitoring« took place at UNG in the period 22-23 June 2012.
This thematic workshop was dedicated to presentations of recent progress in development and application of state of the art instrumental analytical methods for environmental monitoring with particular emphasis on water quality control and surface water monitoring. Experts in this field were invited to participate as lecturers.
Thematic workshop 2 – Thematic workshop in Toxicology Related Topics:*eco- *nano-
The thematic workshop »Thematic workshop in Toxicology Related Topics:*eco- *nano- « took place at UNG in the period June 14-15, 2013. This thematic workshop was dedicated to presentations of recent progress in field of new methods for toxicology assessment. The workshop was jointly organized by Laboratory for Environmental sciences and Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering of University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia. Experts in this field were invited to participate as lecturers.
Thematic workshop 3 – International Workshop on Solar Energy Materials (SOLMAT 2014)
The thematic workshop »International Workshop on Solar Energy Materials (SOLMAT 2014)« took place at UNG in the period June 17-18, 2014 at the Lanthieri mansion at Vipava (Slovenia). The primary aim of the workshop was to discuss and disseminate state-of-the-art research, recent achievements, an exchange of novel ideas, concepts, techniques and exciting perspectives in nanomaterials preparation. The event also served as educational platform for young researchers. The SOLMAT2014 was organized by the University of Nova Gorica The scopes of the program were mainly in the field of (photo)catalysis, Li-ion batteries, fuel-cells and advanced characterization tools of (nano)materials. The SLOMAT2014 lectures were given by famous scientists in each field. This unique scientific event was also supported by the European Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Association.
Thematic workshop 4 “Photocatalysis as a Tool for Sustainability”
(http://conferences.ung.si/photocatalysis/
This thematic workshop took place in the Congress Centre St. Bernardin in Portoroz, Slovenia, on the dates September 24-25th 2013, prior to the celebration of the 3rd European Symposium on Photocatalysis JEP2013. It reviewed the fundamentals of photocatalytic processes and their application to environmental remediation, solar fuels production and green chemical synthesis. It was mainly aimed at young researchers, although some later stage scientists did also attend. Its strategic schedule as a »pre-conference« of JEP2013 allowed to have lectures given by top researchers and professors attending this conference.
During the implementation of the project, the researchers of UNG active participed to more than 35 international scientific conferences and workshops in the field of novel materials and environmental sciences s.
As a direct result of project SUNGREEN activities, the new communication strategy that is directed towards achieving economic sustainability was developed and adopted by the UNG. Visibility of the UNG outside its home region that was very low is becoming better and better. Especially in the field of connection between RTD and industry, the notion of importance of the knowledge and innovation for the growth of the industry was significantly raised. Distinguishing qualities and UNG’s identity is becoming well known in the region and on the national level, although there is still significant lack of name recognition outside of Primorska region and Slovenia. UNG has established strong and pervasive presence in some of the external research communities where we have been presen for a long time (e.g. Pierre Auger Collaboration, etc.). The communication strategy is aimed towards overcoming missing targeted advertisements to important target groups out-of-state or out-of-region which should result in larger political and industrial financial support base and is opening new ways of finding sufficient alternative sources of revenue.
During the project a Pilot brochure was developed. The approach to the promotional booklet is an innovative one, a lot of emphasis is put on the imagery produced by various microscopy techniques. In the concept of the booklet lies the understanding that the images are in this case a metonymy for the research into nano-scale features of materials. The series of fascinating images with gnomic sentences are meant to evoke interest in the subject of nano-research in the wider audiences similar to the research interest of the specialists. The project was integrated in the development of the Communication strategy, which is intended to combine the focus of the UNG on the so-called hard sciences with the humanities research and the artistic creativity. The brochure – useful also as an informative handout for the project – is intended to be part of a series of communicative interventions, which will attempt to bring closer the horizons of scientific and technological exploration of nano-level features and the common-sense understanding of our reality by the widest spectrum of audiences.
In the beginning of 2013 the SUNGREEN website was launched. The School of Art and the School of Humanities of the University of Nova Gorica contributed the competences on information communication, graphic design and information sicience. The initial state of the site includes the information on the SUNGREEN project and the partners, as well as on a plethora activities that run as part of the project. In particular regarding the SUNGREEN visual design, the School of Art worked on the Sungreen identity, stationery and website design. The Sungreen project required both the visual identity and online presence visually designed.
Sungreen identity consists of a mark on the left and typography in two (three lines in the case of the web) on the right of the mark. The Mark is aligned with Sungreen typographic name and is followed by the University of Nova Gorica name underneath. The mark represents an abstract sun with rays pointing to six directions. The mark is constructed with three equilateral arrows – two in lime and one in cyan colour – pointing to the centre of the “sun”. The cyan arrow pointing towards top left – the symbolic direction of progress in western cultures – represents the mission of the project Sungreen and the direction of University’s vision. The Typography: the project’s name and mother organisation are positioned right of the mark in two contrasting colour – cyan and lime. Typography used for the name is “Bebas Regular” in all capitals for both “Sungreen” and “University of Nova Gorica”. Colour: cyan (C100 M0 Y0 K0) and lime (C15 M0 Y100 K0). Two bright contrasting colours have been chosen to represent the new, fresh and bright aspects of project’s mission – to promote and disseminate technological knowhow and scientific achievements. Bright but cold colour spectrum also represents the science as a discipline.
Website follows the simple guideline of Sungreen identity described above. The web structure follows a simple top-left to bottom-right approach: (a) logo in top-left corner, (b) navigation left underneath the logo, (c) content starting right from navigation and continues through out the browser window. The idea of the structure (of the wireframe) is modular, where the modules (sections in the content area) float depending on the importance and currency. Colours in the website are taken from Sungreen identity and adds black and grey colours for most of the text and some graphic elements. Website design consisted of a home page and two subpages that are then applied throughout the entire site online. Website is based on Drupal an open-code and open-source engines. Stationery follows a simple identity style a website guideline. Logo in the top left corner in the header with basic projects information in the footer of the letterhead (A4). Stationery design required a basic project’s letterhead and an A4 report document, both single page documents.
As a part of the project web site and in the cooperation of the Materials Research Laboratory and the School for Arts, have been prepared video presentations to expose communication of the world of science with the ‘everyday’, lay world. Scientists have been putted into the center of the interest, but the scientists as 'ordinary people with unusual occupations’. In this context another important dissemination activity was performed wit the aim of connecting scientific measurements and artistic exploration. Using the newly acquired electron microscopes the digital graphics and videos were realized.
Several articles in popular magazines and newspapers have been published, videos for TV and interviews for the radio were realized.
Open Days at UNG was organized at the beginning of each academic year. The aim of the Open day of UNG was to present UNG and all of its subunits to the interested public. The Open day presentation of UNG was conducted in two timely and localy parallel and complementary events, namely lectures and a fair. Each UNG member faculty and research center or laboratory presented itself through one or two lectures given by its most prominent professors and subunits to the interested public. Lectures covered latest scientific, artistic and cultural advances in an easy to grasp, public friendly way. Simultaneously in the neighboring hall faculties and related centres have presented themselves on individual stands, where visitors were able to watch videos, exhibits, publications, talk to researchers, perform simple experiments and use scientific equipment.
Potential Impact:
During the SUNGREEN project 4 conferences and 4 workshops were organized.
Conference "Time and Matter 2013"
http://tam.ung.si/
In the framework of the SUNGREEN project, University of Nova Gorica's Laboratory for astroparticle physics organized an international conference »Time and Matter 2013«. The conference took place from 4-8 March 2013 on the University of Nova Gorica's premises at Campo della Chiesa 3, island of sant'Elena, Venice, Italy. The aim of the conference was to present multiple aspects of time and matter in all fields of physics, from elementary particles to galactic and cosmological proportions. In the light of the latest experimental results at the CERN's Large Hadron Collider, topics related to the mechanism providing mass to all particles in nature and the related recent discovery of the Higgs boson were covered in detail, in fact, the most recent results of the ATLAS and CMS collaborations were disclosed just a few hours after the information embargo set by the Moriond Conference was lifted.
The invited lecturers included the 1999 Nobel laureate for physics Gerard 't Hooft and a number of other distinguished researchers in their corresponding fields, selected by the International advisory committee of the conference. In addition the latest findings on the origin of matter on the most fundamental level, related to Higgs bosons, these lecturers covered in detail the most recent achievements in the research of the origin of matter and dark matter, violation of discrete symmetries in nature, quantum gravity, time reversal and arrow of time. There was also a session dedicated to a philosophical discussion of time and matter.
The regular presentations at Time and Matter 2013 were be divided into six sections. In each section there was a Plenary lecture, possible invited presentations, regular presentations and student presentations. In addition there was one general poster session.
- Precision time measurements
- The evolution of time
- The Origins of Mass, Higgs Boson
- Dark Matter and Dark Energy
- Matter and Gravity
- Philosophical Perspectives
Conference: European Symposium on Photocatalysis JEP 2013
http://www.photocatalysis-federation.eu/jep2013/
Within Sungreen project, in the period 25th- 27th of September 2013, we have successfully organized one of the biggest events in WP6 – 3rd European Symposium on Photocatalysis. This conference was organized in collaboration with the European Photocatalysis Federation, EPF (prof. U. Lavrenčič Štangar of UNG is a member of its academic committee).
The conference took place in the congress centre Bernardin in Portorož, a famous small town on the Adriatic coast.
The main topic of the conference was photocatalysis as a sustainable development for improving the quality of life. Many undesirable by-products present in water or in air because of human activity can be eliminated (or mineralized) by this emergent technology, using cheap and readily available materials. This process, mainly based on semi-conductors activated by light, has benefited from academic and industrial research over the last 20 years. Photocatalysis is implemented in many materials such as glasses, ceramics, paints, metals, lighting bulbs, road coatings and cement binders. For users, domestic or industrial applications are available for air or water purification, for mould removal, or for indoor and outdoor coatings. Current environmental concern promises a bright future for this technology, particularly applications to improving the quality of water and of indoor and outdoor air.
In addition to environmental remediation, promising results are being obtained in energy oriented applications of photocatalysis like the obtention of solar fuels by water splitting (solar hydrogen) or by the reduction of carbon dioxide, in an artificial photosynthetic process that would lead to the highly desirable re-usage and revalorisation of CO2 emissions
JEP 2013 provided a timely update on
• research breakthroughs on Photocatalytic materials and methods devoted to mechanisms understanding
• recent European and International standards
• latest applications of photocatalysis, including:
• - air and water purification,
• sterilization,
• self-cleaning materials,
• outdoor and indoor coatings for roads and buildings
• energy applications
JEP 2013 was successful with 200 attendees from 31 countries over the world. The main representation came from France, followed by Slovenia, Germany, Italy and Spain. Most of the audience was academics and students, with 14 % from companies dealing with photocatalysis, in slight decrease relative to the previous edition JEP2011 in Bordeaux. Good organization and warm welcome from Slovenian colleagues from Nova Gorica University was acknowledged, with a special mention for the dancing Gala dinner. The location in front of the Adriatic coast was gorgeous and the venue in Grand Hotel Bernardin luxurious.
The 33 plenary lectures and oral communications gave the general trends of photocatalysis, in such various applications as energy, water treatment, air treatment, new catalytic nanomaterials, self-cleaning surfaces.
Ppecial plenary speaker Kazuhito Hashimoto from the University of Tokyo, pioneer in the photocatalysis field.
The 120 posters left hanged during the whole symposium in a wonderful room front to the sea and allowed numerous visits, debates and contacts making this session alive and very fruitful. The JEP2013 scientific committee rewarded three students posters: the first price was given to Sammy Verbruggen from Antwerpen University for plasmonic AuxAg(1-x)TiO2. Twenty bilateral meetings were organized to favour privileged relationships and new collaborations.
About ten exhibitors presented their products, among which the Kronos one was rather illustrative on de-NOx properties of TiO2 coatings, and the stand of the Photocatalysis Industry Association of Japan (PIAJ).
Conference: European Conference on Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Growth
http://eco-matech.ung.si/
In the framework of the SUNGREEN project, University of Nova Gorica's Materials Research Laboratory organized an international conference » European Conference on Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Growth - ECoMaTech 2013«. The conference took place from 18-21 September 2013 in Bled at Kompas Hotel, Cankarjeva cesta 2, 4260 Bled, Slovenia.
The aim of the ECo MaTech conference was to gather representatives of academic and R&D institutions, industry, governmental agencies and civil society to present their work, ideas and products, increase fruitful exhanges between all the actors involved in sustainable growth technologies, to increase the networking with sustainable growth professionals and establish a general discussion platform on sustainable growth.
Among the distinguished guests that were invited speakers and were supported by the SUNGREEN funds, were prof. dr. Hans Lundberg and prof. dr. Martin Chaplin who held the plenary talks. All the invited speakers are prominent researchers in their respective fields that have, with their lectures, greatly contributed to the aim of the conference and gave specific views of how different scientific fields can contribute to sustainable growth. The lecturers covered the topics from nanoscience and technologies, materials research to their applications in energy conversion, waste and pollution treatment. The conference has succeeded to present to the participants how combined efforts of specific fields can result in future sustainable growth. Detailed information on the conference is available on its web page: http://eco-matech.ung.si/ .
The scientific programme of the conference Conference " ECoMaTech 2013". The presentations at ECoMaTech 2013 were divided into several sections. Opening held two Plenary lectures, followed by presentations of invited speakers, regular presentations and student presentations. One general poster session was also held.
The sections in which lectures were presented were the following:
o New Cooling Technologies
o Technologies for Energy Conversion
o Energy Storage and Distribution
o FEL and Synchrotron based techniques
o Environmental Impact
o Waste and Pollution Treatment
o Surface Science in Environmental Research
o Operando Methods in Energy Research
ECoMaTech 2013 has set as its goal a difficult task of presenting the new ideas and findings in the field of sustainable development, where different areas of research were presented. Combining technology and concepts from social sciences has been a difficult task, however the conference has managed to fulfill its mission of bringing together different partakers who have an interest in sustainable growth. We can also add that several positive feedbacks have been received from the participants.
Third International conference on Computational Methods for Thermal Problems
In the framework of the SUNGREEN project, University of Nova Gorica's Laboratory for Multiphase Processes organized an international conference » Third International Conference on Computational Methods for Thermal Problems«. The conference took place from 2-4 June 2014 at Lake Bled, Hotel Kompas, Cankarjeva cesta 2, 4260 Bled, Slovenia. The conference was organized together with the University Parthenope from Naples, Italy, University of Wales, Swansea, U.K. and Institute of Metals and Technology, Ljubljana, Slovenia. The originally focused subject of the conference: Solid-liquid phase change problems was enhanced to a broader spectra of numerical heat transfer phenomena.
The aim of the Third International Conference o conference was to bring together researchers interested in fundamental numerical methods for heat and fluid flow and those who use such methods to solve complex, real-life applications in the fields: Conduction, convection and radiation, Phase-change pheneomena, Coupled problems, Reactive heat and mass transport, Heat and mass transfer in porous media, Numerical methods, High performance computing, Biological heat and mass transfer, Heat exchangers and fuel cells, Boiling and condensation, Power plants and equipment, Energy conversion, Refrigeration and air-conditioning, Chemical processes and heat transfer, Micro- and nano- heat transport.
The conference consisted of three plenary lectures, six keynote lectures, seven mini-symposia and seven parallel sessions. 150 participants were present at the conference.
The minisymposia organized were:
Heat Transfer in Foams and Nanofluids
Modelling & Applications of Bioheat & Mass Transfer
Numerical Modelling of Systems for the Exploatation of Low Enthalpy Geothermal Energy Sources
Numerical Modelling of Vulcanoes and High Enthalpy Geothermal Systems
Numerical Modelling and Simulation of Enery Conversion in Waste-to-Energy Plants
Meshless Methods for Thermofluid Problems
Multi-Stream Heat Excangers
The parallel sessions organized were:
Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Reactive Heat and Mass Transport
Heat and Mass Transfer in Porous Media
Numerical Methods
Power Plants and Equipment
Chemical Processes and Heat Trasfer
Micro- and Nano- Heat Transport
Thematic workshop – Instrumental analytical methods for environmental monitoring
(http://conferences.ung.si/sungreen/).
The thematic workshop » Instrumental analytical methods for environmental monitoring« took place at UNG in the period 22-23 June 2012.
This thematic workshop was dedicated to presentations of recent progress in development and application of state of the art instrumental analytical methods for environmental monitoring with particular emphasis on water quality control and surface water monitoring. Experts in this field were invited to participate as lecturers.
Thematic workshop 2 – Thematic workshop in Toxicology Related Topics:*eco- *nano-
The thematic workshop »Thematic workshop in Toxicology Related Topics:*eco- *nano- « took place at UNG in the period June 14-15, 2013. This thematic workshop was dedicated to presentations of recent progress in field of new methods for toxicology assessment. The workshop was jointly organized by Laboratory for Environmental sciences and Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering of University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia. Experts in this field were invited to participate as lecturers.
Thematic workshop 3 – International Workshop on Solar Energy Materials (SOLMAT 2014)
http://www.nanovipava.com/
The thematic workshop »International Workshop on Solar Energy Materials (SOLMAT 2014)« took place at UNG in the period June 17-18, 2014 at the Lanthieri mansion at Vipava (Slovenia). The primary aim of the workshop was to discuss and disseminate state-of-the-art research, recent achievements, an exchange of novel ideas, concepts, techniques and exciting perspectives in nanomaterials preparation. The event also served as educational platform for young researchers. The SOLMAT2014 was organized by the University of Nova Gorica The scopes of the program were mainly in the field of (photo)catalysis, Li-ion batteries, fuel-cells and advanced characterization tools of (nano)materials. The SLOMAT2014 lectures were given by famous scientists in each field. This unique scientific event was also supported by the European Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Association.
Thematic workshop 4 “Photocatalysis as a Tool for Sustainability”
(http://conferences.ung.si/photocatalysis/
This thematic workshop took place in the Congress Centre St. Bernardin in Portoroz, Slovenia, on the dates September 24-25th 2013, prior to the celebration of the 3rd European Symposium on Photocatalysis JEP2013. It reviewed the fundamentals of photocatalytic processes and their application to environmental remediation, solar fuels production and green chemical synthesis. It was mainly aimed at young researchers, although some later stage scientists did also attend. Its strategic schedule as a »pre-conference« of JEP2013 allowed to have lectures given by top researchers and professors attending this conference.
During the implementation of the project, the researchers of UNG active participed to more than 35 international scientific conferences and workshops in the field of novel materials and environmental sciences s.
As a direct result of project SUNGREEN activities, the new communication strategy that is directed towards achieving economic sustainability was developed and adopted by the UNG. Visibility of the UNG outside its home region that was very low is becoming better and better. Especially in the field of connection between RTD and industry, the notion of importance of the knowledge and innovation for the growth of the industry was significantly raised. Distinguishing qualities and UNG’s identity is becoming well known in the region and on the national level, although there is still significant lack of name recognition outside of Primorska region and Slovenia. UNG has established strong and pervasive presence in some of the external research communities where we have been presen for a long time (e.g. Pierre Auger Collaboration, etc.). The communication strategy is aimed towards overcoming missing targeted advertisements to important target groups out-of-state or out-of-region which should result in larger political and industrial financial support base and is opening new ways of finding sufficient alternative sources of revenue.
During the project a Pilot brochure was developed. The approach to the promotional booklet is an innovative one, a lot of emphasis is put on the imagery produced by various microscopy techniques. In the concept of the booklet lies the understanding that the images are in this case a metonymy for the research into nano-scale features of materials. The series of fascinating images with gnomic sentences are meant to evoke interest in the subject of nano-research in the wider audiences similar to the research interest of the specialists. The project was integrated in the development of the Communication strategy, which is intended to combine the focus of the UNG on the so-called hard sciences with the humanities research and the artistic creativity. The brochure – useful also as an informative handout for the project – is intended to be part of a series of communicative interventions, which will attempt to bring closer the horizons of scientific and technological exploration of nano-level features and the common-sense understanding of our reality by the widest spectrum of audiences.
In the beginning of 2013 the SUNGREEN website was launched. The School of Art and the School of Humanities of the University of Nova Gorica contributed the competences on information communication, graphic design and information sicience. The initial state of the site includes the information on the SUNGREEN project and the partners, as well as on a plethora activities that run as part of the project. In particular regarding the SUNGREEN visual design, the School of Art worked on the Sungreen identity, stationery and website design. The Sungreen project required both the visual identity and online presence visually designed.
Sungreen identity consists of a mark on the left and typography in two (three lines in the case of the web) on the right of the mark. The Mark is aligned with Sungreen typographic name and is followed by the University of Nova Gorica name underneath. The mark represents an abstract sun with rays pointing to six directions. The mark is constructed with three equilateral arrows – two in lime and one in cyan colour – pointing to the centre of the “sun”. The cyan arrow pointing towards top left – the symbolic direction of progress in western cultures – represents the mission of the project Sungreen and the direction of University’s vision. The Typography: the project’s name and mother organisation are positioned right of the mark in two contrasting colour – cyan and lime. Typography used for the name is “Bebas Regular” in all capitals for both “Sungreen” and “University of Nova Gorica”. Colour: cyan (C100 M0 Y0 K0) and lime (C15 M0 Y100 K0). Two bright contrasting colours have been chosen to represent the new, fresh and bright aspects of project’s mission – to promote and disseminate technological knowhow and scientific achievements. Bright but cold colour spectrum also represents the science as a discipline.
Website follows the simple guideline of Sungreen identity described above. The web structure follows a simple top-left to bottom-right approach: (a) logo in top-left corner, (b) navigation left underneath the logo, (c) content starting right from navigation and continues through out the browser window. The idea of the structure (of the wireframe) is modular, where the modules (sections in the content area) float depending on the importance and currency. Colours in the website are taken from Sungreen identity and adds black and grey colours for most of the text and some graphic elements. Website design consisted of a home page and two subpages that are then applied throughout the entire site online. Website is based on Drupal an open-code and open-source engines. Stationery follows a simple identity style a website guideline. Logo in the top left corner in the header with basic projects information in the footer of the letterhead (A4). Stationery design required a basic project’s letterhead and an A4 report document, both single page documents.
As a part of the project web site and in the cooperation of the Materials Research Laboratory and the School for Arts, have been prepared video presentations to expose communication of the world of science with the ‘everyday’, lay world. Scientists have been putted into the center of the interest, but the scientists as 'ordinary people with unusual occupations’. In this context another important dissemination activity was performed wit the aim of connecting scientific measurements and artistic exploration. Using the newly acquired electron microscopes the digital graphics and videos were realized.
Several articles in popular magazines and newspapers have been published, videos for TV and interviews for the radio were realized.
Open Days at UNG was organized at the beginning of each academic year. The aim of the Open day of UNG was to present UNG and all of its subunits to the interested public. The Open day presentation of UNG was conducted in two timely and localy parallel and complementary events, namely lectures and a fair. Each UNG member faculty and research center or laboratory presented itself through one or two lectures given by its most prominent professors and subunits to the interested public. Lectures covered latest scientific, artistic and cultural advances in an easy to grasp, public friendly way. Simultaneously in the neighboring hall faculties and related centers have presented themselves on individual stands, where visitors were able to watch videos, exhibits, publications, talk to researchers, perform simple experiments and use scientific equipment.
List of Websites:
Website: http://sungreen.ung.si
Contact:
Matjaž Valant (SUNGREEN project coordinator)
Univerza v Novi Gorici, Vipavska 11c, 5270 Ajdovščina, Slovenija
matjaz.valant@ung.si
T: +386 5 365 3502
F: +386 5 365 3527