University of Silesia caring for the environment
Changes observed in the environment and climate, together with accompanying social challenges, involve scientific teams from University of Silesia representing a wide range of fields: exact and technical sciences, natural sciences and social sciences. The research undertaken is part of one of the identified Priority Research Areas of University of Silesia in Katowice – Changes in the environment and climate together with accompanying social challenges.
Climate protection and modern power engineering
– interdisciplinary studies of the Arctic and Antarctic environment, with particular emphasis on research on climate protection and change, assessment of glacier features (mass balance, ice motion and snow cover properties), monitoring of subglacial waters, monitoring of sea temperature and salinity;
– research into the purity of fuel, including coal and pellets – qualitative and quantitative assessment of impurities in the material, assessment of the calorific value of the fuel;
– fuel purity tests;
– research in the context of modern power engineering: research on materials used as conducting polymers for organic electronics and photovoltaics; fuel cells, energy storage;
– supporting actions in the area of energy use, decarbonisation and a smart energy transition in line with a radical shift away from fossil fuels towards a green, environmentally sustainable economy.
Clean air, water and soil
– research in the field of air quality and pollution, meteorological research, assessment of the spread of air pollution e.g. in the area of the Silesian agglomeration;
– research into the pollution of soil and water using, among others, biotests to determine the toxicity of xenobiotics to living organisms, research into the environmental content of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and their biodegradation pathways using micro-organisms and effective methods of wastewater treatment, determination of the content of heavy metals and assessment of the degree of their accumulation in the environment;
– research into water quality and changes in hydrological relations and assessment of the condition of water bodies, studies of water catchment areas, preparation of expert opinions, water monitoring;
– effective ways of reclaiming and remediating contaminated, urbanised areas, including post-mining sites;
– research in the area of ecotoxicology and environmental protection.
Responsible agricultural economy
– analysis of resistance of cultivated plants to drought conditions, studies on the genotype and phenotype of barley as a model species by selecting individuals particularly resistant to physiological drought stress, measurement of photosynthesis efficiency, including the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed and oxygen produced, qualitative and quantitative measurements of plant pigments;
– research on the effects of pesticides on living organisms, including soil microflora and terrestrial invertebrates;
– evaluation of the effect of pollution on the condition of bee colonies and the quality of honey from rural and urban areas;
– research on the effects of repellents and attractants e.g. on insects, including pests of cultivated and ornamental plants, by using contact and aerial testing methods.
Social environmental awareness
– research on the impact of invasive plant species on ecological systems, monitoring of the spread of these plants, estimation of the species composition of plants and animals in ecosystems, assessment of the area occupied by individual species of flora and fauna, and their interaction with other elements of the ecosystem;
– ecological education, providing training and advice on nature conservation, methods of control and identification of invasive species infiltration routes, development of management strategies in the area of ecosystem protection e.g. against invasive species;
– research into the shaping of pro-ecological attitudes.
University of Silesia in Katowice
ul. Bankowa 12, 40-007 Katowice
tel. +48 32/359 20 81, 359 22 71, 359 15 21
transfer@us.edu.pl
www.us.edu.pl
Co-financed by the programme „Social Responsibility of Science” of the Minister of Education and Science