Projects / Programmes
Sustainable regional development of Slovenia
January 1, 2017
- December 31, 2021
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.12.00 |
Humanities |
Geography |
|
| 1.08.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Control and care of the environment |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S230 |
Social sciences |
Social geography |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.07 |
Social Sciences |
Social and economic geography |
| 1.05 |
Natural Sciences |
Earth and related Environmental sciences |
Sustainable development, regional resources, environmental changes, social changes, social-ecological resilience, multifunctional sustainable use of space, response of the society, education for sustainable development, spatial planning, development policy, regional policy, Slovene regions, Slovenia
Researchers (15)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Recognising that environmental and social changes are increasing and that they are becoming less predictable and cannot be prevented, it becomes even clearer that it is necessary to very deliberately address systemic adjustments to a number of (predictable and unpredictable) changes, establish appropriate comprehensive and sectoral adaptation policies and, importantly, introduce systematic education focusing on new patterns of behaviour, awareness, recognition and response.
As part of the Sustainable Regional Development of Slovenia programme in the forthcoming programming period, we want to, alongside ongoing systematic research into evaluation of and potentials for uses of (regional) resources, specifically focus on a) studying selected changes in the environment with particular reference to the challenges concerning the adjustment of regions or populations to these changes, and b ) studying various aspects of responsiveness and resilience when it comes to adapting to selected changes in the environment, as well as broader social changes in Slovenian regions.
Slovenia possesses necessary geographical potentials which allow it to be much more strongly orientated towards sustainable regional development (at strategic and implementation levels).
Our additional and new hypothesis underpins more target-oriented research in the new programming period and it states that among Slovenian regions there are significant differences in the ability to resiliently respond and adapt to changes in the environment, which is reflected in the many and varied forms of (un)sustainable regional development. In addition to studying the various ways and means of assessing resilience (responses) to changes in the environment, we are also interested in the different forms (and their impact) of responses to changes in the environment that are oriented towards a more sustainable form of regional development.
Therefore, social-ecological resilience is an important concept underpinning the content of the programme, as it emphasises the interdependence of social and environmental dynamics and indicates the need for adaptions and changes (not solely those designed to mitigate shocks and enable a return to "normality").
Previous studies have confirmed that strengthening responsiveness/resilience of regions and strengthening societal resilience are key to achieving sustainable (regional) development of Slovenia; in the context of our research we will addressed specific issues and content that will be crucial for the future sustainable development.
Significance for science
Since the implementation of the Programme members of the physical, environmental, social and political geography, we can set up an integrated research model for the study of the current and expected changes in the dynamics of the geographical environment of Slovenia (and its regions) and different adaptation (adaptive) capacity of human activities, perceptions of residents and strategy responses to various human activities to the environmental change.
Special scientific attention need to be paid to the appropriate use of a variety of methods: use of indicators for measuring and evaluating selected aspects of sustainable development, along with upgrading them for the purpose of measuring and evaluating resilience and adaptions of individuals / communities / practices / regions to changes in the environment, a qualitatively determined index of geodiversity, direct and indirect methods for the analysis of extreme weather and climate events (including fieldwork and geo-information methods), examining social structures and the transformation of cities, methods for studying the resilience of agriculture and rural areas ('adaptation cycle " approach), physiognomic, structural, functional analysis of border areas; methods for studying the symbolic elements of space; methods for studying patterns or models of development (including simulations, scenarios, Delphi method); methods for studying the quality of life and quality of living environment, with particular reference to comparative analysis (including meta-analysis and comparative analysis based on a variety of indicators), methods for studying topophilia and topophobia, the perception of spatial and temporal isolation (with the support of geo-information tools and mobile applications for mass participation / voluntary information gathering - crowdsourcing and collaborative mapping); pedagogical and didactic methods.
In the future scientific and methodological field of interdisciplinary research of the relationship between the dynamics of the environment and adapting human activities, a critical attention should be paid to development of regional models of systems research. Due to the high landscape diversity, and despite the small size of the geographical territory of Slovenia, it is necessary to implement specific substantive fields within the (regional) models, and in this respect supplement the broader research models.
Programme team members have a very diverse range of work and research backgrounds, including physical and human geographic development, and we will use specific applied studies in order to search for responsive and resilient models of adaption in Slovenia that are already in use, whilst we will also systematically address the cases of inadequate responses and investigate their implications. These partial studies, based on actual conditions in the regions (or local communities) will be extremely important in establishing a more effective system for the resilient functioning of (Slovene) society.
For the development of geographical science is crucial rapid transfer of new methodologies and working processess and the latest insights directly into the study program and thus keep actualize the study of geography. Actualization of our studying means providing continuous professional development (of geography), while increasing the competitiveness of our students when they enter the labor market.
A key contribution of the programme is the research into different forms and the intensity of adjustments of regional economic structures to global challenges as well as regional-specific challenges / opportunities / potential in the context of environmental changes.
Significance for the country
In the future planning of the sustainable development of Slovenia and its regions, the spatial, developmental and regional policy of the settlement, economic and other systems will need to be adjusted to the to the dynamics of the geographical environment and its components. Slovenia ranks among the countries with moderate environmental risks, but with major regional differences in the level of risk.
The results of the research and the activities of the programme will be directly applicable in spatial planning, regional development planning, as well as for planning for development in sectors, including agriculture, settlements, tourism and transport. The work will also have indirect influence, for example on preventing, or otherwise reducing air pollution, on making agricultural land management more rational, accelerated “rehabilitation” and functional re-revitalization of degraded / derelict areas.
Since in the work of the programme we address new issues, which will also be based on a number of applied studies at local / regional levels, it is necessary to emphasise cooperation with local communities (municipalities), regions (regional development agencies and other actors) and schools.
As part of the programme we are planning to examine specific examples in order to determine the possibility of developing response systems / a society orientated towards adaptation to environmental changes in the context of sustainable use of natural resources (including space) , using the elements of participatory planning - workshops, interviewing, surveying, preparing expert reports. Since the program starting from the regional development, we will carry out targeted survey of perception of environmental change and response in different population groups
The research will also help to strengthen the receptive potential of marginalised / ghettoised areas and settlements, as well as increasing autonomy (food, water, energy, school, work, culture ....) (e.g. Roma settlements).
We will continue and, if at all possible, further expand involvement of students in research, especially in the case studies (due to the number of students it may be possible to perform extensive quantitative research, while the benefits of such collaborations with senior students are very positive).
We aim to integrate into the international research arena and cooperate with international organisations; through projects, formal and informal collaboration (lectures abroad, extended exchanges for researchers).
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2017,
2018,
2019
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2017,
2018,
2019
