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Department of Ecology and Environmental Science
The scientific and creative activities of the institution are focused on the following areas:
- Natural resource management and ecosystem services
- Environmental threats and risk factors in the landscape
- Biodiversity conservation
- Landscape care and sustainable development
- Geographic information systems and remote sensing
- Environmental education, training, and awareness
Study programs for individual levels of study:
- Bachelor's (Bc.) study program in Applied ecology and environmental science
- Bachelor's (Bc.) and Master's (Mgr.) study program in Teacher Training in Ecology (combined)
- Master's (Mgr.) study program in Environmental studies in landscape planning and practice
- Doctoral (PhD.) study program in Environmental studies
The department also offers habilitation and inauguration proceedings, as well as the organization of rigorous exams and defense of rigorous theses
More about the study programs can be found hereD3p4rtm3nt 1n Numb3rs
The department currently consists of6 professors3 associate professors9 assistant professors1 administrative and technical staff member.
We have successfully completed 107 international and national projects over the 30 years of the department's existence.
We actively collaborate with over 50 organizations from more than 20 countries across 4 continents.
We offer all 3 levels of higher education (Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD).
Management of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Services
Focus Areas:
- research on the landscape, its structural properties, and abiotic and biotic components such as relief, climate, surface and groundwater, soil, and biota,
- development of methodologies for assessing ecosystem services.
Team members include: Ivan Baláž, Stanislav David, Regína Mišovičová, Peter Mederly, Peter Petluš, Viera Petlušová, František Petrovič, Zuzana Pucherová, Simeon Vaňo, Filip Tulis
The research team "Environmental Contexts of Land Use and Change" became a top research team in 2023, achieving internationally comparable results in publishing and developing international collaboration (team leader: František Petrovič; team members: Juraj Hreško, Peter Mederly, Gabriel Bugár, Henrich Grežo).
Environmental Threats and Risk Factors in the Landscape
Focus Areas:
- Monitoring the quality of environmental components (water, soil, air)
- Research on natural hazards such as soil erosion, flood threats, and landslide risks
- Environmental issues in the landscape, including circular economy and waste management
- Monitoring biotic components of the landscape, mapping invasive and expanding species of plants and animals
Team members include: Ivan Baláž, Juraj Hreško, Zuzana Krumpálová, Peter Mederly, Regína Mišovičová, Peter Petluš, Viera Petlušová, František Petrovič, Zuzana Pucherová, Zdenka Rózová, Filip Tulis
Biodiversity Conservation
Focus Areas:
- Mapping of habitats, protected, and endangered species of plants and animals
- Biodiversity assessment
- Research on the biology, ecology, and spatial activity of small terrestrial mammals, raptors, and owls, study of selected groups of invertebrates (dragonflies, spiders, mites, fleas) in representative habitats with varying levels of anthropogenic pressure
Team members include: Ivan Baláž, Stanislav David, Zuzana Krumpálová, Veronika Piscová, Michal Ševčík, Filip Tulis
Landscape Care and Sustainable Development
Focus Areas:
- Research and monitoring of landscape changes
- Preparation of analytical materials, syntheses, and proposals within planning practice in the form of spatial planning documents (territorial ecological stability systems, landscape-ecological plans, land adjustments)
- Components of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) documents and land adjustment projects
Team members include: Gabriel Bugár, Henrich Grežo, Juraj Hreško, Peter Mederly, Regína Mišovičová, Peter Petluš, Viera Petlušová, František Petrovič, Zuzana Pucherová, Simeon Vaňo
Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing
Focus Areas:
- Development of mapping methods for landscape structure and spatial analyses
- Modernization of research methods for animal spatial activity using information and communication technologies
- Interpretation of aerial and satellite images for assessing landscape changes and monitoring processes
Team members include: Michal Ševčík, Gabriel Bugár, Henrich Grežo, Imrich Jakab, Peter Petluš, Filip Tulis
Environmental Education, Training, and Awareness
Focus Areas:
- Development of curricula and active learning methods for environmental education in formal education
- Modernization of lifelong learning for teachers in environmental education and implementation of training for secondary education teachers
- Creation of textbooks and instructional materials for teachers
- Practical implementation of environmental education, training, and awareness for elementary and secondary school students and the general public
Team members include: Imrich Jakab, Zuzana Pucherová
Data Analysis and Data Processing
Focus Areas:
- Analysis and interpretation of ecological data using data analysis methods, machine learning, and statistical techniques to identify patterns, anomalies, and trends
- Automation, development, and implementation of efficient methods and tools for collecting, processing, and visualizing ecological data
- Creation of predictive models based on historical ecological data to forecast future events and trends in ecosystems
Team members include: Michal Ševčík, Filip Tulis
05. November 1993
Discussions for the Establishment of the Department of Ecology
Director of the Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (prof. RNDr. Milan Ružička, DrSc) and the Rector of the University of Education in Nitra (prof. PhDr. Peter Libo, DrSc.), discussing collaboration and the establishment of the Department of Ecology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences.
05. November 1993
01. January 1994
Establishment of the Department of Ecology and Environmentalism
The Department of Ecology and Environmentalism was created as a joint workplace of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at UKF in Nitra, resulting from the collaboration between the Nitra Branch of the Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Faculty of Natural Sciences at UKF in Nitra.
15. March 1994
Signing of the Contract and Statute
Documents were signed retroactively dated January 1, 1994, officially establishing the Department of Ecology and Environmentalism.
15. March 1994
01. November 1996
Acquisition of Own Premises
The department obtained its own premises, where staff and most of the teaching took place. The department was gradually equipped with instruments and teaching aids.
31. March 2004
First Leadership Change
Completion of the first 10 years of the department's leadership under prof. RNDr. Milan Ružička, DrSc., and the appointment of prof. RNDr. Juraj Hreško, PhD., as the new leader.
31. March 2004
2006
Expansion of Educational Portfolio
Accreditation was obtained for the third level of study (PhD.), habilitation, and inauguration proceedings in the field of Landscape Protection and Utilization.
25. September 2023
Second Leadership Change
Completion of 19 years of leadership under prof. RNDr. Juraj Hreško, PhD., and the appointment of assoc. prof. Mgr. Henrich Grežo, PhD., as the new leader.
25. September 2023
European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)
Course catalogue
The final schedule, required tasks and assignments of all courses listed below can be realised individually after the consultations with the guarantors of individual courses. (Faculty coordinator: doc. Mgr. Martin Drlík, PhD., mdrlik@ukf.sk)
Catalogue can be download here.
Contact
doc. Mgr. Henrich Grežo, PhD.
Department of Ecology and Environmental Science
Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics
Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra
Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 949 01 Nitra
phone: +421 37 6408 596
email: hgrezo@ukf.sk
web: gis.fpvai.ukf.sk