Research potential

Research potential Expertise in EU funded research

Cover: Analysis chamber of the Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (ToFSIMS) placed at the A. Chełkowski Institute of Physics, Silesian Interdisciplinary Centre for Education and Research, Campus in Chorzów

The University of Silesia in Katowice

The University of Silesia was established on June 8th, 1968 as the ninth university in Poland. Today, with over 35,000 students and some 2,000 academic staff, the University of Silesia is among the largest degree-granting institutions in Poland. Located in the heart of Upper Silesia, Poland’s old industrial region with its own distinct history and cultural identity, the university attracts many scientists and students.

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Faculty of Philology, Campus in Sosnowiec

Poland’s membership in the European Union presents both challenges and opportunities for our scientific researchers. The value of studies undertaken by the scientists of the University of Silesia is reflected in the number of international projects that represent the principle direction of the activity of the institution — a regular contributor to the current academic and cultural dialogue and also a vibrant participant in the socioeconomic sphere, both domestically as well as internationally.

The University of Silesia fosters humanist research projects oriented towards current social issues and demographic trend analyses, as well as tracking developments in biological and exact sciences. From local to regional, and from pan-European to global, the University of Silesia’s undertakings span the modern scientific continuum, observing, evaluating and proposing solutions. Multiple projects aim at achieving substantial technological advances to be practically applied in such areas as economic policy. These projects are often supported and implemented by domestic and international consortia, engaging numerous partners, comprised of institutions of higher learning and research centers but also including communities and enterprises interested in technological solutions, and open to laying a scientific foundation for future work toward sustaining and strengthening the economy.

The Framework Programmes — among the EU’s most powerful instruments to engender trans-national scientific cooperation, research and innovation — have increased the University of Silesia’s potential as a Research and Technological Development unit, by growing the number of research services, and opportunities for knowledge and innovation transfer into the economy.

Thanks to support from Structural Funds, the University of Silesia has acquired significant resources for the construction of new scientific laboratories and the modernization of existing ones. These investments help the university maintain a modern infrastructure that meets the highest European academic standards.

The activities of the University of Silesia are in keeping with our philosophy that an institution of higher education needs to keep abreast of developments in all areas of study and life and meet the challenges of an ever-evolving reality. As one of the mottos of the 7th Framework Programme declares:

“Tomorrow’s answers start today!”

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The University conducts research activities in twelve faculties, as well as inter-faculty and university-wide units. Research teams consisting of academics and Ph.D. students strive to find solutions to current research problems and follow global trends within particular disciplines and specialisations. Â

12 Faculties Faculty of Fine Arts and Music Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection Faculty of Ethnology and Educational Sciences Faculty of Philology Faculty of Computer Science and Materials Science Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry Faculty of Earth Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology Faculty of Law and Administration Faculty of Radio and Television Faculty of Theology

Other Units School of Management School of Polish Language and Culture International School of Political Sciences Inter-Faculty Individual Studies in the Humanities Inter-Faculty Individual Studies in Mathematics and the Natural Sciences * different colors used in the list above are far from arbitrary; * The they represent the official colors used by each of the faculties of the University of Silesia.

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The Scientific Information Centre and Academic Library, Campus in Katowice

Faculty of Ethnology and Educational Sciences, Campus in Cieszyn

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“Project results provide better scaling of the glacier’s contribution to sea level rise affecting low coasts globally, including Poland’s coastline.”

Prof. Jacek Jania scientist in charge of the ice2sea project (7th Framework Programme)

Institute of Materials Science, Campus in Chorzów

“For me, research has always got a practical application.”

Iwona Jelonek, Ph.D. scientist in charge of the RATIO-COAL and INNOCARB projects (Research Fund for Coal and Steel)

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“Research opens possibilities for finding solutions to global challenges.”

Prof. Iwona Szarejko scientist in charge of the EURoot project (7th Framework Programme)

Liquid Metal Ion Gun (LMIG) – bismuth ion source of the IONTOF’s ToFSIMS spectrometer, Campus in Chorzów

“The research programme and international internships in commercial companies that we propose provide an excellent opportunity for early-stage researchers to gain valuable experience in the highly competitive environment of particle physics.”

Prof. Janusz Gluza scientist in charge of the LHCPhenoNet project (7th Framework Programme, Initial Training Networks)

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ice2sea — estimating the future contribution of continental ice to sea-level rise, Dariusz Ignatiuk, 3rd Biennial Photography Competition organized by the University of Silesia in Katowice

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Ice hedgehog, Anthropogenic aquatic environment, Tadeusz Molenda, 4th Biennial Photography Competition organized by the University of Silesia in Katowice

Selection of

EU funded

research projects

Surrounded by epiphytes, Soil respiration in tropical forest, Małgorzata Gazda, 3rd Biennial Photography Competition organized by the University of Silesia in Katowice

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M A C H I N E

T R A N S L A T I O N

M ATC H PA D MA c hi ne Tran s latio n s ys tems fo r th e u s e of Hungarian and Polish Administrations

The MATCHPAD project aimed at developing quality machine translation systems from English into Hungarian and Polish, and from Hungarian and Polish into French, by creating multilanguage tools to support the process of machine translation based on powerful language analysis, which could be used to facilitate communication between official bodies of EU Member States and Hungarian and Polish administrations helping to prepare their integration.

The main objectives of the project: •

to develop a new family of analysis tools for East European languages;

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to create four operational language-pair prototypes for administrative texts with dictionaries of about 25,000 to 30,000 terms — Hungarian to French — Polish to French — English to Hungarian — English to Polish;

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to demonstrate and put on the market 2 new machine translation systems for administrative documents.

The realisation of this ambitious project required the cooperation of renowned academic institutions responsible for expert theoretical syntax descriptions, public administration departments generating glossaries of specialised terminology and running tests for quality assurance, and a well-known, commercial software producer, responsive to the needs of the end-user. This coordinated team effort resulted in a high-quality machine translation system — a tool of immeasurable value not only for translators, but also for administrative support staff, investors, and other professionals working with Polish and Hungarian documents on a daily basis.

Partners: SYSTRAN S.A., France (coordinator) Office of the Committee for European Integration, Warsaw, Poland University Paris XIII, France Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary Ministry of Transport, Communication and Water Management, Hungary University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland University of Warsaw, Poland

Programme: 5th Framework Programme Contract No: IST-1999-12256 Duration: 01/03/2000 – 28/02/2002 Total project cost: € 1,430,000 EU contribution: € 1,025,000 Funding to University of Silesia: € 135,000 Unit engaged: Faculty of Philology

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S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Prof. Wiesław Banyś, e-mail: wieslaw.banys@us.edu.pl

L A W

T E N L AW Te n a n c y L aw a nd Housi ng Pol i c y in Multi-level Europe

The TENLAW project’s main goal is to provide the first large-scale comparative and European law survey of tenancy law.

Private tenancy law is existentially affecting the daily lives of European citizens, as about one third of them depend on rental housing. However, it constitutes a nearly blank space in comparative and European law, due to its national character, its political nature and its embeddedness in diverging national housing policies, which ultimately reflect different welfare state models.

At the same time, different parts of EU law and policy do affect tenancy law significantly, albeit indirectly. Thus, EU social policy against poverty and social exclusion extends to selected issues of housing policy. EU non-discrimination rules extend to the provision of housing, and several consumer law directives apply to tenancy contracts, too.

The main objectives of the project: • to analyse national tenancy laws and their embeddedness in, and effects on, national housing policies and markets;

Programme: 7th Framework Programme Contract No: 290694 Duration: 01/04/2012 – 30/09/2015 Total project cost: € 3,467,801.60 EU contribution: € 2,692,526.45 Funding to University of Silesia: € 208,300

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to analyse, in a comparative perspective, the effect of EU legislation on national housing policy in general and national tenancy law in particular;

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to propose recommendations for a better co-ordinating role of the EU in tenancy law and housing policy, in particular through an OMC process developing common principles of good tenancy regulation.

Partners: University of Bremen, Germany (coordinator) University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland International School for Social and Business Studies, Celje, Slovenia Metropolitan Research Institute LTD, Budapest, Hungary University of Southampton, United Kingdom University of Pisa, Italy University of Tartu, Estonia Lund University, Sweden University of Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain Delft University of Technology, Netherlands

Unit engaged: Faculty of Law and Administration

S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Magdalena Habdas, Ph.D., e-mail: magdalena.habdas@us.edu.pl

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S O C I A L

S C I E N C E S

C I VGOV O r ga ni se d civil s o ciety an d E u ro p ean govern an ce

The CIVGOV project’s goal was to provide an answer to the compelling question: to what extent do the activities of public-interest associations, activist coalitions, and movement-parties bridge the large gap between the European citizenry and European level policymaking?

Social movement-related organisations and their sympathizers could provide useful new ideas to the policy process. They can represent civil society at various levels of governance, and notably at the EU level where a lack of democratic accountability and of a direct referent in civil society can undermine their effectiveness. However, they encounter obstacles to an effective performance. Lack of sensibility to their advocacy may contribute to their neglect.

Lack of resources may limit their effectiveness. Concentrating on two issues per policy field, the CIVGOV project sought to examine their accountability and representativeness, their operating mechanisms and the factors that hinder or enable them at various levels of governance. The project studied the modalities and outcomes of participation of civil society organisations in three sectors: environmental, regional, and anti-racist policy.

The CIVGOV project has documented and explained the variations in functions, scope and political relevance of a broad sample of civil society organisations throughout Europe. It has identified the important role that associations play in the democratic life of all European Member States. It has also stressed the contradictions that civil society organisations and their political referents need to address.

Partners: University of Trento, Italy (coordinator) Södertörn University College, Sweden University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland University of the Basque Country, Spain University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece National Foundation of Political Science, France Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium University of Essex, United Kingdom University of Stirling, United Kingdom University Elte of Budapest, Hungary

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Programme: 5th Framework Programme Contract No: HPSE-CT-2002-00114 Duration: 01/02/2003 – 30/11/2005 Total project cost: € 1,143,020 EU contribution: € 1,143,020 Funding to University of Silesia: € 71,588 Unit engaged: Faculty of Social Sciences

S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Prof. Kazimiera Wódz, e-mail: kazimiera.wodz@us.edu.pl

S O C I A L

S C I E N C E S

S PH E R E Space, Place and the Historical and contemporary articulations of regional, national and European identities through work and community in areas undergoing economic REstructuring and regeneration SPHERE investigated the formation and evolution of European cultures and identities rooted historically in specific occupational contexts with a distinct regional base. It focused on the perceived decline and transformation of what can be termed “industrial” cultures, formations that constitute specific histories and traditions forged over time.

Through historical, theoretical and empirical analysis, the project sought to understand the significance of these changes for communities, regions, and cultures within Europe. It aimed to assess the consequences of economic restructuring for the workplace, family and locality, and to show how such changes impact upon individual and collective identities, traditions and customs.

SPHERE carried out a comparative study of the cultures of transition that appear from the evolution of identities and structures of feeling within regions of well-differentiated EU member and candidate nation states that have all experienced significant deindustrialisation and economic restructuring: two broadly corporatist countries, with France and Germany shaped by central government intervention; the broadly neo-liberal UK; the “Southern” family-welfare Spain; the transitional Poland; and the candidate Turkey.

This design of a representative range of countries allowed to assess the different effects of national restructuring and regeneration policies on changes in cultures and identities.

Historical estate Kaufhaus, Ruda Śląska, Poland

Programme: 7th Framework Programme Contract No: 215985 Duration: 1/04/2008 – 30/09/2011 Total project cost: € 1,176,070

Partners: Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey (coordinator) London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland Complutense University of Madrid, Spain

EU contribution: € 889,239 Funding to University of Silesia: € 83,786 Unit engaged: Faculty of Social Sciences

S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Prof. Kazimiera Wódz, e-mail: kazimiera.wodz@us.edu.pl

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P H Y S I C S

F L A V I A net Ente r i ng the h igh -p recis io n era o f flavo u r p hys ics thr ough th e allian ce o f lattice s imu latio n s , e f f e c ti ve f ield th eo ries an d ex p erimen t

The FLAVIAnet project dealt with one of the most profound questions in particle physics, which is to understand the pattern of fermion masses and mixings, and the source of fermion replication.

The precise aim of FLAVIAnet was to provide the appropriate training environment to prepare the next generation of particle theorists with the necessary tools to work closely with other European experimenters in interpreting the data from the new facilities.

Coordinator Nodes Subnodes

Helsinki Oslo

Lund

The research objective was a deeper understanding of the nature of flavour physics, a key element in the interpretation of new phenomena to be uncovered at the LHC, the ILC and other current and future high-energy facilities.

Durham Zeuten Groningen Warsaw Berlin Münster Bonn Cracow Prague Siegen Aachen Katowice Mainz Karlsruhe Orsay Wien Strasbourg Bratislava München Zürich Lausanne Bern CERN Ljubljana Milan Grenoble Bologna Pisa Marseille INFN Barcelona Naples Bari

Oxford Southampton

FLAVIAnet was organized in 11 nodes, involving outstanding research teams of 58 institutions and 15 different European countries. The participating groups, each one with its own specific expertise, bring together a critical mass of theoretical and experimental research ready to be combined in a multidisciplinary framework.

The distinctive and innovative feature of FLAVIAnet comes from the unprecedented level of interplay among three otherwise-independent lines of research, namely: analytic theoretical tools, computerbased methods, and data analysis.

Valencia Huelva

Murcia Granada

FLAVIAnet nodes

Partners: University of Valencia, Spain (coordinator) Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain University of Durham, United Kingdom University of Karlsruhe, Germany National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Italy University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland University of Lund, Sweden National Center for Scientific Research, France University of Bern, Switzerland University of Vienna, Austria Stiftung Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Germany

Programme: 6th Framework Programme Contract type: Marie Curie Research Training Networks Contract No: MRTN-CT-2006-035482 Duration: 01/10/2006 – 30/09/2010 Total project cost: € 3,134,225 EU contribution: € 3,134,225 Funding to University of Silesia: € 182,969.29 Unit engaged: Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry

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S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Prof. Henryk Czyż, e-mail: henryk.czyz@us.edu.pl

P H Y S I C S

L H C PhenoNet Adv a n c ed Pa r ti c l e Phe nom e nol ogy in th e LHC era

The main goal of the LHCPhenoNet project is to provide excellent training conditions for young theoretical physicists in this field, at both the doctoral and post-doctoral level, in an interdisciplinary environment.

The LHCPhenoNet unites throughout Europe young and energetic leadership in theoretical particle physics with emphasis on LHC phenomenology. The main goal of the project is to provide excellent interdisciplinary training conditions for young theoretical physicists in this field, at both the doctoral and post-doctoral levels.

The physics programme of the LHC is motivated by fundamental questions about the laws of nature, such as explaining the origin of mass, understanding the early universe and the structure of space and time, unravelling the nature of dark matter and providing glimpses of extra spatial dimensions or grand unification of forces.

The network offers to the trainees a structured and well defined training programme, following a research programme focused on the physics of elementary particles and their fundamental interactions at the LHC, but also on the development of the corresponding tools and mathematical algorithms necessary to perform complex phenomenological analyses, which might lead to unexpected discoveries.

CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

Programme: 7th Framework Programme Contract type: Marie Curie Networks for Initial Training Contract No: PITN-GA-2010-264564 Duration: 01/01/2011 – 31/12/2014 Total project cost: € 4,491,085.87 EU contribution: € 4,491,085.87 Funding to University of Silesia: € 323,787.16 Unit engaged: Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry

Partners: Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain (coordinator) University of Buenos Aires, Argentina National Center for Scientific Research, Paris, France Stiftung Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany University of Debrecen, Hungary National Institute for Nuclear Physics, Frascati, Italy Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM), Utrecht, Netherlands University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland University of Durham, United Kingdom University of Zurich, Switzerland RISC Software GmbH, Hagenberg, Austria

Associated partners: European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva, Switzerland Wolfram Research, Inc., USA Maplesoft, Canada

S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Prof. Janusz Gluza, e-mail: janusz.gluza@us.edu.pl

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P H Y S I C S

H E P TOOL S Tool s a nd P recis io n Calcu latio n s f or Phy si c s Dis coveries at Co llid ers

The basic goal of the HEPTools project was to provide young theoretical physicists with a stimulating and active research and training environment in both the fundamental and technical aspects of fundamental research in particle physics phenomenology.

Particle physics aims to understand the ultimate building blocks of nature and their interactions. The project objective was to develop the theoretical studies needed to accomplish this goal at present and future high-energy colliders. The research approach was based on the twin concepts of discovery and precision physics, which together provide a powerful tool for testing the Standard Model (SM) of fundamental interactions and uncovering evidence for new physics.

The objectives of the network can be classed into three areas.

The first area deals with the development of sophisticated tools for precise calculations of multi-leg and/or multi-loop processes. The second encompasses precision calculations for the LHC and the ILC that are performed with tools developed within and outside the network. The third area deals with discovery physics, i.e., methods needed to discover new phenomena and to determine the properties of new particles and interactions. The multidisciplinary expertise of the network resulted, among other things, in creating and designing tools — both theoretical and experimental — for the whole high-energy community.

HEPTOOLS was organized in 15 nodes; the University of Silesia was a member of the Polish one.

CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

Partners: National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Greece (coordinator) University of Durham, United Kingdom University of Granada, Spain Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisbon, Portugal Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, University of Paris Sud, France Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, Germany Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands National Institute for Nuclear Physics, Frascati, Italy University of Turin, Italy Institute of High Energy Physics, Academy of Sciences, Austria Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg , Germany European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Switzerland Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics of Moscow State University, Russian Federation Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), USA High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Japan

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Programme: 6th Framework Programme Contract type: Marie Curie Research Training Networks Contract No: MRTN-CT 2006-035505 Duration: 01/12/2006 – 30/11/2010 Total project cost: € 3,900,032 Role in the project: Polish node member Unit engaged: Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry

S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Prof. Marek Zrałek, e-mail: marek.zralek@us.edu.pl

P H Y S I C S

HadronPhysics S t u d y o f S t r o ngl y Inte ra c ti ng Matter

The main objective of the HadronPhysics project was to strengthen the European Research Area by promoting access to the leading Hadron Physics Research Infrastructures in Europe and by improving their performances.

The HadronPhysics project originated from a common initiative of more than 2,000 European scientists working in the field of Hadron Physics and involved all major particle accelerator facilities in Europe. Scientific issues were shared worldwide and represent the front line of nuclear and subnuclear physics research. The technological improvements of beams and targets as well as novel detection techniques developed in the framework of the HadronPhysics initiative will have a long lasting impact on the research facilities.

In the frame of the project the physicists from the University of Silesia were involved in preparation of the standalone TRD (Transition Radiation Detector) tracking procedures based on Cellular Automaton algorithm for Compressed Baryonic Matter experiment (CBM) which will operate at the future Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) in Darmstadt, Germany.

Programme: 6th Framework Programme Contract No: RII3-CT-2004-506078 Duration: 01/01/2004 – 31/12/2008 Total project cost: € 27,287,500 EU contribution: € 17,400,000 Funding to University of Silesia: € 25,000 Unit engaged: Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry

Partners: National Institute for Nuclear Physics, Frascati, Italy (coordinator) Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria Limburgs Universitair Centrum, Diepenbeek, Belgium University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic University of Helsinki, Finland Atomic Energy Commission, Paris, France Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH, Julich, Germany University Bielefeld, Germany Ruhr University Bochum, Germany University of Bonn, Germany Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung mbH, Darmstadt, Germany Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany Heidelberg University, Germany University of Mannheim, Germany Technical University of Munich, Germany University of Muenster, Germany University of Regensburg, Germany University of Tuebingen, Germany University of Mainz, Germany Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Sciences, Munich, Germany Konrad-Zuse-Zentrum für Informationstechnik Berlin, Germany MTA KFKI Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics, Budapest, Hungary Technical University of Milan, Italy Technical University of Turin, Italy University of Groningen, Netherlands University Amsterdam, Netherlands University of Bergen, Norway Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland Andrzej Soltan Institute for Nuclear Studies, Otwock, Poland University of Warsaw, Poland Laboratory of Instrumentation and Experimental Particle Physics (LIP), Lisbon, Portugal National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering “Horia Hulubei”, Bucharest, Romania University of Barcelona, Spain University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain University of Valencia, Spain Lund University, Sweden Stockholm University, Sweden Uppsala University, Sweden University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom University of Glasgow, United Kingdom University of Liverpool, United Kingdom

S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Prof. Wiktor Zipper, e-mail: wiktor.zipper@us.edu.pl

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G E O T H E R M A L

E N E R G Y

G ROU N D H I T Gr ound C ou p led Heat Pu mp s o f High Tech n o lo gy

The GROUNDHIT project aimed at improving cost-effectiveness and competitiveness, and facilitating market penetration of geothermal heat pumps.

The main objectives of the project: •

optimising (in terms of heat transfer with the earth), standardizing, and developing an industrial borehole heat exchanger (BHE) prototype;

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optimising ground source heat pumps in terms of COP;

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developing electrical ground source heat pumps able to deliver 80º C;

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optimising electrical water source heat pumps intended to utilize warm groundwater 20-40º C in terms of COP;

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demonstrating the above technologies, and supporting their market introduction and dissemination.

The GROUNDHIT was successful in terms of improving cost-effectiveness, competitiveness and market penetration of ground coupled heat pumps by bringing forward and demonstrating the next generation of BHE (borehole heat exchanger) and heat pumps technology. BHE technology has been optimised in terms of heat transfer with the earth, and a prefabricated coaxial BHE prototype was developed.

Heat pump technology has been advanced in terms of improving energy efficiency. Two coaxial BHE prototypes are demonstrated, showing good energy performance and easy installation. The Groundhit project expanded market prospects and potential impact of heat pumps towards reducing CO emissions by developing stronger products ² in terms of energy efficiency, temperature output, and evaporation envelop.

Exhibition of the GROUNDHIT heat pump prototypes, Museum of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia, Campus in Sosnowiec

Partners: Centre for Renewable Energy Sources, Greece (coordinator) EWS Erdwärme-Systemtechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Germany University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland Nuova Cesen S.P.A., Italy Compagnie Industrielle d’Applications Thermiques, France University of Oradea, Romania Centre for Research and Technology - Hellas / Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute, Greece Mentor Investment Consultants, Greece Setubal School of Technology, Portugal Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM), France Geoteam Gmbh Consultants for Hydrogeology, Geothermics and Environment, Austria Geothermische Vereinigung E.V., Germany

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Programme: 6th Framework Programme Contract No: TREN/04/FP6EN/S07.31402/503063 Duration: 01/06/2004 – 31/05/2008 Total project cost: € 3,586,070 EU contribution: € 1,677,182.55 Funding to University of Silesia: € 30,000 Unit engaged: Faculty of Earth Sciences

S c i en t i s t i n c ha r ge : Zbigniew Małolepszy, Ph.D., e-mail: zbigniew.malolepszy@us.edu.pl

G E O T H E R M A L

E N E R G Y

Remining-Lowex R e d evel o p m ent of Eur ope a n Mi n in g Areas in to S u s t a i n a b l e Com m uni ti e s by Integratin g Su p p ly an d D ema n d Si de ba se d on Low Exergy Prin cip les

The main goal of the Remining-Lowex project was to establish a supply of renewable (geothermal) energy for residential areas in former coal-mining areas, to improve the thermal performance of the housing stock and thus to reduce energy costs for residents.

The main objectives of the project: •

demonstration of retrofitting buildings and building new urban areas within old mining communities and climatization these buildings with local available low-valued energy resources by an integrated design approach based on low exergy principles;

•

improvement of spatial planning, environmental effects, and economic performance of the area by providing an affordable and sustainable energy supply to the new development along with an integral approach to urban development using attractive design and low energy costs to attract and keep new businesses and people in the area.

From black to green

Partners: Programme: 6th Framework Programme Contract No: TREN/07/FP6EN/S07.70839/038639 Duration: 18/06/2007 – 17/06/2012 Total project cost: € 39,565,400 EU contribution: € 7,226,357 Funding to University of Silesia: € 101,499 Unit engaged: Faculty of Earth Sciences

Cauberg-Huygen R.I., Netherlands (coordinator) Heerlen Council, Netherlands Council Zagorje ob Savi, Slovenia Czeladź Council, Poland Bourgas Municipality, Bulgaria Weller Wonen, Netherlands Government Buildings Agency, Netherlands Mining Zagorje, Slovenia University of Ljubljana, Slovenia University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland Geological Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria Climate Alliance, Frankfurt am Main, Germany Association of European Mining Regions EUR-ACOM, Liévin, France Fraunhofer Society for the Advancement of Applied Research, Germany KOP Public Municipal Service Zagorje, Slovenia Coal-Mining Restructuring Company, Katowice, Poland

Scientist in charge: Zbigniew Małolepszy, Ph.D., e-mail: zbigniew.malolepszy@us.edu.pl

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F U E L

Co-funded by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel

R AT I O - C O A L Improvement of coal carbonization through the optimization of fuel in coking coal blends

The main scientific and technological aim of the RATIO-COAL project is an improvement of coal carbonization quality in the coking process through optimization of fuel in coking coal blends containing alternative fuels.

Coking blends consisting of coal fuels from various regions of Europe, Canada and South Africa and alternative fuels are analysed. As alternative fuels, the granules made from car tires, wastes from manufacturing of electronic chips, and the remnants of polyethylene carbonization are considered.

The petrographic analysis of the reactive/inert ratio of coking coals and fuel blends, as well as their rank will be the criterion for assessing their behaviour during carbonization.

The physical and chemical analysis of the alternative fuels will be provided and their usefulness for coking process will be defined. The new innovative formula for the prediction of coke quality will be completed and implemented. The monitoring, control and optimization system for preparation of coking fuel blends will be designed, implemented and tested on an industrial scale.

The expected benefits of the project: •

maintaining the stability of high-quality coke that will positively affect the high quality of steel;

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reducing amount of coal in coking coal blends that, in consequence, will reduce CO2 and NOx emissions;

•

designing new monitoring, control, and optimization systems that will reduce costs of the coking process and improve its effectiveness.

Coal from the deck of 207 of Jaworzno Coal Mine, Poland, magnification x50, fluorescent light

Partners: University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland (coordinator) Kombinat Koksochemiczny „Zabrze” SA, Poland ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, Germany Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Spain Ústav Geoniky AV CR v.v.i., Czech Republic Trinecké Železárny a.s., Czech Republic

Programme: Research Fund for Coal and Steel Contract No: RFSR-CT-2010-00008 Duration: 01/07/2010 – 30/06/2013 Total project cost: € 2,014,497 EU contribution: € 1,089,501 Funding to University of Silesia: € 266,686 Unit engaged: Faculty of Earth Sciences

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S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Iwona Jelonek, Ph.D., e-mail: iwona.jelonek@us.edu.pl

F U E L

INNOCARB In nov a t i ve c ar bon pr oduc ts f or s u b s titu tin g coke o n B F o pe ra ti on

Co-funded by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel

The main goal of the INNOCARB project is the preselection and characterisation of innovative carbonaceous materials for substituting BF coke for activation and agglomeration.

Based on positive experiences with charging selfreducing iron oxide carbon briquettes into a blast furnace, carbon briquettes shall be developed for coke substitution. To get reasonable mechanical briquette strength, undersized BF coke fractions as base material shall be used together with alternative carbon fines like, e.g., low volatile coal or lignite coke together with a binder.

To further decrease coke consumption, activated carbon material shall be charged into the ferrous layer. Due to high reactivity against CO2 that carbon will participate in the solution loss reaction producing CO and decrease the thermal reserve zone temperature in the blast furnace.

The expected benefits are increased indirect reduction and decreased direct reduction as well as reduced energy consumption. Here two different technologies for application to blast furnace operation are traced: the activation of nut coke and the agglomeration of active pet coke.

Coal from the deck of 207 of Jaworzno Coal Mine, Poland, magnification x50, white light

Partners: Programme: Research Fund for Coal and Steel Contract No: RFSR-CT-2010-00001 Duration: 01/07/2010 – 31/12/2013 Total project cost: € 2,575,228

VDEh - Betriebsforschungsinstitut GmbH, Germany (coordinator) Swerea Mefos AB, Sweden Luossavaara – Kiirunavaara AB, Sweden DK Recycling & Roheisen GmbH, Germany ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, Germany Voestalpine Stahl GmbH, Austria University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland

EU contribution: € 1,545,136 Funding to University of Silesia: € 30,671 Unit engaged: Faculty of Earth Sciences

S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Iwona Jelonek, Ph.D., e-mail: iwona.jelonek@us.edu.pl

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B I O T E C H N O L O G Y

E U R o o t Enha nc i ng res o u rce Up take fro m Ro o ts unde r str e s s in cereal cro p s

The overall goal of EURoot is to help farmers to face both climate change, which is expected to result in increasingly uneven rainfall, and meet the societal demand for sustainable agriculture with reduced use of water and fertilizers.

EURoot’s objective is to enhance the cereal plant capability to acquire water and nutrients through their roots and maintain growth and performance under stress conditions. Making use of joint phenotyping and modelling platforms, EURoot will conduct a suite of experiments designed to better understand and model: •

the genetic and functional bases of root traits involved in soil exploration and resource uptake;

•

the bio-geochemical properties of the soil, including beneficial association with mycorhizal fungi, influencing extraction of nutrient and water by the root system, and

•

the plant signalling processes involved in soil environment sensing and responsible for adaptive root system response enhancing soil exploration and resource acquisition.

Partners: International Centre of Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD), France (coordinator) Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics, Spain Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland Forschungszentrum Julich Gmbh, Germany National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), France Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands University of Bonn, Germany James Hutton Institute Lbg, United Kingdom University of Bologna, Italy Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium University Court of the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom Lancaster University, United Kingdom University of Nottingham, United Kingdom University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland Societa Produttori Sementi SPA, Italy Delley Samen und Pflanzen AG, Switzerland Presens Precision Sensing Gmbh, Germany Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics Pty Ltd, Australia Incorporated Administrative Agency, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Japan Pennsylvania State University, United States

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Greenhouse, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Campus in Katowice

Programme: 7th Framework Programme Contract No: 289300 Duration: 01/01/2012 – 31/12/2015 Total project cost: € 4,751,655 EU contribution: € 2,999,996 Funding to University of Silesia: € 90,000 Unit engaged: Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection

S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Prof. Iwona Szarejko, e-mail: iwona.szarejko@us.edu.pl

C L I M A T E

C H A N G E S

ic e 2 s e a E s t i m a t i n g t he f utur e c ontr i buti on of c o n t i n en t a l i c e to se a -l eve l r i s e

The ultimate aim of the ice2sea project is to assess the impact of ice on global sea level during the 21st and 22nd centuries.

The melting of continental ice is now accepted as a substantial source of current sea-level rise — one that is accelerating more rapidly than was predicted even a few years ago. Indeed, the recent report from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlighted that the uncertainty in projections of future sea-level rise is dominated by uncertainty concerning continental ice, and that understanding of the key processes that will lead to loss of continental ice must be improved before reliable projections of sea-level rise can be produced.

The ice2sea programme draws together European and International partners to reduce these uncertainties.

Ice2sea goals are improving the science behind sea-level prediction and providing new sea-level projections, realized in particular through: •

targeted studies of key processes in mountain glaciers, ice caps, and in the polar ice sheets (Greenland and Antarctica);

•

development of more reliable techniques for predicting the response of ice-sheets and glaciers to environmental change;

•

delivery of comprehensive projections of the contribution of continental ice to sea-level rise over the next 200 years.

Partners:

Studies of mass budget of Hans Glacier, Spitsbergen, Norway

Programme: 7th Framework Programme Contract No: 226375 Duration: 01/03/2009 – 30/11/2013 Total project cost: € 13,632,213 EU contribution: € 9,994,842 Funding to University of Silesia: € 63,960 Unit engaged: Faculty of Earth Sciences

British Antarctic Survey, United Kingdom (coordinator) Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Germany CSC - Tieteellinen Laskenta Oy, Finland Danish Meteorological Institute, Denmark DTU Space, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Denmark University of Iceland, Iceland University of Utrecht, Netherlands National Center for Scientific Research, France UK Met Office – Hadley Centre, United Kingdom University of Oslo, Norway Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium University of Urbino, Italy University of Bristol, United Kingdom University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium University of Copenhagen, Niels Bohr Institute, Denmark University of Liege, Belgium University of Zurich, Switzerland University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland Centro de Estudios Científicos, Chile Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie, l’Energia e l’Ambiente, Italy Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland

S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Prof. Jacek Jania, e-mail: jacek.jania@us.edu.pl

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U R B A N

P O L I C Y

SHRINK SMART Governance of Shrinkage within a European Context

The aim of the Shrink Smart was to study the role of policies and governance systems in different types of shrinking urban regions.

Shrinkage has become a new normality for a growing number of European cities and urban regions. It is a result of different but strongly interconnected processes, i.e., uneven economic development, change of urban form as well as demographic shifts and related housing preferences. As these drivers of shrinkage will increasingly impact on urban and regional development in the future, shrinkage clearly represents a key regional development challenge in Europe, portending major consequences for economic, social, political and cultural potentials of the affected areas.

The aim of the project — based on comparative case studies from seven urban regions throughout Europe, with a focus on disadvantaged urban regions in Eastern and Southern Europe — was to provide a basis for analyzing different trajectories of shrinkage, understanding the primary challenges for urban planning, and elaborating alternatives for urban governance.

The main objectives of the project: •

to identify the main challenges caused by shrinkage for urban and regional development;

•

to analyze urban and regional governance in different types of shrinking urban regions;

•

to analyze local experiences and develop an analytical framework for understanding the challenges of urban development in shrinking urban regions;

•

to develop policy recommendations for a more sustainable approach towards shrinkage.

Decommissioning of an old brick factory

Partners:

Programme: 7th Framework Programme

Helmholtz Zentrum fur Umweltforschung Gmbh, Leipzig, Germany (coordinator)

Contract No: 225193

John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom University of Ostrava, Czech Republic

Duration: 01/05/2009 – 30/04/2012

University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland

Total project cost: € 1,989,173

Sapienza University of Rome, Italy West University of Timisoara, Romania

EU contribution: € 1,496,091

Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Donetsk, Ukraine

Funding to University of Silesia: € 120,900

University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

Unit engaged: Faculty of Earth Sciences

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S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Robert Krzysztofik, Ph.D., e-mail: robert_krzysztofik@interia.pl

S P E L E O L O G Y

HY POC AV E Hypogene Caves Morphology — Europe/Australia Comparison

The aim of the HYPOCAVE project is to compare and contrast — for the first time — the limestone caves from different hemispheres, in fragments of different supercontinents, from areas with different geology, geomorphology, and present and past climate.

The research exchange is the crucial component of the project based on the field and laboratory works conducted in the caves of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland (Poland), Classical Karst (Slovenia), Rockhampton in central Queensland and Jenolan Caves in New South Wales (Australia). The idea that these caves might have significant similarities is completely at odds with traditional views about the origin and evolution of limestone caves.

The main objectives of the project: •

comparative studies of hypogene caves in deformed (mostly Mezozoic) limestone in central Europe with hypogene caves developed in deformed Palaeozoic limestone in eastern Australia;

•

investigation, comparison, and contrast the geological setting of the caves, the role of lithology and structure in cave development, the internal morphology of the caves in regard to both large and small-scale cave morphology features, cave wall coatings, alteration and deposits and the relationship between the caves and palaeokarst;

•

strengthening the research cooperation between the partner institutions and widening it with other promising partners.

Study of the morphology of caves, Slovenia

Programme: 7th Framework Programme

Partners:

Contract type: International Research Staff Exchange Scheme

University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland (coordinator)

Contract No: PIRSES-GA-2009-247616

University of Sydney, Australia

Slovene Academy of Sciences and Arts – Karst Research Institute, Postojna, Slovenia

Duration: 01/05/2010 – 30/04/2013 Total project cost: € 40,200 EU contribution: € 30,600 Funding to University of Silesia: € 12,600 Unit engaged: Faculty of Earth Sciences

S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Andrzej Tyc, Ph.D., e-mail: andrzej.tyc@us.edu.pl

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F O O D

Q U A L I T Y

A N D

S A F E T Y

T RAC E Tra c i ng Food Co mmo d ities in E u ro p e

TRACE aimed at developing methods and systems increasing consumer confidence in the authenticity of food for use in the food industry.

One of the most important issues in food quality control is the identification of the origin of food. Consumers want to be sure about the origin of food and the main ingredients listed on the label, while producers want to protect the authenticity of their food against false claims of origin. The project aimed to provide industry and regulatory bodies with objective methods and systems to verify authenticity. The project focused on meat, cereals, honey, olive oil and mineral water.

The main objectives of the project: •

to deliver cost-effective procedures and tools for detecting fraudulent products and checking compliance with quality specifications;

•

to provide descriptive information about the chemical composition of selected commodities;

•

to develop traceability methods and systems that will increase consumer confidence in the quality of the food supply;

•

to assess consumer attitudes to food traceability, authenticity, and fraud;

•

to establish a Good Traceability Practice.

Partners: Food and Environment Research Agency, Central Science Laboratory Sand Hutton, United Kingdom (coordinator) Foodreg Technology S.L., Spain Maritech, Kópavogur, Iceland Agricultural Institute of San Michele all’Adige, Italy University of Cordoba, Argentina National University of La Plata, Argentina National Scientific and Technological Research Council, Argentina Bundesanstalt fur Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, Germany The Hellenic Research House, Greece Geochem Research BV, Netherlands Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Consumers Association the Quality of Life, Greece Austrian Research Centers - ARC, Austria TraceTracker Innovation AS, Norway Utrecht University, Netherlands Institute of Food Safety (Rikilt), Netherlands Commission of The European Communities - Directorate General Joint Research Centre, Belgium University of Parma, Italy Agua de Insalus, S.A., Spain

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Famille Michaud Apiculteurs SA, France Technical University of Madrid, Spain Swiss Federal Laboratories For Materials Testing And Research, Switzerland Wageningen University, Netherlands Qiagen Gmbh, Germany Computer Integrated Manufacturing Systems Ltd, Ireland National School of Agricultural Engineering, Clermont-Ferrand, France Förderverein Sicherheit und Nachhaltigkeit in Biowissenschaften, Switzerland Wpa Beratende Ingenieure Gmbh, Austria Kenneth Pye Associates Limited, United Kingdom Sintef Fiskeri og Havbruk AS, Norway University of Genova, Italy Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China University of Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy Hydroisotop Gmbh, Germany University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland Isolab Gmbh, Germany Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Norway Teagasc - Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Ireland National University of Ireland - Dublin, Ireland National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia National Research Council, Italy Bavarian State Collection for Palaeontology and Geology, Germany Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague, Czech Republic Free University of Brussels, Belgium Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, Gembloux, Belgium Institute of Food Research, United Kingdom National Institute of Agricultural Research (Inra), France Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Germany Eurofins Scientific Analytics, France Biolytix Ag, Witterswil, Switzerland University of East England, United Kingdom Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands

Programme: 6th Framework Programme Contract No: CT-2005-006942 Duration: 01/01/2005 – 31/12/2009 Total project cost: € 18,971,749 EU contribution: € 12,217,399 Funding to University of Silesia: € 45,898 Unit engaged: Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry

S c i e n t i s t i n c h a r g e : Prof. Beata Walczak, e-mail: beata.walczak@us.edu.pl

P O P U L A R I Z A T I O N

O F

S C I E N C E

Researchers’ Night Researchers’ Night is a pan-European event which gives the public at large an opportunity to meet researchers in a friendly atmosphere while promoting professions in scientific research for the benefit of young people, who might be inspired to pursue fascinating careers in research themselves.

Occurring annually on the fourth Friday of September all over Europe, Researchers’ Night gives the public a window on who their local scientists are and what exactly it is they do.

Visitors have an opportunity to improve their knowledge and understanding about what a scientific researcher’s job entails.

A key theme of Researchers’ Night is that

researchersareordinarypeople with an extraordinary job This open-house event is also an opportunity to encourage young people to become enthused about science and to consider scientific careers for themselves. As tomorrow’s scientists, they will contribute future improvements to European research.

Researchers’ Night was launched at the European level under the Researchers in Europe 2005 Initiative. The format of the call for proposals was applied for the first time in 2006.

How robots live together in harmony: Swarm-bots! A Researchers’ Night Workshop

Since 2009, the event is also celebrated under the 7th Framework Programme by the University of Silesia, in cooperation with other leading institutions of higher education across Upper Silesia:

University of Silesia`s Researchers’ Nights:

1. Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice (coordinator)

1. ResNi-Chat - Chat with Researchers Contract No: 245016

2. University of Economics in Katowice

2. SEARCH_RESEARCH - In search of research Contract No: 265506

4. University of Bielsko-Biała

3. Medical University of Silesia, Katowice

3. SIRIUS - Silesian researchers with us Contract No: 287441 4. SIRENA - Silesian Researchers Now! Contract No: 316419

U n i t e n g a g e d : Information and Promotion Department, e-mail: bp@us.edu.pl

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Contact details Address: Department of Projects, University of Silesia in Katowice Bankowa 12, 40-007 Katowice, Poland phone: +48 32 359 2262, +48 32 359 2265 e-mail: projects-eu@us.edu.pl

www.us.edu.pl

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Published by: Department of Projects, University of Silesia in Katowice Proofreading by: Kevin Hagarty Design by: Piotr Jakoweńko, www.ide.org.pl Photos by (in alphabetical order): Ewelina Doluk, Bartosz Dziewit, Małgorzata Gazda, Dariusz Ignatiuk, Iwona Jelonek, Roman Łuszczki, Zbigniew Małolepszy, Witold Mandrysz, Tadeusz Molenda, Arkadiusz Puchała, Agnieszka Szymala, StockDock, Andrzej Tyc. Special thanks for photo contributions to Biennial Photography Competitions Science on Camera.

Printed by: Drukarnia Kolumb

This publication was printed using 100% recycled paper.

Paper pulp was bleached using a chlorine-free process.

Contact details: University of Silesia in Katowice Department of Projects Bankowa 12, 40-007 Katowice, Poland phone: +48 32 359 2262, +48 32 359 2265 e-mail: projects-eu@us.edu.pl

www.us.edu.pl