The Opening of the New Center for Microscopy and Spectroscopy at the Research Center of the University of Nova Gorica in Ajdovščina

Date of publication: 28. 3. 2014
News

On Thursday, March 27, 2014, the Research Center of the University of Nova Gorica in Ajdovščina hosted the grand opening of the Center for Microscopy and Spectroscopy.

Photo: Miha Godec
Photo: Miha Godec

In the past ten years, the University of Nova Gorica systematically built up its personnel and infrastructure capacities in the field of modern materials which, along with the environmental studies and molecular biomedicine, represent the University’s strategic and long-term development goals. Modern materials, by which we mostly mean nano-structured organic and an inorganic materials, are becoming indispensable within an incredibly wide spectrum of usage, ranging from the process of getting energy to energy efficiency, as well as guided medicine incorporation. Such wide usage range demands interdisciplinary scholarship of the highest quality and research tools that enable the production and, mostly, the characterization of such materials.

The University of nova Gorica has set up an organizational system that distinguishes from other programs, especially at Slovenian universities, as it is based on the work of a top-notch researcher who is in constant interaction with the current scientific trends, which enables him to pass this kind of knowledge on to the students who enroll in our programs. Such work environment is very attractive for extremely competent and internationally recognized researchers who can find at our University a space of research freedom and of talented students. Following this carefully structured and long-time system of building up the personnel department, the University of Nova Gorica has managed to attract energetic researchers who have become involved in many international projects. This made it possible for the university to equip its research labs which, we hope, will make it possible for us to make a breakthrough into the world scientific arena.

We would like to emphasize two international project in specific, namely, the CITIUS project, financed as part of the Cross-border Collaboration Program Slovenija-Italy 2007-2013, and the SUNGREEN project, financed as part of the European 7th Base Program RegPot, with which we managed to get 5 million euros for the building of the Center for Microscopy and Spectroscopy. The center features the latest model of the laser light source with the conjoining detectors, as well as two electronic microscopes of the highest quality. In a specially designed area in the new laboratories in Ajdovščina, it will thus be possible to research the structure of inorganic and biological materials with atomic precision.

The University of Nova Gorica is trying to make the new Center for Spectroscopy and Microscopy a part of the European Strategic Forum for Research Infrastructure (ESFRI), as it complies with all the criteria for international research centers. Since the Republic of Slovenia did not have to allocate any state budget money for the building of the Center, we hope we will get support for our future endeavors.

Andreja Leban, Public Relations

Photo: Miha Godec
Photo: Miha Godec
Photo: Miha Godec
Photo: Miha Godec
Photo: Miha Godec