Research Trip to Ukraine: Dr. Francesc Rodriguez

Initially, he participated in the V Essays Of Mining Science And Practice Conference organized by the M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Dnipro. As a fruit of this participation and collaboration, a paper on water reserves in Ukrainian mine-out fields was co-authored by him with colleagues from Dnipro University of Technology, which will be published in 2024 in the IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. Without leaving the water, Francesc also made a visit to the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NUBiP) in Kyiv. There, during a working session, he exchanged knowledge with several colleagues, such as Maryna Ladyka, Wu Ruofan and Olena Naumovska (Head of the Department of Agrosphere Ecology and Environmental Control), who work, among other topics, on the impacts of the war on Ukrainian rivers. Francesc also had the opportunity to be introduced to the Dean of the Faculty of Plant Protection, Biotechnology and Ecology, Kolomiets Y. Vasylivna, who offered insights into the academic programs and campus life at NUBiP. This visit was also a great opportunity for Francesc to see the facilities of a university that is a pioneer in agricultural innovation and ecological research in Ukraine and beyond. Among its many infrastructures, Francesc found the Botanical Garden particularly fascinating. This space allows students to practice surrounded by trees and attend one of its several open-air classes during the milder months. He also had the opportunity to visit the laboratories at NUBiP, observing ongoing projects, including the monitoring of plant growth under adverse conditions such as pollution, flooding, and more. Francesc is currently actively collaborating with Ukrainian colleagues on joint applications, both in research and education. And in 2024, he will do research work in Ukraine related to his areas of expertise in water and rivers from the perspective of STS and environmental anthropology. A more detailed article about this visit will soon be published by Francesc on the Chair's blog.