From 22 to 27 June 2026, three doctoral candidates in the discipline of Earth and Environmental Sciences — Siqi Zhang, Jyoti Prakash, and Agata Jelińska — together with staff from the Faculty of Geography at Kazimierz Wielki University (UKW), participated in the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) entitled Discovering the Tagliamento River: A Multidisciplinary Approach from Water Flow and Vegetation to Land Management, held at the University of Udine, Italy.
The programme brought together bachelor's, master's, and doctoral students/candidates from several European universities, including institutions from Italy, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland. It focused on the Tagliamento River, one of the last largely natural river systems in Europe, and provided participants with an opportunity to study its hydrological, ecological, and geomorphological characteristics through an interdisciplinary approach.
The programme combined lectures, fieldwork, laboratory analyses, and group research projects. During the first part of the course, participants attended lectures covering river hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, vegetation ecology, soil science, land management, remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). These sessions introduced both the theoretical background and the research methods used in environmental studies.
Field activities were carried out at several locations along the Tagliamento River. Working in international and interdisciplinary teams, participants collected environmental data, conducted vegetation surveys, measured river characteristics, and sampled soils. Laboratory sessions allowed students to analyse soil texture, aggregate stability, organic matter, bulk density, water-holding capacity, and soil pH, while GIS and remote sensing techniques were used to integrate and interpret the collected spatial data.
The programme concluded with group presentations in which participants combined field observations, laboratory results, and spatial analyses to investigate the relationships between hydrology, vegetation, soil properties, and land management. The collaborative research experience enabled students to apply multidisciplinary methods to real environmental challenges while strengthening their skills in data analysis, scientific communication, and international teamwork.
Throughout the programme, the UKW doctoral candidates actively participated in all academic activities, including lectures, field investigations, laboratory work, and final presentations. The programme not only enhanced their practical research skills but also provided valuable opportunities for scientific exchange, intercultural collaboration, and the establishment of new international academic connections.
