dr hab. Aleksandra Jezierska- Thöle prof. uczelni

• Proposed research topic 

Analysis of environmental resources of renewable energy sources and their impact on sustainability

• Research hypothesis 

The use of natural resources such as solar, wind and geothermal energy significantly reduces negative environmental impacts compared to traditional energy sources, while ensuring energy and economic stability.

•  Project description 

The climate, environmental and energy crisis has increased interest in the use of environmental resources of renewable energy sources (solar, wind, water and biomass), while ensuring energy stability. The research will include: an inventory and assessment of the environmental resources of renewable energy sources, a comparative analysis of the environmental impact of traditional versus renewable energy sources under different climatic and geographical conditions and efficiency in the use of natural renewable energy resources.

The project combines an interdisciplinary approach, integrating hydrology, climatology, agriculture and socio-economic geography.

dr hab. Halina Kaczmarek, prof. uczelni

• Problems of PhD thesis

Role of peat deposits in shaping the morphological response of rivers to climate change in different climatic zones – a comparison of temperate and subarctic conditions

•  Research hypothesis

The type, quantity, and properties of peat deposits present in a river basin significantly influence the river's morphological response to climate change, with this response differing between the temperate zone—characterized by typical Polish lowland peats that are often heavily modified by human activities—and the subarctic zone, where palsa peats are currently undergoing rapid degradation due to climate warming and changes in precipitation patterns.

 The intensification of extreme meteorological events (e.g., intense rainfall, ice melting) induced by climate change triggers dynamic erosional and sedimentary processes, the scale and direction of which are modulated by the type of peat deposits in the basin. As a result, differences are observed in channel migration and the development of meanders depending on the properties of the peat formations.

 The project adopts an interdisciplinary approach, integrating geomorphology, hydrology, climatology, and remote sensing. By comparing the conditions in the temperate climatic zone (with characteristic lowland Polish peats) to those in the subarctic zone (with degrading palsa-type peats), it provides an opportunity to elucidate the mechanisms by which climate change affects river systems.

•  Desires Candidate Skills:

- Knowledge of contemporary geomorphological processes;

- Ability to collect, process, visualize, analyze, and interpret geographic data (including remote sensing data, particularly satellite imagery) using modern GIS software and techniques (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS, SAGA, etc.);

- Analytical thinking skills along with the ability to formulate and solve problems, independence, strong organizational skills, effective communication, and teamwork;

- Excellent proficiency in both spoken and written English.