Sinkholes: Unlocking Secrets of Slovenia's Past and Future Environment

Dr. Sašo Stefanovski, an assistant at the University of Ljubljana's geography department, delves into the intricate world of karst geomorphology, with a particular fascination for sinkholes. His research explores how these common karst depressions form, evolve over time, and what role they play on the contemporary landscape.

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Research is essentially the search for answers. I really enjoy working on something for which we don't yet have a simple explanation, or when we have some ideas and want to test them.

Stefanovski frequently employs electrical resistivity measurements, a non-invasive technique where electrodes are inserted into the ground to measure the ease with which electrical current flows through different soil layers. This method reveals what lies beneath the surface, from fine sediment to bedrock or even underground caves, without any excavation.

"Research is essentially the search for answers," Stefanovski explains. He is drawn to phenomena that lack simple explanations, finding joy in testing hypotheses and gradually uncovering truths. This process, he notes, often leads to more questions than answers, fueling further scientific inquiry.

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The most beautiful thing is that the method is non-invasive, as we look into the structure below the surface without digging anything up.

His work holds potential benefits for humanity by providing insights into past environmental conditions. Sinkholes act as natural archives, preserving sediments that record historical climate and environmental changes. Understanding these past shifts helps in better preparing for future challenges. Stefanovski discovered his passion for research during his postgraduate studies, where independent, self-selected projects allowed him to realize his aptitude and interest in this field.

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Sinkholes can tell us something about the distant past. Sediment accumulates and is preserved in them, so they can be like natural archives from which we read what the environment and climate were like in recent millennia.