The Rector of the STU presented the award on Friday the 7th of December 2012, this is the sixth year of this event. The nominees for this year consisted of a broad focus of scientists from the University. The nominees paid attention to the personalization of the web, development of microelectronics of the future and also to the protection of settlements against floods and the protection of cultural heritage.
The Scientist of the Year - Joseph Janovec from the MTF STU in Trnava, together with his team, dedicated research to complex metal alloys that do not possess the usual characteristics of alloys. " As you may know, good electrical conductors, such as metals and their alloys, make good thermal conductors and poor electrical conductors, e.g. ceramic materials are also thermal insulators. What if you need a conductor of electricity, which is has a low conductivity to heat, or vice versa? Complex metal alloys, may bring the answers by appropriately adjusting the chemical composition, which in turn will achieve a change in the covalent bonds. When the atoms are arranged in relation to the so-called clusters, spatial units are thus formed, often called polyhedra, which is composed of several layers (called shells), "says Joseph Janovec. Complex metal alloys are characterized by other properties - high corrosive resistance, good light reflectance or a high capacity to absorb hydrogen. Complex metal alloys may be crucial in the use of hydrogen internal combustion engines in practice. Scientists are now looking for a way to store hydrogen for engines. "If the alloy has the ability to absorb hydrogen at a temperature change of release, such an alloy can be used for making functional parts, such as compartments for storage and the controlled release of hydrogen," says Professor Janovec.
Did you wear the cell phone on your hand as a bracelet? Computer rolled as a flexible film? In a few years, this is how the displays of electronic devices will look like. Martin Weis from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is devoted to the future of electronics and information technology, he was awarded the title of Young Scientist. "The electronics of the future will be based on organic materials, today we meet with them in the shops, such as the OLED displays and TV screens that offer better color accuracy and a higher resolution. However, they are sensitive to environmental influences, and therefore it is debated as to how to increase their resilience and protection against oxidation or heat stress, "explains Martin Weis. His students work in global electronic companies. Several proposals of Martin Weis’s team are in the process of being patented.
This years nominations were very strong. The title of the Scientist of the Year was rivaled by Maria Bieliková from the Faculty of Informatics Science and Information Technology STU.
"Students are our partners in research, as well as objects of research," says Maria Bieliková. "By using cameras we are interested in where the students look during their work, because if one clicks on a document that is on the Web, it does not mean that it has been read. By observing what subjects look at, we can better assess whether the information was of use to the subject and worth recommending to other users. Nevertheless, we must carefully take into account the user's privacy, " she says.
The Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology nominated Lubomir Svorc for the award of Young Scientist. His research can greatly simplified, speed up and reduced the cost to control hazardous substances and additives in food, the investigation of biological samples in medicine and the control of the pollution in the environment. Today’s electrochemical methods and the current use of the most perspective new electrode materials - boron-doped , are more cost effective.
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science has nominated Vladimir Slugeň and his staff from the Institute of Nuclear Engineering. Their work is dedicated to the analysis and safety of nuclear installations. Kamila Hlaváčová and Mariana Remešíková from the Faculty of Civil Engineering were nominated. Kamila Hlaváčová’s work is devoted to prevention of floods and Mariana Remešíková’s work is dedicated to image data analysis of evolving organisms. Peter Krizan, from the Faculty of Engineering, was nominated for his research of the compaction processes of different types of waste. Jarmila Lalkovou’s team from The Faculty of Architecture were nominated for their monograph about necropol architecture.
Translation: Anthony James Ronald Atkinson
