Education

Graduated in geology in 1987; Master degree in geology in 1990; Doctorate of geological sciences in 2002; all degrees at the Geology Department of Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering of the Ljubljana University. Her doctoral thesis with the title »The relationship between the autochthonous chemical and mechanical weathering during formation of karst caves« deals with weathering of limestones (incomplete solution) in caves and production of carbonate clastic sediments.

Scientific training/ working abroad

• The University of Sydney, Australia (11.10. - 1.11. 2010; 11.7. – 11.9. 2011; and 8.10. – 9.11. 2012): working visits and field work in different karst areas of Australia. 7. Frame program, Human sources, International Research Staff Exchange Scheme - IRSES; 2010-2013: Project HYPOCAVE – Hypogene caves morphology – comparison between Europe and Australia
• McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, 1991, Slovenian grant of »Republican Secretariat for Research and Technology« (contract no. A64392618/90) for 3 month training (February-April), dating of flowstones, at Prof. Dr. D.C. Ford

Employment

• 1987-1990: Young Researcher (Master student) at Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU.
• 1991-2002: Assistant with Master degree at Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU.
• 2002-2007: Scientific Research Fellow at Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU.
• 2007 (13.6.) - 2012: Senior Research Fellow at Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU.
• 2012 ( since 21.6.): Research Advisor at Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU.
• 1.10.2004 - 30.9.2010, additional employment: University of Primorska, Faculty of Humanities.
• 1.5.2010 - 30.9.2011, additional employment: University of Nova Gorica, Faculty of Post-Graduate Studies.
• 1. 4. 2023 -  30. 9. 2023, additional employment: Postgraduate School ZRC SAZU, Mag. study of the 2nd degree program Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Membership in the national and international organizations

• Member of the International Union of Speleology Bureau-UIS, since 2009.
• President of the International Union of Speleology Bureau-UIS (2022-2025).
• Member of SINQUA since 2014; and INQUA Stratigraphy and Geochronology Commission – SACCOM and SEQS since 2018.
• Member of IUCN/WCPA Caves and Karst Group, since 2018
• Member of ESA Science Topical Team on Planetary Caves, since 2021
• Member of International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS), since 2022.
• Member of Slovene Geological Society, President 2006 – 2010.
• Member of Geomorphological Society of Slovenia, President 2002- 2007.
• Member Krastological Society Anthron; Secretary (1994 until its dissolution).

Other memberships and editorial

• Sectoral Editor of Acta Carsologica (since 2014).
• Guest editor - Quaternary international [Print ed.]. Oxford: Elsevier, 1989-ISSN 1040-6182 (2020).
• 2012 - 2016: member of Scientific Board of Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
• 2008 - 2012: member of Scientific Board at Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU.

Research activity

• Karst & cave sediments: composition, origin, age.
• Mineral composition of cave fluvial sediments and incomplete solution of limestones in the karst caves.
• Paleomagnetic dating of clastic sediments and flowstones: in collaboration with Institute of Geology CAS from Prague.
• Origin of the soils on karst surface / red soils (terra rossa soil):  undissolved remains of limestones and non-carbonate rocks, eolian influence.
• Karst geomorphology: morphology & lithology & tectonic and time.
• Interpretation and promotion of karst phenomena for public (applicable projects, lectures, exhibitions). Examples: razstava za Postojnsko jamo EXPO Postojnska jama kras; IPA-EU projekt za regionalno sodelovanje Slovenija/Hrvaška: Življenje-Voda/ŽIVO!; International Day of Caves and karst proclamed by UNESCO.

Research field

• Research spans karst studies, speleology, geomorphology and karst geology, with a particular focus on cave sediments as long-term archives of geomorphic, palaeoclimatic and tectonic processes. A core component of her research output comprises multi-proxy sedimentological and palaeomagnetic investigations, including geochronological dating, which enable temporal reconstructions of cave and karst-system evolution in Slovenia and across the wider Dinaric Karst.
  A further major strand of her work is the scientific investigation of the sedimentary profile at Račiška pečina, which—owing to its significance for understanding chronostratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental records—was included in the Second 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites list. Over the past decade, her research has expanded into comparative karst science, including studies of planetary caves and karst-like landforms on Mars, as well as the identification, assessment and protection of karst and caves as natural and scientific heritage.
  As the conceptual lead and coordinator, she steered a multi-year process culminating in the proclamation of the International Day of Caves and Karst (13 September), adopted within UNESCO in 2025. The initiative brought together scientific, professional and institutional stakeholders at the international level and contributed to greater global recognition and protection of caves and karst.

Projects

Leading of projects

• ARIS applied project: From Darkness to Knowledge: Unveiling the Temporal Evolution of the Škocjan Caves System (2026–2029), L1-70058.
• ARIS Bilateral project: Proteus, Slovenia–France (2025–2026).
• Mobility Plus projects with SAZU – Czech Academy of Science: 2019–2021 (2022), 2022–2023, 2024–2025.
• International projects (colaboration): Marie Curie IRSES HYPOCAVE (2010–2013) (Avstralija–Evropa); CNRS ISOMEX (2011–2013).

Applied projects

• Joint management and sustainable development of the classical Karst area KRAS-CARSO II (INTERREG • January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2025).
• Project ŽIVO! Življenje-voda! (Life –Water; 2014 -2015); leader of Slovenian part. Operational program IPA Slovenia-Croatia 2007-2013.
• Project KUP - Karst Underground Protection (2009 do 2011); leader of Slovenian part. Operational program IPA Slovenia-Croatia 2007-2013.
• Project »Postojna Cave in space and time« (2013-2015); exhibition EXPO Postojna Cave Karst at Postojnska jama d.o.o.
• Rocks & relief at the project Centre of excellence "FABRICA" (Forum za Adaptacijo in Bogatenje Raziskovalnih rezultatov, Idej in Aplikacij)" (No. EPD 06.1.1.01/CO); leader of a map.
• Project »Geologija v vrtačah z arheološkimi sondami na trasi (Geology in dolines archaeological sondas on the route) AC Divača – Kozina«  (1997); Leader of contract project.
• Project Trnovski gozd in Gora - I. Faza. (Part of studies for declaration of regional park Trnovski gozd and Gora) (1997); coordinator of contract.
• Project Speleological studies on highway rout AC Petrinje - Črni kal (1997); coordinator of contract.

Leading of Bilateral projects

• ARRS Bilateral projects with Czech Republic (Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Geology, Prague):
  • 1998-1999: Research of karst sediments on the example of the Classical Karst, Slovenia;
  • 2001-2002: Evolution of karst and caves based on study of cave fills, Slovenia;
  • 2003-2004 Reconstruction of speleogenesis and karstogenesis from the study of cave fill, Slovenia;
  • 2005-2006: Paleomagnetic studies of sediments in karst areas of Slovenia; in relation to paleotectonic reconstructions;
  • 2009-2010: Karst sediments: tools for the reconstruction of tectonic and geomorphic evolution of karst regions (exemplified on karst territories of Slovenia).
• ARRS Bilateral projects with Republic of China:
  • 1995-1996: with Institute of Geology China Academy of Science, project 01 - 3 - 03, SLO – 3, title:  Karst Enviroment Protection and Explotation of Cave Reseorces;
  • 1995-1996: with Yunnan Institute of Geography, project 01 - 3 - 05, SLO – 5, title: A cooperative Research on Karst Phenoment’s Preservation, Protection and Large Cave System’s Exploration in Yunnan Province.

Pedagogical activity

Lecturer

• Postgraduate studies of Karstology, University of Nova Gorica and ZRC SAZU (2004-  ).
• Undergraduate Module "Karst Geography of contact areas" (second degree), Faculty of Humanities in Koper University of Primorska: Osnove krasoslovja (Basic of karstology; 2006-2010) and Geomorfologija krasa (Karst Geomorphology; 2006-2010) ter Geomorfologija kraškega površja in jam (Geomorphology of karst surface and caves; 2010-2014).
• Master's program Karstology, within the framework of the mag. study of the 2nd degree program Earth and Environmental Sciences, Postgraduate School ZRC SAZU: Karst Geomorphology (from 2021).

Supervisor to Young Researchers

• Supervisor of young researcher Petra Gostinčar (2010-2016)  on Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU, who studies Geomorphological characteristics of karst on contact between limestone and dolomite in Slovenia.
• Supervisor of young researcher Astrid Švara (2021-2022)  on Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU.
• Supervisor of young researcher Matej Jelovčan (2025-  ) on Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU.

Supervisor at Doctoral thesis

• GOSTINČAR, Petra, 2016: Geomorphological characteristics of karst on contact between limestone and dolomite in Slovenia: dissertation. Nova Gorica: [P. Gostinčar], 2016. XXI, 276 p.
• RAMSEY, Carol, 2015: Morphometry and basic ecological characteristics of dolines in unlogged temperate rainforest karst landscapes of Northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada : dissertation. Nova Gorica: [C. L. Ramsey], 2015. XXIII, 316.
• ŠVARA, Astrid, 2023: Morphogenesis of the Postojna Basin karst periphery : dissertation. Nova Gorica: [A. Švara], 2023. IV, 242.

Supervisor at Master thesis

• VIDMAR, Suzana. Preučevanja Krasa v osnovni šoli : predlog terenskega spoznavanja Krasa pri šolskih in obšolskih dejavnostih: magistrsko delo. Nova Gorica: 2011. 335 str., ilustr. COBISS.SI-ID 1916155].

Supervisor at Graduate Diplomas

• MAČUS, Patricija, 2016: Naravna in kulturna dediščina jam Moravškega krasa : diplomsko delo. Koper: [P. Mačus], 2016. 94 p.
• SOVINC, Mateja, 2016: Predlog krasoslovne učne poti skozi Ponikovski kras : diplomsko delo. Koper: [M. Sovinc], 2016. 82 p.
• FABJANČIČ, Marinka, 2013: Geomorfološki fenomeni na krasoslovni učni poti v okolici Materije : diplomsko delo. Koper: [M. Fabjančič], 2013. 107 p.
• VIDMAR, Peter, 2010: Geomorfologija izbranih območij pobočja Trnovskega gozda: diplomsko delo. Koper: [P. Vidmar], 2010, 88 p.
• RACE, Barbara, 2007: Geomorfologija kraškega površja Občine Divača : diplomsko delo. Koper: [B. Race], 2008. 87 p.

1.01 Original scientific article

• MIHEVC, Andrej, HORÁČEK, Ivan, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, WOODHEAD, Jon, BRANCELJ, Anton. Paleoenvironmental and neotectonic insights from the pliocene fossil record of Velika Pasica Cave, Slovenia: implications for karst system evolution.  Acta carsologica. 2025, vol. 54, no. 1, str. 39-55. DOI: 10.3986/ac.v54i1.14170.
• ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, BOSÁK, Pavel, MIHEVC, Andrej, BANAŚ, Michał, FILIP, Jiří, KRMÍČEK, Lukáš, LISÁ, Lenka, MATOUŠKOVÁ, Šarka, ROHOVEC, Jan, SKÁLA, Roman, SLÁMA, Jiří, ŠŤASTNÝ, Martin, ULRYCH, Jaromír. Nature, origin and significance of a clayey cave deposit: relationship between karst and Oligocene/Miocene tephra (NW Dinarides). The depositional record. 2025, vol. 11, issue 3, str. 954-974, DOI: 10.1002/dep2.70013.
• ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, PRUNER, Petr, BOSÁK, Pavel, MIHEVC, Andrej. Temporal insights into karst system evolution: a case study of the unroofed cave above Škocjanske Jame, NW Dinarides. Geomorphology : an international journal of pure and applied geomorphology. 2024, vol. 461, 109282, str. 1-20, DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109282.
• PAWLAK, Jacek, HERCMAN, Helena, GĄSIOROWSKI, Michał, PRUNER, Petr, BŁASZCZYK, Marcin, SIERPIEŃ, Paula, MATOUŠKOVÁ, Šarka, KDÝR, Šimon, SCHNABL, Petr, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, MIHEVC, Andrej, BOSÁK, Pavel. Matuyama/Brunhes magnetic reversal recorded in flowstone from the Račiška pečina Cave (Slovenia). Quaternary international. 2024, vol. 686/687, str. 4-17, DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2023.05.002.
• ŠVARA, Astrid, MIHEVC, Andrej, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja. Active and relict contact karst morphological forms of the Slavina corrosional Acta carsologica. 2022, [vol.] 51, [no.] 2, str. 133-153, DOI: 10.3986/ac.v51i2.10788.
• LIPAR, Matej, MARTÍN-PÉREZ, Andrea, TIČAR, Jure, PAVŠEK, Miha, GABROVEC, Matej, HRVATIN, Mauro, KOMAC, Blaž, ZORN, Matija, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, ZHAO, Jian, DRYSDALE, Russell N., FERK, Mateja. Subglacial carbonate deposits as a potential proxy for a glacier's former presence. The cryosphere. 2021, 15, str. 17-30, DOI: 10.5194/tc-15-17-2021.
• SIERPIEŃ, Paula, PAWLAK, Jacek, HERCMAN, Helena, PRUNER, Petr, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, MIHEVC, Andrej, BOSÁK, Pavel. Flowstones from the Račiška Pečina Cave (SW Slovenia) Record 3.2-Ma-Long History. Geochronometria. Jan. 2021, vol. 48, iss. 1, str. 31-45, ilustr. DOI: 10.2478/geochr-2021-0004.
• ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, MIHEVC, Andrej, BOSÁK, Pavel, PRUNER, Petr, HERCMAN, Helena, HORÁČEK, Ivan, WAGNER, Jan, ČERMÁK, Stanislav, PAWLAK, Jacek, SIERPIEŃ, Paula, KDÝR, Šimon, JUŘIČKOVÁ, Lucie, ŠVARA, Astrid. Pliocene to Holocene chronostratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental records from cave sediments : Račiška pečina section (SW Slovenia). Quaternary international. 2021, vol. 605/606, str. 5-24, DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2021.02.035.
• PAWLAK, Jacek, HERCMAN, Helena, SIERPIEŃ, Paula, PRUNER, Petr, GĄSIOROWSKI, Michał, MIHEVC, Andrej, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, BOSÁK, Pavel, BŁASZCZYK, Marcin, WACH, B. Estimation of the durations of breaks in deposition - speleothem case study. Geochronometria. 2020, vol. 47, iss. 1, str. 154-170, ilustr. ISSN 1733-8387. DOI: 10.2478/geochr-2020-0022.
• ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, BOSÁK, Pavel, PRUNER, Petr, MIHEVC, Andrej, HERCMAN, Helena, HORÁČEK, Ivan. Karst sediments in Slovenia : Plio-Quaternary multi-proxy records. Quaternary international. 2020, vol. 546, str. 4-19, DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2019.11.010.

1.02 Review article

• ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja. Caves and karst in global sustainability: the case for an international day. Nature-based solutions. 2025, vol. 8, 100282, 6 str., DOI: 10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100282.

1.03 Other scientific articles

• ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja. IUGS recognition of the Račiška Pečina Cave section as a global geological heritage site (IUGS) : letter. Acta carsologica. 2024, vol. 53, no. 2/3, str. 211-214, DOI: 10.3986/ac.v53i2-3.14020.
• LOPES FERREIRA, Rodrigo, BERNARD, Enrico, CRUZ JÚNIOR, Francisco William da, PILÓ, Luis Beethoven, CALUX, Allan S., SOUZA SILVA, Marconi, BARLOW, Jos, POMPEU, Paulo S., CARDOSO, Pedro, MAMMOLA, Stefano, PIPAN, Tanja, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, FIŠER, Cene, TRONTELJ, Peter, ZAGMAJSTER, Maja, DELIĆ, Teo, FORD, Derek C., et al. Brazilian cave heritage under siege. Science. 17. Mar. 2022, vol. 375, iss. 6586, str. 1238-1239, DOI: 10.1126/science.abo1973.

2.01 Scientific monograph

• ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja (avtor, fotograf). Karst, caves and people. 1st ed. Ljubljana: ZRC SAZU, Založba ZRC, 2021. 171 str., ISBN 978-961-05-0491-7.
• BLATNIK, Matej, CULVER, David C., GABROVŠEK, Franci, KNEZ, Martin, KOGOVŠEK, Blaž, KOGOVŠEK, Janja, LIU, Hong, MAYAUD, Cyril, MIHEVC, Andrej, MULEC, Janez, ALJANČIČ, Magdalena, OTONIČAR, Bojan, PETRIČ, Metka, PIPAN, Tanja, PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, RAVBAR, Nataša, SHAW, Trevor R., SLABE, Tadej, ŠEBELA, Stanka, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, KNEZ, Martin (urednik), OTONIČAR, Bojan (urednik), PETRIČ, Metka (urednik), PIPAN, Tanja (urednik), SLABE, Tadej (urednik). Karstology in the classical karst. Cham: Springer, 2020. XII, 222 str., Advances in karst science. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-26827-5.
• ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, MIHEVC, Andrej, PRUNER, Petr, BOSÁK, Pavel. Palaeomagnetism and magnetostratigraphy of Karst sediments in Slovenia. Ljubljana: Založba ZRC, ZRC SAZU, 2008. 266 str., ilustr. Carsologica, 8. ISBN 978-961-254-058-6.
• ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja. Incomplete solution : weathering of cave walls and the production, transport and deposition of carbonate fines. Postojna: Karst Research Institute at ZRC SAZU; Ljubljana: ZRC Publishing, 2003. 167 str., Carsologica, [3]. ISBN 961-6358-85-5.
• KNEZ, Martin, SLABE, Tadej, GABROVŠEK, Franci, KOGOVŠEK, Janja, KRANJC, Andrej, MIHEVC, Andrej, MULEC, Janez, OTONIČAR, Bojan, PERNE, Matija, PETRIČ, Metka, PIPAN, Tanja, PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, RAVBAR, Nataša, ŠEBELA, Stanka, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, BOSÁK, Pavel, PRUNER, Petr, LIU, Hong, KNEZ, Martin (urednik), SLABE, Tadej (urednik). Cave exploration in Slovenia : discovering over 350 new caves during motorway construction on classical karst. Cham: Springer, cop. 2016. XIII, 324 strCave and karst systems of the world. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-21203-6.
• GABROVŠEK, Franci, KNEZ, Martin (avtor, urednik), KOGOVŠEK, Janja, MIHEVC, Andrej, MULEC, Janez, OTONIČAR, Bojan, PERNE, Matija, PETRIČ, Metka (avtor, urednik), PIPAN, Tanja, PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, SLABE, Tadej (avtor, urednik), ŠEBELA, Stanka (avtor, urednik), TURK, Janez, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja. The Beka-Ocizla cave system : karstological railway planning in Slovenia. Cham [etc.]: Springer, cop. 2015. X, 102 Cave and karst systems of the world. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-04456-9.

1.16 Independent scientific component part or a chapter in a monograph

• ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja. Dinaric karst - geography and geology. V: WHITE, William Blaine (ed.), CULVER, David C. (ed.), PIPAN, Tanja (ed.). Encyclopedia of caves. 3rd ed. London [etc.]: Academic Press, an imprint of Elsevier, cop. 2019. Str. 353-362, ilustr. ISBN 978-0-12-814124-3. [COBISS.SI-ID 44672813].
• GABROVŠEK, Franci, KNEZ, Martin, KOGOVŠEK, Janja, MIHEVC, Andrej, OTONIČAR, Bojan, MULEC, Janez, PERNE, Matija, PETRIČ, Metka, PIPAN, Tanja, PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, SLABE, Tadej, ŠEBELA, Stanka, RAVBAR, Nataša, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja. Development challenges in karst regions : sustainable land use planning in the karst of Slovenia. V: TROFIMOVA, Elena (ed.), SALOMON, Jean-Nöel (ed.). Preserving karst environments and karst caves : karst dynamics, environments, usage and restauration : towards an international karst preservation system. Stuttgart: Gebrüder Borntraeger, 2016. Str. 293-318. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, Supplementband, N. F., vol. 60, suppl. issue 2DOI: 10.1127/zfg_suppl/2016/00309. [COBISS.SI-ID 40073261].
• ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja. What is karst?. V: ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja (ed.), et al. Life and water on Karst : monitoring of transboundary water resources of Northern Istria. Ljubljana: ZRC Publishing, 2015. Str. 6-14, ISBN 978-961-254-819-3, ISBN 978-961-05-0384-2.
• ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, MIHEVC, Andrej, PRUNER, Petr, BOSÁK, Pavel. The age of cave sediments in Slovenia. V: ANDRIČ, Maja (ed.). Dolgoročne spremembe okolja 1. Ljubljana: Inštitut za arheologijo ZRC SAZU, Založba ZRC, 2012. Str. 89-100, Opera Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae, 25. ISBN 978-961-254-376-1, ISBN 978-961-254-592-5. ISSN 1408-5208.

All publications (COBISS)

• 2022: International Union of Speleology Certificate of Appreciation for the book “Karst, Caves and People” and organization of IYCK 2021 celebration at UNESCO HQ (2022)
• 2016: Recognition of the United Arab Emirates Geographical Association (2016; group member)
• 2015: International Union of Speleology recognition for the organization of the 50th anniversary of the International Speleological Association (2015)