Four Doctoral Dissertations Successfully Defended at O2 This Year / 6.08.2026

The Department of Environmental Sciences (O2) has enjoyed an exceptionally successful year so far, with four doctoral dissertation defences showcasing the department's excellence in environmental research, food science, sustainability, and public policy.

Throughout the year, four doctoral candidates successfully defended their dissertations, each making a significant contribution to their respective research fields:

• 23 January 2026 – Eirini Andreasidou defended her doctoral dissertation entitled Uptake, Translocation and Risks of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Cultivation Using Treated Wastewater and Sludge.

• 7 May 2026 – Vanja Usenik defended her doctoral dissertation entitled The Minamata Convention on Mercury in Slovenia: An Evaluation of Policy Implementation and Effectiveness in Relation to the Phase-out of Dental Amalgam.

• 14 July 2026 – Anja Vehar defended her doctoral dissertation entitled The Quality of New Sustainable Alternative Food Sources: Edible Insects and Tomatoes Irrigated with Wastewater.

• 5 August 2026 – Cathrine Terro defended her doctoral dissertation entitled Innovative Tools for Enhancing Authenticity and Traceability in the Food Supply Chain.

These successful defences highlight the breadth and quality of research conducted at O2, addressing some of today's most pressing environmental and sustainability challenges—from emerging contaminants and wastewater reuse to sustainable food production, food authenticity, and environmental policy.

We warmly congratulate all four new doctors on this important academic milestone and wish them continued success in their future scientific and professional careers.

And the year is far from over. Several more doctoral dissertation defences are already scheduled or in preparation, and we look forward to celebrating many more academic achievements at the Department of Environmental Sciences before the end of 2026.