Topic and Goals

The International Karstological School “Classical Karst” has been conducted annually since 1993. Different aspects of karst studies are presented each year. The basic objectives are to present the state-of-the-art in the selected topic, and encourage discussions related to the school’s topic through lectures, poster presentations and field trips in the Classical Karst of Slovenia.

The first days of the 23rd Karstological School will be devoted to the exploration and scientific study of caves. Caves play an important role in human history. They were used as shelters and dwellings by early people; they were places of anxiety, mystery, religion, fear, curiosity, adventure, and also knowledge. People have explored caves for thousands of years, but the first systematic exploration and realistic descriptions are from the 17th Century. In the 19th Century, when many of the natural sciences were forming, cave exploration by individuals and caving societies laid the foundations of speleology as we understand it today – where cave exploration, mapping and science work hand-in-hand for new, better, understanding of caves.

Last day of the School (Friday) will be dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of International Union of Speleology – UIS. UIS was established during the 4thInternational Congress of Speleology, which was held in Ljubljana and Postojna in 1965. The UIS was officially founded during the Closing Ceremony of the Congress on September 16th in Ljubljana.

We invite all speleologists, karstologists, experts and young scientists, students, cavers and all persons attracted by caves and karst to participate at this School.

The topics of this year’s School are:

Cave science
Open exploration frontiers; big cave systems
History of cave exploration in Central Europe – “ALCADI”
History of the International Union of Speleology and the future of speleology
Other topics related to caves and karst

General information

Organizer
Karst Research Institute
ZRC SAZU
Titov trg 2, 
SI-6230 Postojna, Slovenia

T: +386 5 700 1900
F: +386 5 700 1999
E: iks@zrc-sazu.si
Web: http://iks.zrc-sazu.si

Contact person:
Nadja Zupan Hajna
E: iks@zrc-sazu.si

UIS 50th Anniversary:
International Union of Speleology – UIS & Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU 
Titov trg 2; SI-6230 Postojna, Slovenia

Co-organizer of UIS 50th Anniversary:
Management of Postojnska jama d.d.
Jamska cesta 30, 6230 Postojna, Slovenia
Web: http://www.postojnska-jama.eu/

The 23rd International Karstological School “Classical Karst” is supported by:

Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO
Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Municipality of Postojna
Škocjanske jame Park
Grotta Gigante
JZS – Speleological Association of Slovenia

Further details at the event website: http://iks.zrc-sazu.si/en/index.html