Humanity has always observed and studied its surroundings. Today, we have access to methods that, just a few years ago, would have belonged to the realm of science fiction. We can now explore previously undetectable spectrums of the world using tools and techniques that were once completely unknown. Thanks to the HU-rizon Programme, initiated and funded by Hungary to support international research collaborations, there are two environmental research projects currently underway at the University of Szeged that take our ability to detect environmental hazards to the next level.

Because the world is full of such hazards. Toxic substances have always existed in nature; just think of the deadly gases released into the atmosphere by volcanic activity. Today, however, human civilization continuously emits substances into the environment whose impacts we often can’t even begin to assess. In other cases, we know the harmful effects quite well, but our toolkit isn’t refined enough to detect them; or to understand the long-term risks they pose. Pollution, in this sense, often remains “invisible”; either because the effects are delayed and not immediately apparent, or because we lack the proper methods to measure certain types of substances.

Around the world, researchers are working on developing increasingly precise instruments and methods to better understand the state of our environment. Since these are global problems, the solutions must also be global. Progress depends on the joint efforts of researchers working together across borders and continents. That’s why the HU-rizon Programme has made it a mission to support international research consortia.

One of the program’s key focus areas is supporting the green transition of the economy and the development of a circular economy. This includes topics such as sustainable agriculture, the shift to clean energy, sustainable and smart mobility, and protection against natural disasters and extreme environmental factors. In 2024, two research projects – both of which aim to achieve world-class results in these areas – led by scientists at the University of Szeged received funding under the Hu-rizon Programme.

The METAPHASE project is developing a completely new kind of “sensor” for detecting so-far “invisible” substances and gases in our environment. It will enable continuous monitoring of pollutants in the atmosphere or can even be used to detect health-related molecules in the breath of patients. In collaboration with the Universities of Glasgow, Singapore, and Seoul, researchers at the University of Szeged are refining a photoacoustic device designed for environmental monitoring. This method, suitable for monitoring the environment, is based on the principle that different substances emit different sounds when absorbing light – sounds that researchers can measure and analyse. This research aims to use metamaterials to drastically increase the sensitivity of concentration measurements for various substances.

METAPHASE project

Synthetic macromolecular polymers – commonly known as plastics – spread explosively during the 20th century and have become indispensable in all areas of life. However, while we once focused only on their advantages, today their dangers are becoming increasingly apparent too. It was hardly predictable, for example, that tiny, undetectable fragments of these materials would now be present everywhere – from the Arctic to the ocean floor. An increasing number of studies are now investigating the dangers of microplastics. The PLAGROSYS project, coordinated by researchers at the University of Szeged and involving Australian and Swiss experts, is examining microplastic pollution in agriculture. They analyse, among other things, the condition of soils treated with sewage sludge, looking into how these materials affect soil health, the microorganisms living in it, and through them, the crops and livestock that rely on these ecosystems. The project also aims to explore how we might address this issue and remove unwanted microplastics from the environment.

PLAGROSYS project

Thanks to these research efforts, we will soon have a clearer picture of how and with what we are polluting ourselves, and what we can do about it. If you would like to learn more about the HU-rizon research projects led from Szeged, join us on 25 September at the University of Szeged, the first stop of the HU-rizon Roadshow’s national tour where research teams will present their work to the general public. After the lectures and panel discussions open to everyone, the focus will shift to sharing experiences: professionals will participate in workshops to explore new opportunities, develop their skills, and prepare for future successful projects, paving the way for more impactful research to help us better understand and safeguard our world.