This is a very short history of AERL, started in 2006 until 2010 when the idea of a semi-independent research unit was emerged.
The NGRP is a research joint-venture founded in 2006 between two successful Faculties of the prestigious West University of Timisoara: The Faculty of Economic Sciences (now Faculty of Economics and Business Administration – FEBA) and The Faculty of Chemistry – Biology – Geography (FCBG). The main aim of the NGRP is to get together the bests specialists from the two Faculties in order to make a leading research and academic cluster for a new and true trans-disciplinary approach of environmental protection features. NGRP started with some specialists involved in the Trans-disciplinary Study of Environmental Protection Master Program and gradually included almost half of the staff of the two faculties.
The Trans-disciplinary Studies Graduate Program at the West University of Timisoara was established in 2002, the first of its kind in Romania. It is one of the only Romanian programs to offer doctoral degrees in inter- and trans-disciplinary studies. The program in its early stages was motivated by two desiderata: to allow and facilitate the creation of new subfields, and to serve those students who wished to combine one or more existing disciplines in their advanced research efforts. Now, by this joint-venture between the Faculties of Economic Sciences and The Faculty of Chemistry – Biology – Geography, the program goes to its maturity exceeding inter-disciplinary studies towards trans-disciplinary studies in the field of environmental protection. The environmental protection concept is regarded as a inter- and trans-disciplinary belief, as it is proved by the subjects of the ongoing studies: ecological researches and sustainable economy including remediation of affected environment from human activities and from natural catastrophes, natural hazards, renewable sources of energy, new technologies for increasing the efficiency and reduction of costs, nanotechnologies and various economical studies concerning economical increase, competitiveness in a society based on knowledge and new theories for combining the economical, social and environmental objectives from an European perspective. Combining economic sciences, business administration with environmental chemistry, ecology, biogeography and other life and earth sciences, the program tends to become the “perfect” choice for the “perfect” specialist from the future United Europe.
As a natural result of the activities carried out into NGRP is the project of foundation of a new Institute for Advanced Studies. The mission of the Institute will be to create an academic community where individuals can pursue advanced work in any of the academic disciplines, professions, or creative arts. Within that broad purpose, it will sustain a continuing commitment to the study of society, economics sciences, life and earth sciences, as long as the approach will be inter- and trans-disciplinary.
The two pillar of the PLATFORM are the Faculty of Economic Sciences and The Faculty of Chemistry – Biology – Geography.
Ever since 1967, the Faculty of Economics (now Faculty of Economics and Business Administration – FEBA) has been the most prestigious institution of higher and continuing education for economics and business in the western part of Romania. FEBA trains elite specialists, who are highly appreciated at home and abroad. The aim is to update and broaden the professional knowledge horizon of all faculty graduates and specialists and even of other citizens, through permanent education and training. The staff is involved in local development and in European integration and play an important role in knowledge transfer within and from Through faculty’s standard of excellence, the body of the Faculty of Economic Sciences represents a concentration and radiation factor of Romanian values.
The Faculty of Chemistry – Biology – Geography (FCBG) was re-established in 1990 and almost immediately became a leading academic institution with more than 800 students and approximately 80 permanent faculty members. FCBG is an inter- and trans-disciplinary unit, joining together specialists from three major fields of life sciences: chemistry, biology and geography. FCBG has created innovative undergraduate and graduate programs. Rigorous interdisciplinary education is combined with practical training through case studies, special projects, and field studies. The graduates students of the FCBG command multiples skills that allow them to “hit the ground running” and to achieve high-ranking positions in Romania and abroad.
FCBG offers several areas of specialization: Chemistry, Biotechnology, Environmental Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Ecology & Environmental Protection, Geography and Geography of Tourism.
The graduate studies, comprising Master Studies and Doctoral Studies are included in The Graduate and Postgraduate Trans-disciplinary Studies of Environmental Protection Program and are focused in four main directions of Master studies: The Trans-disciplinary Study of Environmental Protection, The Study of Biological Active Compounds, The Developmental Biology and Genetics and The Organization and Sustainable Development of the Territory.
Prominent Romanian faculty members have received advanced degrees, taught, and established close ties with foreign academic institutions, such as Aachen University, Belgrade University, Bremen University, Gdansk University, Medical Academy of Gdansk, Merrimack College, Thessaloniki University, and so on.
Deeply rooted in both theory and practice, the members of the FCBG adeptly address the widest spectrum of activities in the environmental protection sector.
In 2010 the UVT Senate approved the modernization of two buildings on Oituz street. One of the building was transformed in laboratories for chemistry and biology activities. This building now host the ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES – AERL.