HABILITATION LECTURE OF DR. IGOR ŽIVKOVIĆ

Habilitation lecture of Dr. Igor Živković

IPS invites you to the Habilitation Lecture in the habilitation process for Assistant Professor in the field of Ecotechnologies of Dr. Igor Živković entitled: Data presentation and measurement uncertainty. The lecture will take place on Thursday, 7 November 2024, at 9:15 a.m. in the MPŠ Lecture Hall.

Underlaying research activities: data presentation and measurement uncertainty

Measurement uncertainty is an important factor in environmental research, particularly when analyzing pollutants like mercury (Hg). Accurate quantification of uncertainty helps ensure that measurements are reliable and traceable to recognized standards, which is essential for producing valid results in scientific studies. The ISO-GUM approach is widely used for this purpose, providing a systematic method to assess uncertainty contributions from various sources. These sources include systematic errors, such as instrument drift and response bias, and random errors, such as natural variability in the environment. Traceability plays a key role in this process, linking measurement results to national and international standards through an unbroken chain of comparisons. Environmental data, particularly for mercury, often do not follow normal distributions; instead, they tend to be log-normal due to the variable and complex nature of environmental systems. As a result, data transformations, such as converting linear data to log-scale, are necessary to meet statistical assumptions and avoid common reporting errors like misusing standard deviation. The challenge of obtaining representative samples further complicates the measurement process, as natural variability and anthropogenic influences can significantly affect mercury concentrations. Pooling standard deviations across different data sets, particularly in cases involving log-normal distributions, is another method for improving data reliability. Global mercury monitoring and standardization projects aim to develop traceable protocols and improve the accuracy of mercury measurements. These efforts contribute to better understanding the transport and transformation of mercury species in the environment, with the ultimate goal of informing global environmental policies. Training and capacity-building initiatives ensure that future researchers are equipped with the necessary skills to conduct precise and accurate measurements, further advancing the field of environmental science.

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