On 16 April 2026, Slovenia hosted its National Sponge Day in Ljubljana. The event was organised at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering within the framework of the 42nd Goljevšček Memorial Day (an annual event dedicated to the memory of Mr. Milovan Goljevšček, one of the pioneers of hydrotechnical engineering in Slovenia).
The event brought together 81 participants, including researchers, practitioners, and representatives of public institutions, to discuss approaches to water management, retention and the role of sponge landscapes in different environments.
The programme included several presentations addressing hydrological processes, land use, and nature-based solutions. Project partners, University of Ljubljana and Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO), presented their work on monitoring and modelling hydrological processes and analysing the role of soil and vegetation at the project case study.
As part of the programme, participants also visited experimental plot, that serves as a part of the Slovene case study in the project. The participants were introduced to the ongoing research on water retention and runoff processes, and their sponge functioning. The visit provided an overview of monitoring approaches and experimental setups used to study sponge measures under real conditions.
The discussion highlighted the importance of linking research, practice, and policy in the development and implementation of sponge landscapes.