Explore Our Impact

Pioneering Research for Sustainable Communities

Who We Are

Advancing Environmental Health Through Collaboration and Innovation

At Healthy Habitats Living Lab, we engage communities, researchers, public authorities and other stakeholders in exploring environmental health challenges through participatory research and real-world experimentation. Our projects have generated knowledge and practical insights related to air quality, urban mobility, environmental exposure and public health.
Through partnership-driven research, H2LLab supports the development, testing and evaluation of approaches that can inform more sustainable and health-conscious policies, practices and individual choices. We combine scientific evidence with local knowledge and direct stakeholder engagement to better understand complex environmental challenges and possible responses.

Our Journey

From Research Foundations to Living Lab Innovations

Healthy Habitats Living Lab grew out of more than a decade of environmental health research at the Jožef Stefan Institute. Building on established projects, collaborations and participatory methodologies, H2LLab was developed to connect different disciplines and stakeholder groups in the study of real-world environmental challenges.

Since its establishment, H2LLab has continued to integrate approaches from national and international research initiatives, bringing together the expertise of researchers, communities and institutional partners. This provides a foundation for citizen engagement, real-life data collection, co-creation and the development of evidence that can support environmental health and sustainability.

Our Mission

To enhance environmental health and sustainability through collaborative research, empowering communities to directly influence their ecosystems and improve quality of life.

Our Values

We value collaboration, inclusivity, scientific integrity, and community resilience, striving to co-create actionable solutions that reflect the needs and aspirations of those we serve.

Meet Our Team

The People Behind H2LLab

Milena Horvat

Scientific Director

Nives Ogrinc

Senior Scientific Advisor

Rok Novak

Living Lab Operations Manager

David Kocman

Project Manager & Industry Liaison

Maria Alejandra Rubio

Panel Manager & Human Interaction Specialist

Cathrine Terro

Communication & Outreach Manager

Janja Snoj Tratnik

Biomonitoring & Exposure Assessment

Jure Ftičar

Data Infrastructure & Digital Systems

Part of a Wider Research Community

H2LLab is embedded within the Department of Environmental Sciences (O2) at the Jožef Stefan Institute, giving the Living Lab access to a broader community of researchers, technical specialists, laboratory infrastructure and institutional support. Beyond the core operational team presented above, H2LLab works closely with colleagues across O2 and with external partners whose expertise spans environmental monitoring, human biomonitoring, analytical chemistry, exposure assessment, data infrastructure, modelling, public health and stakeholder engagement. This wider network allows us to assemble interdisciplinary teams around specific research questions and to connect real-life experimentation with advanced scientific analysis, policy support and community-based action.

Explore the Department of Environmental Sciences