Matej Gabrovec is a geographer and ethnologist who received his PhD in 1995 from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ljubljana with a thesis entitled Relief and Land Use in Dolomite Areas of Slovenia. He works as a principal research associate at the Anton Melik Geographical Institute and also teaches at the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Primorska and the Postgraduate School of ZRC SAZU. He began his geographical research in the field of geomorphology, later shifting his focus to the study of land use changes. For many years, he directed research on the Triglav glacier, and at the end of his career, he is devoting an increasing amount of time to transport geography, with an emphasis on public passenger transport issues.
Matej Gabrovec works in two areas of research. The first is the study of land use changes. In this context, he has paid particular attention to the Franciscean cadastre from the early 19th century, which is a key source for understanding the traditional cultural landscape. He has established close cooperation with geographers from Charles University in Prague on this topic, and between 2016 and 2020 he was chair of the Commission for land use and land cover change at the International Geographical Union.
Another area of interest is transport geography, where he focuses on public passenger transport. He has developed accessibility standards that are included in the Slovenian regulations of public passenger transport services. He led the project Mobility Poverty in the Republic of Slovenia, the results of which were included in the preparation of the national Social Climate Plan. As part of the LIFE CARE4CLIMATE project, he is leading the action Integrating Public Passenger Transport.
- Gabrovec, M., Tiran, J., Benčina, M., Bole, D., Goluža, M., Koblar, S., Pipan, P., Živčič, L. 2025: Prevozna revščina v Sloveniji (Transport poverty in Slovenia). Georitem 34. Ljubljana.
- Gabrovec, M., Bičík, I., Komac, B. 2019: Land registers as a source of studying long-term land-use changes. Acta geographica Slovenica 59-2.
- Gabrovec, M., Kumer, P. 2019: Land-use changes in Slovenia from the Franciscean Cadaster until today. Acta Geographica Slovenica, 59, 1, pp. 63-81.
- Gabrovec, M., Razpotnik Visković, N. 2018: Accessibility to public transport as a condition for schoolchildren’s social inclusion. Geografski vestnik 90-2.
- Gabrovec, M., Komac, B., Kozina, J., Polajnar Horvat, K., Nared, J., Smrekar, A., Topole, M., Urbanc, M. 2017: Triglav National Park, Slovenia, and its contribution to regional development. Eco.mont 9, special issue.
- Gabrovec, M., Hrvatin, M., Komac, B., Ortar, J., Pavšek, M., Topole, M., Triglav Čekada, M., Zorn, M. 2014: Triglavski ledenik [Triglav Glacier] (Geografija Slovenije 30). Ljubljana: Založba ZRC
- Gabrovec, M., Ortar, J., Pavšek, M., Zorn, M., Triglav Čekada, M. 2013:. The Triglav glacier between the years 1999 and 2012. Acta geographica Slovenica, 53- 2.
- Gabrovec, M. 2013: Open borders with uncoordinated public transport : the case of Slovenian-Italian border. European Journal of Geography 4-4.
- Gabrovec, M., Komac, B., Zorn, M. 2012: The influence of land-use changes on geomorphic processes during recent centuries on the example of Zgornje Posočje (the Upper Soča Valley). Dolgoročne spremembe okolja 1 (Opera Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae, 25). Ljubljana.
- Gabrovec, M. Bole, D. 2009: Dnevna mobilnost v Sloveniji [Daily mobilty in Slovenia]. Georitem 11. Ljubljana.
- Urbanc, M., Gabrovec M. 2005: Krajevna imena: Poligon za dokazovanje moči in odraz lokalne identitete [Place names: a testing ground for demonstration of power and a reflection of local identity]Geografski vestnik 77-2.
- CARE4CLIMATE (January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2026)
- TRANS BORDERS (INTERREG • June 1, 2017 - May 31, 2020)
- Geography of Slovenia - national research programme (research programme • January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2027)
- Mobility poverty in the Republic of Slovenia (target research project • October 1, 2022 - May 31, 2024)
- Melik Award from the Association of Geographers of Slovenia, 2025
- Blaž Kocen Award from the Association of Geography Teachers of Slovenia, 2025
- Honorary member of the Ljubljana Geographical Society, 2024
- ZRC SAZU Gold Award, 2022
- Gold Tablet of the Association of the Geographical Societies of Slovenia, 2022
- Member of the editorial boards of the scientific journal Geografski vestnik/Geographical Bulletin
- Member of the editorial boards of the scientific journal Geografski zbornik/Acta geographica Slovenica
- Member of the editorial boards of the scientific journal eco.mont
- President of the Science Council of the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy od Sciences and Arts (till 2012)
- President of Association of the Geographers of Slovenia (till 2011)
- President of the of the International Geographical Union Commission on Land use and Land Cover Changes (till 2016)
- Member of the Triglav National Park Professional Board