RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS RESEARCH PROFILE AND PUBLICATIONS 2002-2004 NICOSIA ñ DECEMBER 2005 UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS 75, Kallipoleos Avenue P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia Tel.: 22892000, Fax: 22892100 E- mail: [email protected] http://www.ucy.ac.cy This edition was produced by the Publications Office of the Service for Research, International and Public Relations of the University of Cyprus under the supervision of the University’s Research Committee and the Vice-Rector of Academic Affairs, Professor Elpida Keravnou – Papailiou, who chairs the Committee. Electronic data collection and database management was carried out in association with Dinos Pashiardes. GENERAL EDITING Doros Michael University Officer, Publications Office Service for Research, International and Public Relations DATA BASE PROCESSING / LAYOUT Kalliopi Constantinou Publications Office Service for Research, International and Public Relations DESIGN / LAYOUT Maria Gavriel Publications Office Service for Research, International and Public Relations COVER DESIGN FBRH Consultans Ltd – Simon Pitsillides PRINTING Lithographica ISSN 1450-0574 Copyright© 2005 University of Cyprus CONTENTS Introduction 5 Message from the Vice-Rector of Academic Affairs 6 Research at the University of Cyprus 8 Department of English Studies 13 Department of French Studies and Modern Lamguages 25 Department of Turkish and Middle Eastern Studies 31 Department of Biological Sciences 39 Department of Chemistry 49 Department of Computer Science 63 Department of Mathematics and Statistics 95 Department of Physics 115 Department of Education 133 Department of Psychology 181 Department of Social and Political Sciences 193 Department of Economics 209 Department of Public and Business Administration 221 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering 239 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 253 Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering 265 Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies 273 Department of Classics and Philosophy 287 Department of History and Archaeology 299 Appendices 315 IINTRODUCTION This publication lists for the fourth time the research activity of the University of Cyprus. It includes research undertaken between 2002-2004. The book presents, for each member of academic staff, information that is directly or indirectly related to research. Staff are listed in alphabetical order within departments. Both the faculties and the departments whithin each faculty appear in alphabetical order. The information found in the research profiles of the academic staff is based on data from a questionnaire that was directed to all academic members of staff. The publications of the academic staff make up a sizeable part of the book. Only published articles (in journals or conference publications) are included. Articles that are “in press” or “forthcoming” are not included. Presentations given at conferences, but not yet published, are also not included. The number of authors in all publications is limited to three. The symbol “...” signifies that, apart from the authors listed by name, a number of other not listed authors exist. Regarding electronic publications, only those accessible through a web page are listed. The book contains six appendices: Appendix I lists the Cypriot and overseas institutions with which the academic staff cooperate in research. Appendix II presents institutions in Cyprus and abroad which have funded research projects of members of the academic staff. Appendix III lists organisations to which the academic staff of the University offer consultancy services. The data comprising these appendices were produced from the personal research profiles of the members of academic staff listed in this publication and, hence, do not constitute a full picture of the research collaboration of the University of Cyprus. Appendix IV lists all the doctoral titles awarded by the University of Cyprus within the period 2002-2004. Appendix V presents a keyword index referring to the research interests of the members of academic staff listed in this publication. In Appendix VI there is an index of academic staff in alphabetical order by surname. 5 MESSAGE FROM THE VICE-RECTOR OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS It is with great pleasure that I introduce the new edition of Research at the University of Cyprus, which covers the period 2002-2004. Carrying out scientific research and disseminating its results constitute an integral part of the functioning of a higher education institute. The provision of high quality programmes of study, especially at the graduate level, is interwoven with the research activity of a university. At the same time, the teaching staff should also be active researchers. The significance of university research for society can be analyzed in terms of the following three components: • the training of future researchers, who will contribute to the enhancement of local research capacity; • the development of basic knowledge in all areas of learning, which can lead to achievements in applied research as well as social, economic, and technological development; and • the participation in technological development and the transfer of knowledge, upon which all economic development is based. The impact of scholarly research on society is complex and multidimensional. Some aspects are directly quantifiable, such as the number of Doctoral titles awarded in an academic year and in which disciplines, while others are very abstract, such as the impact of very basic research. The need to couple basic with applied research is now recognized. The development of foundational knowledge through basic research can in turn be utilized for the solution of real life problems that concern society. In most areas the dividing line between basic and applied research is not at all obvious, and this vagueness or grey region is continuously broadening as the complexity and interdisciplinarity of the problems under consideration increase. Universities have sole responsibility for the first two components mentioned above, i.e. training researchers primarily through Doctorate programmes, and conducting basic and applied research. The third component, the utilisation of knowledge, has become even more significant in light of the Lisbon strategic goal of transforming Europe into the most dynamic knowledge-based economy. For this reason, governments and other economic stakeholders increasingly attach more importance to the utilisation of research results for economic gains. After all, it is often stated that where Europe lags behind North America, Japan and other economic powers is in the utilisation of research results with major financial gains. The effective utilisation of knowledge is not the sole responsibility of universities, and it requires a close, sincere and efficient collaboration with other stakeholders, primarily from the economic and industrial world. 6 The volume Research at the University of Cyprus constitutes the main means for both publicizing and accounting for the research activity of the University. The volume covers the research publications (books, chapters in books and papers in academic journals or conference proceedings) of the academic staff, their research interests, the research projects they have secured either with external or internal funding, their consulting activities for the purpose of disseminating results from their research benefiting local industry and other interested parties, the organisations/institutes with which they collaborate in research activities and other pertinent information. The current edition lists, for the first time, the Doctoral titles awarded by the University of Cyprus within the period 2002-2004. More specifically, during this time the University awarded seventeen Doctoral titles from nine different departments. Based on the information contained in the current edition of Research at the University of Cyprus, it is clearly evident that the University covers adequately the first two components of university research activity that are placed solely under its responsibility. At the same time, the University has started to branch out into the third component, the utilisation of research results, with notable achievements such as obtaining its first patents. The full development of the Engineering Faculty, and the further expansion of pure and applied sciences, as well as humanities, social and economic sciences, undoubtedly will give a big boost to the University’s contribution towards the utilisation of knowledge for the benefit of society. The current volume bears witness to the rising activity of the University in all areas of research. The relevant data are summarized in the overview that follows. In concluding my foreword, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Publications Office of the Service for Research, International and Public Relations, and in particular to Doros Michael and Kalliopi Constantinou for undertaking the major part of the workload associated with the production of this volume. I would also like to thank the Research Committee for overseeing the entire production. Finally, I would like to express the wish that every new edition of this volume enhances even further the research profile of the University and its contribution to scholarly and scientific research. Professor Elpida Keravnou-Papailiou Vice-Rector of Academic Affairs Chairperson of the Research Committee 7 RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS High quality scholarly research has always been a