"The objective of the project is to compare and contrast - for the first time – the limestone caves from different hemispheres, in fragments of different supercontinents, from areas with different geology, geomorphology and present and past climate. The idea that these caves might have significant similarities is completely at odds with traditional views about the origin and evolution of limestone caves. The project will be based on the field and laboratory works conducted in the caves of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland (Poland), Classical Karst (Slovenia), Rockhampton in central Queensland and Jenolan Caves in New South Wales (Australia). The research exchange will be the crucial component of the project. Among the project’s deliverables, there will be as follows: the publications in relevant ISI-listed refereed journals, international workshop on hypogene caves, international postgraduate training, seminars for local communities. The transfer of knowledge focusing on the academics will be enabled at 4 international school meetings in Slovenia and Poland, the international workshop in Poland and the national conference in Australia. The next target group that the transfer of knowledge will concentrate on will be the local communities (e.g. activating them in the context of environmental issues like nature protection and sustainable development). The impact will also concern different audiences: the academics will be interested in all the knowledge beyond the-state-of the-art gained from it, local communities will be sensitized to the nature heritage protection. Widely understood collaboration between the project’s participants and partners from other countries – also outside the European Research Area – should be understood as one of the most important objectives that the authors of the project are going to put into practice while, e.g., working together in international consortia realizing the Integrated Projects of the EU 7th Framework Programme."