Dr. Viktor Varjú - MATE Research
Overview
Dr. Viktor Varjú is an experienced professional in European and Hungarian environmental policy. His expertise spans the integration of environmental policy into development planning, circular economy social and governmental aspects, and socio-geographical considerations of renewable energy. With a track record in projects like EUBORDERSCAPES (FP7) and 'Governance for Sustainability' (FP6), Viktor has led impactful initiatives. In his role as a research fellow, he contributed significantly to Hungarian case analyses. Noteworthy achievements include leading the Hungarian team in the H2020 – REPAiR and ESPON LAKES projects. Currently, Viktor is heading the Hungarian team in the SSH CENTRE Horizon Europe project, focusing on SSH researchers' limited participation in EU-funded projects. Additionally, he coordinates the Hungarian team in the HE P2GreeN project, leading tasks on circular transition in fertilization, social acceptance, and governance analysis.
Research keywords:
Publications
Göbölös, B., Sebők, R. E., Szabó, G., Tóth, G., Szoboszlay, S., Kriszt, B., Kaszab, E., & Háhn, J. (2024). The cocktail effects on the acute cytotoxicity of pesticides and pharmaceuticals frequently detected in the environment. Toxics, 12(3), 189. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12030189
Prikler, B., Bordós, G., Kriszt, B., Micsinai, A., Szabó, I., Nyírő-Fekete, B., Palotai, Z., Kaszab, E., Szoboszlay, S., & Csenki, Z. (2024). Detection of microplastics in zebrafish housing systems: Can microplastic background contamination affect the final results of microplastic-related toxicological tests? Aquatic Toxicology, 273, 107020. Varjú, V. (2022). The policy transfer of environmental policy integration: path dependency, route flexibility, or the Hungarian way? Policy Studies, 43(5), 943–961. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.107020
https://doi.org/10.1080/01442872.2021.1882670Antimicrobial resistance
Háhn, J., Kriszt, B., Tóth, G., Jiang, D., Fekete, M., Szabó, I., Göbölös, B., Urbányi, B., Szoboszlay, S., & Kaszab, E. (2022). Glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) induce phenotypic imipenem resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Scientific Reports, 12, 18258. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23117-9Varjú, V. (2020). Environmental policy integration and its success on settlement level in Hungary. DETUROPE: Central European Journal of Tourism and Regional Development, 12(3), 13-36. https://doi.org/10.32725/det.2020.020
Kaszab, E., Kriszt, B., Atzél, B., Szabó, G., Szabó, I., Harkai, P., & Szoboszlay, S. (2010). The occurrence of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa on hydrocarbon-contaminated sites. Microbial Ecology, 59(1), 37–45.
Circular Economy
Essoussi, W., Pércsi, K. N., Ujj, A., Jancsovszka, P., & Varjú, V. (2025). Drivers of sustainable consumption: An empirical analysis of consumer attitudes, knowledge, and social pressures. Sustainable Futures, 10, 101509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101509
Varjú, V., & Óvári, Á. (2024). Challenges of applying circular economy principles in urban planning practice in Pécs (Hungary). Planning Practice & Research, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/02697459.2024.2349465
Varjú, V. (2025). From fork to farm, locally: social acceptance pathways for human excreta-derived fertilisers across three European regions. Socio-Ecological Practice Research, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42532-025-00236-x
Obersteg, A., Arlati, A., Acke, A., Berruti, G., Czapiewski, K., Dąbrowski, M., Heurkens, E., Mezei, C., Palestino, M., Varjú, V., Wójcik, M., & Knieling, J. (2019). Urban Regions Shifting to Circular Economy: Understanding Challenges for New Ways of Governance. Urban Planning, 4(3), 19-31. https://doi.org/10.17645/up.v4i3.2158
Dąbrowski, M., Varjú, V., & Amenta, L. (2019). Transferring Circular Economy Solutions across Differentiated Territories: Understanding and Overcoming the Barriers for Knowledge Transfer. Urban Planning, 4(3), 52-62. https://doi.org/10.17645/up.v4i3.2162
Varjú, V., Óvári, Á., Mezei, C., Suvák, A., & Vér, C. (2022). Efforts and barriers shifting a city region towards circular transition–Lessons from a living lab from Pécs, Hungary. Future Cities and Environment, 8(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.5334/fce.157
Governance
Dąbrowski, M., Varjú, V., & Amenta, L. (2019). Transferring Circular Economy Solutions across Differentiated Territories: Understanding and Overcoming the Barriers for Knowledge Transfer. Urban Planning, 4(3), 52-62. https://doi.org/10.17645/up.v4i3.2162
Varjú, V., Mezei, C., & Vér, C. (2020). Local resource-based development potential as reflected in waste management/circularity transition: Governance barriers in Hungary. European Spatial Research and Policy, 27(2), 79–93. https://doi.org/10.18778/1231-1952.27.2.06
Climate Change
Projects
H2020 REPAiR
The project aimed at supporting decision makers at peri-urban level in the circular economy transition by conducting a living lab and providing GIS-based supporting tool (GDSE).
P2GreeN
The project aim is to develop, test and adapt the use of human sanitary waste to produce safe, bio-based fertilizers for agriculture. It also focuses on the socio-economic aspects of the innovation.
