Academic English, Mathematical Terms, and Environmental Engineering Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering mathematical expressions and symbols, academic roles and university study terminology with Polish equivalents, and specialized environmental engineering concepts.

Plus or minus ($\pm$)

A mathematical symbol indicating a choice of two possible signs, addition or subtraction (for example, $x \pm 5$ is read as "x plus or minus five").

Approximately equal to ($\approx$)

A mathematical relation indicating that two quantities are nearly equal rather than exact (for example, $x \approx 7$ is read as "x approximately equal to seven").

Not equal to ($\neq$)

A mathematical relation stating that two quantities or expressions do not have the same value (for example, $x \neq 6$ is read as "x not equal to six").

Squared ($^2$)

The mathematical operation of raising a base number to the power of two (for example, $5^2$ is read as "five squared").

Cubed ($^3$)

The mathematical operation of raising a base number to the power of three (for example, $6^3$ is read as "six cubed").

To the power four ($^4$)

The mathematical operation of raising a base number to an exponent of four (for example, $7^4$ is read as "seven to the power four").

Root ($\sqrt{}$)

A mathematical symbol denoting the extraction of the root (such as the square root) of a number or expression.

Rector

The head or principal of a university or institution of higher education (in Polish: rektor).

Dean

The head of a specific university faculty or department (in Polish: dziekan).

Thesis supervisor

An academic assigned to mentor, direct, and oversee a student's thesis or dissertation (in Polish: promotor).

Examiner of a thesis

An academic appointed to formally read, evaluate, and provide a critique of a student's thesis (in Polish: recenzent (pracy magisterskiej)).

Teaching Assistant (TA)

An academic staff member who assists a professor with instructional or laboratory responsibilities (in Polish: asystent).

BSc (Bachelor of Science)

An undergraduate degree in engineering or the natural/applied sciences (in Polish: inżynier / studia inżynierskie).

MSc (Master of Science)

A graduate degree awarded in technical, engineering, or scientific fields (in Polish: magister inżynier / studia magisterskie (techniczne)).

BA (Bachelor of Arts)

An undergraduate academic title awarded upon completion of a 3-year programme in the humanities (in Polish: licencjat (stopień po ukończeniu 3-letnich studiów humanistycznych)).

MA (Master of Arts)

A postgraduate degree awarded in the field of the humanities (in Polish: magister (nauk humanistycznych)).

Extramural studies

Part-time or weekend university studies designed for students not attending daily courses (in Polish: studia zaoczne).

The exact sciences

Disciplines that admit of absolute precision in their results, such as mathematics and physics (in Polish: nauki ścisłe).

The humanities

Branches of learning that investigate human culture, language, history, and society (in Polish: nauki humanistyczne).

Expertise

Expert skill or specialized knowledge within a particular discipline or field (in Polish: wiedza specjalistyczna).

Certificate of completion

An official academic document confirming that a student has completed all required coursework of a degree programme prior to defending a thesis (in Polish: absolutorium).

Index book

An official student booklet or logbook used to record course registrations, credits, and examination grades (in Polish: indeks).

Scientific circle

A student-led academic society or research interest group (in Polish: koło naukowe).

Exam session

The formal period at the end of a university semester dedicated to end-of-term examinations (in Polish: sesja egzaminacyjna).

Resit / retake exam

A second examination opportunity given to a student who failed an initial examination attempt (in Polish: egzamin poprawkowy).

Maintenance grant

A financial subsidy provided to university students based on financial need or social circumstances (in Polish: stypendium socjalne).

Scholarship

Financial assistance awarded to students on the basis of academic or scientific achievement (in Polish: stypendium naukowe).

Syllabus

An outline or programme detailing the subjects, requirements, and schedule for a specific course of study (in Polish: program studiów).

Sedimentation

The process in which solid particles settle at the bottom of a liquid, removing suspended solids from water (in Polish: sedymentacja).

Aeration

The process of adding air to water, supplying oxygen to microorganisms in a treatment plant (in Polish: napowietrzanie).

Desalination

The process of removing salt from seawater to provide drinking water in dry regions (in Polish: odsalanie).

Groundwater

Water stored beneath the Earth's surface that acts as an important source of drinking water (in Polish: wody podziemne).

Renewable energy

Energy derived from natural sources that naturally replenish, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions (in Polish: energia odnawialna).

Wastewater treatment

The process of removing pollutants from wastewater to protect rivers and lakes from pollution (in Polish: oczyszczanie ścieków).

Water scarcity

A situation in which there is not enough available water to meet demand (in Polish: niedobór wody).

Carbon footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases that an individual, activity, or product generates (in Polish: ślad węglowy).

Eutrophication

The excessive growth of algae caused by an overabundance of nutrients in water, which can deplete oxygen levels in lakes (in Polish: eutrofizacja).

Biodegradation

The breakdown of organic substances and waste by microorganisms (in Polish: biodegradacja).