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Interview & Opinion

In the Interview & Opinion column, renowned scientists and researchers talk about developments and perspectives in the world of science. They reflect on regional and European science policy as well as the support of talents and the importance of innovation in a highly competitive international environment.

Interview & Opinion

5 December 2022

Sponsoring knowledge for the planet

Interview: Ingrid Ladner

Donating money to research used to be a marginal phenomenon in Austria. Now there is some new impetus. As a new board member of the FWF’s alpha+ Foundation, Susanne Müller-Taborsky wants to inspire more donors to support science. Investments in research would secure our future, says the banking expert.  Continue reading “Sponsoring knowledge for the planet”

Interview & Opinion

14 November 2022

Will we make the energy transition happen?

Opinion: Michael Ornetzeder

Austria intends to become climate neutral by 2040. The scale of transformation is momentous and requires multi-layered and complex changes, involving not only new technologies and infrastructures, but also changing mindsets, social practices and new forms of economic activity. Coping with such change necessitates a broad discussion, which has been lacking so far, and attendant […] Continue reading “Will we make the energy transition happen?”

Interview & Opinion

27 September 2022

Refugee researchers

By Jonas Vogt

The Austrian Science Fund FWF makes it possible for scientists from Ukraine to become temporarily involved in research projects in Austria. Here are three examples of how this can work. Continue reading “Refugee researchers”

Interview & Opinion

21 September 2022

“Your bank balance is not the only indicator of creditworthiness”

Interview: Ingrid Ladner

The ethnologist Silke Meyer is investigating the significance of money in people’s private lives, the social functions it performs and the dependencies arising from debt. In this interview, she explains how social conventions define the “right” way to go about handling money and what correlations there are between debt and ethics. Continue reading ““Your bank balance is not the only indicator of creditworthiness””

Interview & Opinion

22 June 2022

Why the smallest organisms play the biggest role

Interview: Isabella Ferenci

Microbiologist Christa Schleper has dedicated her research career to archaea – the tiny unicellular organisms that counted among the first life forms on Earth. The 2022 Wittgenstein Award winner has discovered numerous microorganisms, and specialises in studying the impact of archaea on the nitrogen cycle. Her findings lay the groundwork for determining the impact of […] Continue reading “Why the smallest organisms play the biggest role”

Interview & Opinion

22 June 2022

An ancient bacterium is making biotechnology more efficient

Interview: Reinhard Kleindl

Biotechnologist Stefan Pflügl is researching how fossil resources in the chemical industry can be replaced by sustainable alternatives. In his work, he uses bacterial metabolic processes from the early days of the Earth’s history, work which has now won him the 2022 START Prize. Continue reading “An ancient bacterium is making biotechnology more efficient”

Interview & Opinion

22 June 2022

How do humans impact animals’ search for food?

Interview: Laura Anninger

Humans interfere with nature in many ways. Using global datasets, behavioural scientist and START Award winner Petra Sumasgutner studies how short-eared owls and common ravens are impacted by human intrusions when foraging, and what the consequences are. She also uses machine learning in her research. Continue reading “How do humans impact animals’ search for food?”

Interview & Opinion

22 June 2022

Searching for infinity

Interview: Alois Pumhösel

Mathematician and START Prize winner Sandra Müller analyses various forms of infinity arising from set theory. In doing so, she is attempting to find a closer link between the theory of large cardinal numbers and the axiom of determinacy, two theoretical approaches that seem to share little in common at first glance. Continue reading “Searching for infinity”

Interview & Opinion

22 June 2022

A diary opens up a new world

Interview: Laura Anninger

Greek and Latin philologist William Barton is using artificial intelligence to decipher the diary of Hellenist Charles-Benoît Hase, written in Ancient Greek and long thought to have been lost. The START Award winner is gaining new insights into the Greek language, the history of Greek literary studies, and life in early modern Paris. Continue reading “A diary opens up a new world”

Interview & Opinion

22 June 2022

A cell protein like a bull in a china shop

Interview: Alois Pumhösel

If the protein legumain is not in its proper place in the human cell, the likely result is cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. Molecular biologist and START prize winner Elfriede Dall from the University of Salzburg is investigating how this protein functions outside of its usual environment.    Continue reading “A cell protein like a bull in a china shop”

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