Science is international – and so are scientists. With its Erwin Schrödinger Programmes, the FWF permits researchers to gather important experience abroad. In the autobiographical series Unterwegs (On the road), scientists who benefited from a grant under these programmes describe their experience.
In the context of her Schrödinger Fellowship, physicist Anna Galler is conducting research on the optical properties of new, environmentally friendly colour pigments at the École Polytechnique in Paris. In order to be able in the future to design the pigment colour and other material properties on the computer, Anna Galler is developing sophisticated theoretical […] Continue reading “The colours of Paris”
A transition from fossil fuels to renewables could affect global financial leadership of the 21st century no less than the historical shifts from wood to coal and from coal to oil. Schroedinger Fellow Juergen Braunstein at Harvard University examines the drivers of the green energy ‘revolution’ and its wide geo-financial implications. Continue reading “Geofinance of Renewables and Lobster Roll in Cambridge”
As the “King of Swing”, clarinettist and bandleader Benny Goodman was the archetypical representative of the US entertainment industry in the late 1930s. It is less well known that he also made a name for himself in the sphere of classical music, especially in the USA. The Schrödinger fellow Elisabeth Reisinger explores that side of […] Continue reading “The most intellectual of US rivers”
Fungi play an important role in the forest ecosystem, for instance as wood-decaying agents. Biotechnology specialist Daniel Kracher is investigating how exactly these processes work. In his host city of Manchester, the Schrödinger Fellow enjoyed the extremely open research culture and reciprocated by sharing samples of traditional Austrian cuisine. Continue reading “Sachertorte in Manchester”
The Goffin cockatoos are an amazingly clever parrot species. Behaviorist Mark O’Hara wants to find out why. In order to better understand how the animals tick, the Schrödinger scholar has set off for Indonesia. Continue reading “The cockatoos of the forgotten islands”
Some of the world’s most impoverished habitats are found in the Southwest of Australia. There, biologist and Schrödinger Fellow Christiana Staudinger has found the ideal setting to investigate how plants and soils adapt to such harsh conditions. Surprisingly, this region’s flora is also full of life and very diverse, as the young scholar reports from […] Continue reading “Plant species interactions in Perth”
Bordeaux is known by many for its good wine. In the world of combinatorics, a branch of discrete mathematics, it is also the ideal city for Michael Wallner to deepen his research on lattice paths and compact tree-like structures. Continue reading “Paths and trees in Bordeaux”
Armed with a Schrödinger fellowship and her cat, Corina Madreiter-Sokolowski moved to Switzerland. At ETH Zurich, the pharmacist investigates ageing processes at molecular level. The research environment of this top-notch university made the young scientist realise the importance of networking and exchanges, as she reveals in her report for scilog. Continue reading “Grüezi, Hoi and Salü – Greetings from Zurich!”
Is there such a thing as objective morality? And what do philosophical laypeople think about this idea? These are questions explored by the philosopher Thomas Pölzler from Graz. At the College of Charleston, Schrödinger fellow Pölzler produced exciting results on this issue, implemented new research ideas and, last but not least, learned a great deal […] Continue reading “Now tell me, how do you feel about morality?”
Constantinople in 1252 AD: an extremely learned theologian — a member of the newly founded Dominican Order, a talented linguist and a master of Eastern church studies — writes a voluminous Latin treatise Against the Greeks, a treasure trove of information about the Greek church and theology of his time not just for his local […] Continue reading “In the Silicon Valley of medieval research”