Tan Eng Chye, President of the National University of Singapore (NUS), considers finding the right balance between basic and applied research a constant struggle. For the mathematician, who graduated from Yale University in the US, the Covid-19 crisis is an opportunity for universities to demonstrate how valuable they are for their country. Continue reading ““Excellence and relevance are not mutually exclusive””
Optical data processing, quantum information and intelligent buildings are areas of application for Elisa Davoli’s research. The mathematician and recipient of a 2020 START prize develops theories for modelling composite materials with the ability to adapt to their environment. Continue reading “Smart materials for the next generation”
The physicist and START Prize winner Birgitta Schultze-Bernhardt has developed a way of generating UV light with special properties using ultrashort laser pulses. She hopes to use this to investigate the behaviour of trace gases in the atmosphere in greater detail. Continue reading “UV light to help in understanding climate change”
Robert Ganian wants to modify a well-proven theoretical computer science toolkit so it can be used for the booming field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. In order to extend the so-called parameterised complexity theory to this rapidly growing area of application, he needs to bring together expertise from various fields. At the end of […] Continue reading “Upgrading the toolkit for AI problems”
Over the last 25 years, the microbiologist Michael Wagner has developed methods that make it possible to examine bacteria and archaea directly in medical or environmental samples without growing them. Today he watches them eat, sorts them by function, and in 2015 discovered “Comammox”, a new bacterial species that can help reduce the production of […] Continue reading “Exploring the miracle of life”
Austria is preparing its roadmap for the next ten years on the way to becoming a leading country in European research. In an interview with scilog, FWF President Klement Tockner explains why the time is ripe for really bold steps. Continue reading ““We have such incredible potential””
Human ecologist Helmut Haberl about the connection between hunger riots and bio-energy, why environmental protection makes economic sense, and why there can be no carbon-neutral society without fundamental changes. Continue reading ““It’s not a question of giving up comfort, it’s about a better life!””
Anyone who receives a grant from the European Research Council (ERC) can count themselves among the vanguard of European research. – One of them is the health psychologist Jens Blechert, who investigates the connections between eating and emotions. He shares with scilog what meaning the ERC grant and basic research have for him. Continue reading “Ten years of ERC: an exemplary boon for researchers”
More high risk research, a quality offensive and new alliances are planned to give an additional boost to Austria as a leading research location. In an interview with scilog, the new president of the Austrian Science Fund FWF, Klement Tockner, explains why we need to confront competition for the best minds. Continue reading ““We need to confront competition””