Researchers at the University of Graz have been awarded three ERC Starting Grants.

Does democracy belong in a museum? University of Graz initiates forum for citizens and research

Keeping an ear to the ground, identifying needs and tailoring educational programmes: That is the aim of the Democracy Research Forum. To kick things off, there will be a conference for everyone at the Chamber of Labour on October 16 and 17.

New climate records

Whether in terms of greenhouse gas concentrations, temperatures across the globe, ocean heat and global sea level, total land area in extreme drought or the melting of Antarctica sea ice– the highest values since records began were measured in 2023. The latest international annual report on the state of the climate, published by the National Center for Environmental Information of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, documents the rapid warming of the Earth and its consequences. In 2023, El Niño acted as an additional booster. Researchers from the University of Graz also contributed to the report.

Strong research impetus: 16 million euros for Circular Bioengineering Excellence Cluster

The Cluster of Excellence Circular Bioengineering has today received a grant of 16 million euros from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). This funding will support research into environmentally friendly bioprocesses and sustainable materials based on renewable raw materials over the next five years. This will provide significant impetus for the transition to a circular bioeconomy. Around 100 researchers from the University of Graz, Graz University of Technology, the University of Vienna and Vienna University of Technology are working together on an interdisciplinary basis under the leadership of BOKU University in the project, which has a total volume of 27 million euros.

Beached whales: researchers at the University of Graz find arsenic in the brain

The chemist Jörg Feldmann from the University of Graz has discovered toxic arsenic compounds in the brains of pilot whales. The concentration increases with age. The reason: arsenic in the food. This could also have consequences for humans.