News

Survival yesterday and today: exhibition at the University of Graz makes poverty audible

What connects Anna from Styria, who lost her job two years ago due to illness, with the blacksmith Giulio, who worked in Bologna almost 500 years ago? Both are afraid of no longer being able to pay their rent. And what does the medieval Nuremberg begging ordinance have to do with current regulations in Graz? In both cases, the aim is to prevent too many people from begging for alms in the city. How do people cope with existential worries? To what extent are such experiences the same today as they were then? From 5 to 31 March 2026, an exhibition at the University of Graz will bring poverty in the present and the Middle Ages to life.

New AI Method Revolutionises the Design of Enzymes

Researchers at TU Graz and the University of Graz can use the technology to construct artificial biocatalysts. These new enzymes are significantly faster, more stable and more versatile than previous artificial biocatalysts.

The dark side of life: new method developed to identify soil organisms

A large number of soil animals are smaller than one millimetre and are therefore difficult to study scientifically. Biologists from the University of Graz have now developed a method to determine both the shape and the DNA of the organisms. The results have been published in the journal Geoderma.

Power up for exams: study days until 30 January at the University of Graz

How does peace succeed? Maximilian Lakitsch drives research forward

Donald Trump is rattling his proverbial sabre ever louder, unrest in the Middle East is escalating and the war in Ukraine continues to rage. Maximilian Lakitsch knows what political measures could contribute to reconciliation. He is the coordinator of an EU-wide initiative to strengthen peace research.

Simon Benal completes a voluntary environmental year at the University of Graz

Committing to the planet, getting to know exciting fields of activity and discovering possible paths for your own future – these are the opportunities offered by the Freiwilliges Umweltjahr (FUJ), a voluntary environmental year. One person who has chosen this option is Simon Benal. He has been working in the environmental management team at the University of Graz since September 2025.

From Iowa to Graz: US researcher puts “angry” algorithms to the test

Researcher Hussam Habib is investigating how social media platforms use algorithms to evoke emotions, capture attention, and disseminate content in a targeted manner. Born in Pakistan, he came to the University of Graz on an APART-USA scholarship from the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Thanks to new EU regulations, the scientist hopes to gain deeper insight into the mechanisms behind YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, and other platforms.

Lightbulb moments: How two young physicists are working for tomorrow

They shed light on unresolved questions – and use it in their work in physics. Diana Shakirova is using light to distinguish different chiral molecules, which can have both healing and toxic effects. Christoph Stockinger, on the other hand, uses light to develop high-precision sensors. But it is not only light that connects the two physicists. The doctoral students took part in the NanoGraz Careers & Ideas Days to prepare themselves in good time for the next steps in their careers as young scientists.