Bio-plastics and baroque theatre: Awards for two researchers from the University of Graz

Provincial Councillor Willibald Ehrenhöfer (left) presented the Forschungspreis des Landes Steiermark to Katalin Barta Weissert (centre), the Erzherzog-Johann-Forschungspreis to Christian Neuhuber, both from the University of Graz, and the Förderungspreis des Landes Steiermark to Maria Eichlseder from Graz University of Technology. @ Foto Fischer

Chemist Katalin Barta Weissert received this year's "Forschungspreis des Landes Steiermark", while Germanist Christian Neuhuber received the "Erzherzog-Johann-Forschungspreis". The awards are endowed with 12,000 euros each and are presented for outstanding achievements in the field of science and research. Provincial Councillor Willibald Ehrenhöfer presented the awards on 7 November 2025 in the White Hall of Graz Castle.

“I am delighted about the awards presented by the Province of Styria to two outstanding researchers from the University of Graz. They once again underline the high quality and importance of research at our university. The spectrum ranges from new perspectives on historical developments to solutions for the major challenges in shaping the future,” says Rector Peter Riedler.

Revolutionary bio-plastics
It is a milestone that combines environmental protection and economic efficiency: Katalin Barta Weissert from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Graz and her team have developed a fully recyclable, bio-based epoxy resin. The innovation has far-reaching implications, as epoxy plastics is used as a very robust lightweight material in numerous products, including skateboard ramps, aeroplanes, boats, cars and wind turbines. However, commercially available epoxy products are based on petroleum and are not currently recyclable. Now, researchers at the University of Graz have developed an epoxy resin thermoset that is made exclusively from renewable raw materials. In addition, the material dissolves easily in methanol, allowing all the original building blocks to be recovered.
Read more in the article “University of Graz develops sustainable and recyclable bio-plastics”

Graz, city of theatre
Theatre enjoyed great popularity during the Baroque period. Christian Neuhuber from the Department of German Studies at the University of Graz researched the significance of Graz in connection with professional theatre in the 17th century. Based on years of research in numerous archives in Austria and abroad, he was able to paint a completely new picture of the Styrian theatre landscape during the Baroque period. English theatre was admired in the Inner Austrian residential city of Graz earlier than in Vienna. Many of the most important German-speaking ensembles of their time entertained Styrian audiences, and even some Italian stars launched their international careers from the city on the Mur.
More on this in the book Graz und das Berufstheater im 17. Jahrhundert

Gudrun Pichler

Related news

Complying with the norm: Why Do Standards Shape Our Lives, Elisabeth Staudegger?

Standards determine whether a sheet of paper fits in a printer or whether a charging plug can power multiple devices. These standards shape our everyday lives. But who actually sets these standards? Where are the weaknesses, and how could science help to improve them? Elisabeth Staudegger, Head of the ‘Law and IT’ Department at the Institute for Legal Foundations at the University of Graz, host the Academic Standards Day on 16 June. Here she relays how sciences can contribute to the topic of standardisation and reveals her personal favourite standard.

More body awareness than a culture war

In Italy, sex education lessons will in future only be permitted with parental consent, and will be banned entirely in nurseries and primary schools. At the same time, Pride Month highlights why knowledge about the body, relationships, boundaries and diversity is important for young people. A study by the University of Graz shows how important knowledge about the body, contraception, relationship skills and protection against violence is

Will Austria win the World Cup? Mathematician reveals calculation method

Michael Fischer uses the football tournament as a practical example for highschool lessons.

Survival strategies: How plants respond to drought

According to Geosphere Austria, this spring was the driest in Austria since records began around 170 years ago. The low rainfall put particular pressure on the agricultural sector. And climate change is set to make the situation even worse in the coming decades. We asked Johannes Liesche, a professor at the Department of Biology at the University of Graz, how plants react to water shortages and how they survive periods of drought.