News

From chokeberry to stone pine: plant rarities market on April 26 and 27

On the weekend after Easter, the Botanical Garden and the campus meadow at the University of Graz will once again be transformed into a huge rarities fair. Hundred exhibitors offer plants and seeds as well as edibles, selected handicrafts and garden utensils.

Graz gegen Kapstadt und New York: Wettbewerb der Naturbeobachtungen ab 25. April

Bei der City Nature Challenge von 25. bis 28. April können Hobby-Forscher:innen Naturbeobachtungen sammeln und damit die Wissenschaft unterstützen.

Grundstein für das „Graz Center of Physics“ gelegt

Heute am 8. April 2025 wurde die Grundsteinlegung für das „Graz Center of Physics“ vorgenommen – eines der größten Universitätsbauprojekte Österreichs, das im Jahr 2030 seine Türen öffnen wird. Der Neubau wird die Physik-Institute der Universität Graz und der TU Graz an einem Standort vereinen und eine neue Ära der interdisziplinären Zusammenarbeit einläuten. Die Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft errichtet das Graz Center of Physics als Bauherrin und Eigentümerin.

Quick, concise, clear: doctoral students present research in 3 Minute Thesis Competition

The Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) presents doctoral students with a challenge that they are not usually faced with in research: to keep it very short, reduce it to the essentials and present it in a simplified, generally understandable way. They have three minutes to present the topic of their dissertation, a single PowerPoint slide is allowed, creativity is desired and English is required as the language of presentation. On 14 March 2025, nine doctoral students took to the stage at the Literaturhaus Graz for the competition organised by the Doctoral Academy.

Sensitive and strong: physicists at the University of Graz create basis for new sensors

Sensors play a crucial role in all areas of modern technology. The more precisely they respond to the smallest changes, the higher the quality and performance of an application – whether in devices for facial recognition at the airport or for detection of viruses. Researchers in the field of nanooptics at the University of Graz have now found a solution for further optimising sensors. The current study was published in the renowned scientific journal Physical Review Letters.

Doctorate sub auspiciis: Researchers from the University of Graz and TU Graz honoured

Six researchers from Graz have been awarded doctorates "sub auspiciis Praesidentis rei publicae" this year: Computer scientists Barbara Gigerl, Andrea Pferscher and Fikret Bašić (all TU Graz), mathematicians Andreas Habring (Uni Graz) and Reinhard Lüftenegger (TU Graz) and chemist Andreas Windischbacher (Uni Graz) were honoured on Friday, 14 March 2025 for their outstanding achievements at school and university, including their doctorates. An honour that only very few graduates of Austrian universities receive. On behalf of the Federal President, University of Graz Rector Peter Riedler and TU Graz Rector Horst Bischof performed the graduation ceremony in the auditorium of the Old University of Graz. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen will personally present the doctoral candidates with the Ring of Honour with the Federal Eagle of the Republic of Austria in the Vienna Hofburg on 17 March.

Brain teasers: Almost 300 students at the Maths Mixed Doubles at the University of Graz

The University of Graz and the Styrian Department of Education jointly organised a maths competition for ten to twelve-year-olds. The final on 25 February 2025 for the fifth grade was won by Musikmittelschule Weiz, while MS/BG/BRG Klusemannstraße from Graz came out on top in the sixth grade.

What makes cancer cells weak: a new approach in the fight against therapy resistance

One particular challenge in the treatment of cancer is therapy resistance. An international research team has now discovered a mechanism that opens up new treatment strategies for tumours in which conventional chemotherapeutic agents have reached their limits. "Cytotoxic agents from nature lead to an increased incorporation of polyunsaturated fatty acids into the membrane of cancer cells. This makes them more susceptible to ferroptosis, a type of cell death, at a very early stage," reports Andreas Koeberle, a pharmacist at the University of Graz and lead author of the study, which has just been published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

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Sustainability Award 2024 for two projects of the University of Graz

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