Friday, 07 November 2025

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

Presentation of the 2025 Research Awards of the Province of Styria: Willibald Ehrenhöfer, Maria Eichlseder, Katalin Barta Weissert, Christian Neuhuber (from left) ©Foto Fischer

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

Related news

Learning better: Can science experiments in group settings help children with autism?

How can pupils with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have positive learning experiences and improve their social skills? Researchers at the University of Graz are investigating how science experiments in group settings can contribute to this. Initial results from the project, which is funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, show that children react differently depending on the kind of neurodiversity, but that experimentation classes with the right setting definitely have potential. "Pupils with ASD can do more than is currently expected of them in many cases," says project leader Uwe Simon.

Sustainability Award 2024 for two projects of the University of Graz

How do major international conferences reduce their carbon footprint? And what can maths lessons contribute to education for sustainable development? Two questions that were answered at the University of Graz. The corresponding projects were awarded the Sustainability Award 2024 in silver on 26 November in Vienna. This award for Austria's universities and colleges is presented by the Ministry of Science and the Ministry of Climate Protection.

Bees under observation: University of Graz provides unprecedented insights into the hive

What is going on in the combs? How many eggs is the queen laying? How much honey is there? Autonomous robots and AI algorithms provide important data and high-resolution real-time images from inside a beehive. "As part of an international team, we have developed a game-changer technology for a new type of digitalised behavioural research," reports biologist Thomas Schmickl from the Artifical Life Lab at the University of Graz. The publication, which has just appeared as the cover story in the journal "Science Robotics", describes the wealth of information that can be obtained from this unique research facility.

Research for healthy aging: FWF funds Cluster of Excellence "MetAGE" with 18 million euros

Six researchers from the Field of Excellence "BioHealth" at the University of Graz, together with colleagues from the Medical Universities of Graz and Vienna, have acquired an FWF-funded "Cluster of Excellence". Now a newly formed center of excellence will be created under the leadership of the University of Graz. The aim is to gain a better understanding of healthy aging. The findings will flow directly into clinical research.