www.donau-uni.ac.at/research
Research Report 2018/19
Danube University Krems. The University for Continuing Education. 1 Foreword 3
Building Bridges
As a public university for continuing education, Danube University Krems aims at overcoming societal challenges. We bridge basic and application-oriented research, and build bridges between science “We build bridges and practice in our four main research fields “Cohesive and Innovative Societies”, between basic and “Cultural Heritage”, “Regenerative Medicine” application-oriented and “Lifelong Learning Research”. research, bridge This clear research profile as well as an transdisciplinary approach have allowed for science with practice. significant developments: the first two PhD programs were launched in 2016, and the This transdisciplinary first PhD students have just been graduating in June 2019. The opening of the Core approach initiates Facility on Campus Krems provides research dynamics and innovation with cutting edge infrastructure, and our international research network has pleasingly and ensures the high grown, above all in Europe. social impact our However, the most important foundation of research at Danube University Krems is our research has on society.” staff. Their competences and striving for new insights as well as their commitment to innovation are the cornerstone of our success.
With this in mind, we cordially invite you to take a look at our research and to meet the people behind it.
Viktoria Weber 4 Introduction 5
Answers to Challenges
Digitalization is permeating all areas of PhD programs and inter-disciplinary “Research at the Faculty of Health and social and economic life. Demographic trends research groups Medicine addresses current medical challenge us to find solutions against the The PhD programs accredited by AQ Austria, questions and develops innovative backdrop of ageing societies and lifestyle- “Regenerative Medicine” and “Migration therapy approaches. Close collaboration related diseases. Migration streams call for Studies,“ are established research priorities and with clinics and partners working in the integration concepts, cultural heritage for are an elementary component of developing field ensures strong knowledge and strategies to preserve it. The economic our research and fostering younger generation competence transfer. Medical research and technological dynamics necessitate scientists. Following the successful launch of findings thus quickly enter into everyday new approaches to lifelong learning. Finding the first two PhD programs in 2016, the first clinical practice.” answers to these challenges is crucial. graduations can be celebrated in 2019. Stefan Nehrer At the beginning of 2019, two new interfaculty Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medicine Seeking dialogue research groups were able to take up their Promoting dialogue between basic research work. These groups relate questions on “The global transitions taking place today and practical application, between the scientific age-sensitive learning and on creating spaces have far-reaching impact. The Faculty disciplines and society initiates dynamics and to support learning and innovation. of Business and Globalization applies a leads to innovation. transdisciplinary approach to teaching and Science and Society research to deal with change sustainably, Four research fields Danube University Krems regularly partici- while at the same time constructively Danube University Krems has a clear research pates in events such as the “Long Night of exploiting the potential of innovations. profile within its four research fields “Cohesive Research” to provide the interested public We focus on overcoming the boundaries and Innovative Societies”, “Cultural Heritage”, with an insight into its work. between science and society as crucial to “Regenerative Medicine” and “Lifelong Young people can gain an understanding the goal of creating profound knowledge.” Learning Research”. where the career path in becoming a scientist Gerald Steiner In the past two years, our researchers were leads to in the course of excursions or events, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Globalization able to broaden their international networks such as the “Girls’ day”. which the significant increase in the number “Ecologically sustainable architecture, of EU-funded projects proves. The numbers lifelong learning concepts and technolo- also speak for success: the third-party funds gies, developing intelligent sensor raised for research rose to 7.3 million euros, systems and exploring and protecting a clear upward trend. cultural heritage are the key topics at the Faculty of Education, Arts and Architecture. To achieve this requires connecting pure and applied research, and a permanent dialogue between practice and science.” Christian Hanus Dean of the Faculty of Education, Arts and Architecture
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 6 Contents 7
Foreword 3
Introduction Answers to Challenges 4
Transdisciplinarity – Approach and Implementation Transdisciplinary Research 8
Regenerative Medicine 10
Regenerative Medicine 12 PhD Program Regenerative Medicine 18 Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics 22 Neurosciences and Prevention 28 Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health 32
Cohesive and Innovative Societies 36
Digitalization 38 Migration and Integration 44 PhD Program Migration Studies 50 Energy Efficiency 54 Evidence-Based Medicine 58 Transdisciplinary Laboratories 62
Cultural Heritage 66
Revitalization and Cultural Heritage 68 Archives of Contemporary Arts 74 Image Science and Media Art Research 76 Museum Collections Management 80
Continuing Education Research 84
Educational Technologies and Professionalization in Higher Education Management 86 Inter-Faculty Research Groups 92
Research Clusters 96
WasserCluster Lunz 98 Complexity Science Hub Vienna 101
Science & Society 102 Tableau Vivant – Old Pictures Come Alive Again! 105
Facts & Figures 106 Office for Research Services 108 Recently Appointed Professors and Assistant Professors 109 Key Figures and Diagrams 110
Sponsors and Imprint 112
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 8 Transdisciplinarity – Approach and Implementation 9
Transdisciplinary Research
Danube University Krems identifies age-appropriate learning or creating a learning Inter-Faculty research groups relevant societal challenges and and innovation environment for continuing Learning and Innovation Spaces for developments. Basic and application- education. Lifelong Learning oriented research is combined with the Age-appropriate Learning expertise of different scientific disciplines The transdisciplinary laboratories at Danube bundled and interlinked with practice- University Krems on the other hand provide Transdisciplinary Labs oriented knowledge. room for exploring complex questions and GovLabAustria: Experimental room for for systematically working out solutions. modern administration solutions Digitalization, migration flows, demographic They particularly focus on the impact of Transdiciplinary Lab sustainable digital transition, economic change processes: digitalization on work and society, as well environments (SDE TdLab) Today’s complex societal challenges require as questions related to sustainability. Transdisciplinary Laboratory sustainable networked thinking, relating knowledge mineral resources (SMR TdLab) potentials from different disciplines, and Biodiversity Hub involving society.
Danube University Krems faces these challenges with a transdisciplinary approach in its research by putting basic research, application, scientific disciplines and society into relation. As a university for continuing education, Danube University Krems builds Society on the profound experience of its students as well as on the individual expertise of its lecturers and teachers to promote the transfer of knowledge and competences among education and research.
Inter-faculty research groups and Basic research Application Transdisciplinary Labs Apart from all four research fields “Cohesive and Innovative Societies”, “Cultural Heritage”, “Regenerative Medicine” and “Lifelong Learning Research”, Danube University Transdisciplinarity Krems has established inter-faculty research groups in which the focus is on topics such as Disciplines
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 Research Report 2018/19 11
Institution-wide research field Regenerative Medicine
Society
Regenerative Medicine PhD Program Regenerative Medicine
Basic Research Application Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics Neurosciences and Prevention Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health
Transdisciplinarity
Disciplines
www.donau-uni.ac.at/research 12 Regenerative Medicine Regenerative Medicine > Regenerative Medicine 13
Joint Regeneration
At present therapies for osteoarthritis can largely only treat the symptoms, The Role of Microvesicles from Blood but not reverse the disease progress. Derived Products in Osteoarthritis One approach investigates the effect of FUNDING endogenous blood products on cartilage Technology Fund, Province of Lower Austria regeneration. DURATION About 15 % of the total population is affected 2018 – 2019 by osteoarthritis, a chronic degenerative DEPARTMENT disease. It leads to a progressive degradation Health Sciences, Medicine and Research of the cartilage, so that patients suffer from pain to the point of disability and are PROJECT LEAD Stefan Nehrer severely restricted in everyday life. The Andrea De Luna disease is currently treated with painkillers and dietary supplements, conservatively PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER with physiotherapy or surgically by joint Alexander Otahal replacement. COORDINATION Danube University Krems Bone, tissue and organ replacement is a major research focus at Testing the efficiency of blood products Endogenous blood products such as platelet- PARTNER Danube University Krems. Research centers on new methods of OrthoSera GmbH rich plasma or hyperacute serum are already tissue engineering for cartilage and bone regeneration, as well as used in practice to support the healing of cartilage defects. However, there are on osteoarthritis and its treatment with the aid of regenerative variances in the effectiveness of these blood medicine. New biotechnological therapies for diseases of the products. This depends on the number of cells present in the blood product, on how the musculoskeletal system are developed in cooperation with partners product is produced, and even on the patients from universities, clinics and industry. receiving the product. The project, a cooperation with OrthoSera GmbH, characterizes extracellular vesicles, growth factors, cytokines, enzymes, and other components in blood products. Their effect is investigated using an inflammation model Pictured (f. l. t. r.) that simulates the osteoarthritis disease front row: pattern. The results provide conclusions as to Daniela Kern Olga Kuten-Pella whether therapies with extracellular vesicles, Eugenia Niculescu-Morzsa vesicle-free blood products or blood products Irene Hackl and all their components can stimulate joint Andrea De Luna regeneration. back row: Alexander Otahal Markus Neubauer Vivek Jeyakumar Christoph Bauer Christoph Stotter Karina Kramer Alfred Mann Andrea Pichler Stefan Nehrer
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 14 Regenerative Medicine Regenerative Medicine > Regenerative Medicine 15
Transplants for Optimizing Partial Bone Regeneration Endoprostheses
Bone defects can be caused by fractures Clinical observations have shown that or osteoporosis. Treatment with bone Developmental Tissue Engineering partial joint replacement often results in Lifetime Assessment and Prediction grafts from other people is often lengthy Model of Endochondral Ossification progressive degeneration of the preserved of Partial Replacement Technology and difficult. Therefore, scientists are for Bone Regeneration joint cartilage at the knees and hips. This FUNDING working on a method to activate bone project investigates different parameters FUNDING NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. (NFB) regeneration. NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. (NFB) in order to understand the causes of wear and tear. DURATION A tissue engineering model is constructed with DURATION 2017 – 2019 2018 – 2020 know-how combined from areas as diverse Osteoarthritis leads to immobility in the knee DEPARTMENT as chemical process engineering (material DEPARTMENT joint and to pain. Approximately two thirds Health Sciences, Medicine and Research production), biochemistry and biomechanics. Health Sciences, Medicine and Research of 60- to 70-year-olds suffer from joint pain, In the first step, the extracellular matrix is which can be caused by misalignments, SUPERVISORS Stefan Nehrer isolated from the cartilage. This matrix is then PROJECT LEAD injuries, overstraining or genetic predisposi- Stefan Nehrer Thomas Klestil combined with a mixture of silk and fibroin tion. The affected knee joints can be replaced to produce the artificial construct, which RESEARCHERS either by total knee endoprosthesis or by PhD STUDENT promotes the formation of new tissue. Finally, Vivek Jeyakumar less invasive partial endoprosthesis. The Christoph Stotter Eugenia Niculescu-Morzsa hypertrophic chrondocytes are embedded advantages of partial endoprosthesis include PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS in this ECM-SF construct to stimulate the COORDINATION a less extensive surgical intervention as well Eugenia Niculescu-Morzsa calcification of cartilage tissue into bone tissue. Danube University Krems as faster rehabilitation. However, the success Christoph Bauer rate is significantly lower compared to total
Promising implants PARTNERS knee replacement. One complication is the COORDINATION Karl Landsteiner Private University of Health AC²T research GmbH The newly formed bone tissue is studied progressive degeneration of the preserved Sciences (Dieter Pahr, Department of in cooperation with the Karl Landsteiner Biochemistry) joint cartilage. Private University of Health Sciences using biomechanical tests. These test stability, The Influence of Metal Ions on mineralization, and microarchitecture using Chondrocytes micro-computer tomography. In the future, This project analyzes the background of the model of these biomaterial-cartilage progressive joint wear. For this purpose, complexes will represent a cost-effective the biological and physical (biotribological) means of repairing bone defects. This implant properties of the metal implants on the has the advantage of mimicking the natural surrounding joint cartilage are investigated. structure and functional aspects of bone The focus is on the friction of the contact tissue. surfaces and the resulting release of metal ions. In detail, the research project investigates the vigour of the chrondocytes (cartilage cells) in the interface between cartilage and metal surfaces. The effects of the metal ions on the chrondocytes are being studied. The results will optimize the use of partial endoprostheses.
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 16 Regenerative Medicine Regenerative Medicine > Regenerative Medicine 17
Detecting Competence Center Pseudomonas aeruginosa MechanoBiology
The focus of this project is on The Competence Center MechanoBiology providing evidence of microbiological Development of an Electrochemical is an international research group Competence Center MechanoBiology contaminations and developing suitable Sensor for the Rapid Detection working in the field of mechanobiology. in Regenerative Medicine sensor systems for their detection. One of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in It operates at the interface of cell biology, Hospitals FUNDING specific method is being developed to immunology and bioengineering to study European Commission, Province of Lower Austria identify the hospital germ Pseudomonas the impact of force on individual cells in a FUNDING aeruginosa. NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. (NFB) context of tissues and organs. DURATION It incorporates dynamic events such as 2017 – 2020 P. aeruginosa is a pathogen resistant to many DURATION physical force, dynamic stretching and 2019 – 2021 DEPARTMENT antibiotics. It can cause a wide range of strain, compression, and shear forces, Biomedical Research infections in both immunocompromised and DEPARTMENT their conversion into biochemical signals healthy people. Its habitats are ubiquitous, but Integrated Sensor Systems and the transmission of these signals into PROJECT LEAD Michael Bernhard Fischer moist surfaces, such as taps are preferred, the nucleus. The knowledge generated PROJECT LEAD which can also be colonized in the form within this project will be incorporated Martin Brandl COORDINATION of a biofilm. The biofilm makes the cells into the development of clinical therapies. Danube University Krems insensitive to antibacterial agents such as SCIENTIFIC PROJECT LEAD Jörg Ettenauer PARTNERS disinfectants, antiseptic detergents, and Transnational academic research groups from Technical University Vienna antibiotics. Pseudomonas is also an indicator Krems, Vienna, Brno, Nové Hrady and Ceské PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER Ludwig Boltzmann Society, Institute for of hygiene quality in the food industry. Sylvia Schneider Budejovice are collaborating to bundle their Experimental and Clinical and Traumatology expertise and create a common research and University of South Bohemia in Budweis Fast contamination detection COORDINATION innovation infrastructure. At the same time, Institutes for theoretical and applied mechanics in It currently takes about two days to detect the Danube University Krems this will allow merging knowledge from a the Czech Academy of Sciences St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno pathogen using cultivation-based techniques PARTNERS variety of different scientific disciplines such and analytical profiling. This project aims Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences; as regenerative medicine, stem cell research, to develop an electrochemical method to University Hospital St. Pölten – Clinical Institute for cell biology, biochemistry, immunology, and identify the pathogens within one day, using Hygiene and Microbiology transfusion medicine and developing young a biosensor. This enables medical staff to investigators in a PhD program to obtain high take swift countermeasures in the event of class research. microbial contamination.
In the first step, specific targets are traced by means of screening and electrochemical analysis of specific metabolites and proteins. This is followed by determining the detection limit of the bacterial isolates. This method is then integrated into a biosensor and tested. The developed biosensor can be used in clinical applications as well as in the food industry or for testing water quality.
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 18 PhD Program Regenerative Medicine Regenerative Medicine > PhD Program Regenerative Medicine 19
PhD Program Regenerative Medicine
The Faculty of Health and Medicine starts Research topics: its fourth PhD program in Regenerative Principles of regenerative medicine and Medicine in 2019, and thus promotes the tissue engineering training of next-generation researchers. Regeneration of articular surfaces The PhD students of the first year will (cartilage transplants, growth factor graduate in June 2019. therapy, mesenchymal stem cell implantation) Regenerative medicine operates at the Immune-regulatory mechanisms of interface of cell biology, mechanobiology, mesenchymal stem cells immunology and bioengineering to Tissue and organ replacement develop new and innovative technologies Methods of organ support and to counteract degeneration. Restoring extracorporeal blood purification dysfunctional cells with stem cells thereby Pathophysiology of sepsis and researching repairing damaged tissue and organs, unravel inflammatory mechanisms the mechanism of self-repair and developing Interactions of blood and tissue with new therapeutic approaches to counteract biomaterials degeneration are major topics of the PhD Program. Under these circumstances Danube The structured PhD program “Regenerative Medicine” incorporates University Krems supports basic and applied taught and research elements to provide high-level training in research in order to solve medical challenges of the society. theoretical and practical aspects of regenerative medicine. We offer In the course of the PhD program a strong interdisciplinary research environment to support the Regenerative Medicine, students have the development of our students towards independent researchers and opportunity to work at an interface between basic research and clinical application in third- scientists. party funded projects. They can study the effect of self-organization of cells, changes in the zytoarchitecture during cultivation, mechanobiological effects on cultured cells, the role of forces for the maintenance of cultured cells and the effect of microparticles on immune cells during inflammatory Pictured (f. l. t. r.) processes. Students will learn to manage front row: projects, how to apply biostatistics, write Bojana Stojanovic scientific manuscripts and defend ideas. Olga Kuten-Pella Sobha Karuthedom George Bettina Kronsteiner Christian Endres back row: Alexander Otahal Markus Neubauer Vivek Jeyakumar Christoph Bauer Christoph Stotter Markus Pasztorek
Not in the picture displayed Matthias Pilecky
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 20 PhD Program Regenerative Medicine Regenerative Medicine > PhD Program Regenerative Medicine 21
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mosaicplasty on Regulate the Immune System the Arthrosis Model
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) About two thirds of 60- to 70-year-olds possess certain regenerative and Immunoregulatory Properties of suffer from joint problems. Inflammation Establishing an In Vitro Arthrosis immunoregulatory capabilities; however, Mesenchymal Stem Cells that occurs as a result of degenerative Model the mechanism how they act is still not joint diseases leads to changes in FUNDING FUNDING fully understood. The goal of this project NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. (NFB) joint fluid and cartilage surface and to NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. (NFB) is to study the mechanisms and increased friction. the potentials how MSCs are DURATION DURATION immunoregulatory and by doing so can 2017 – 2020 The project uses an in vitro arthrosis model to 2016 – 2019 propel tissue and organ regeneration. DEPARTMENT investigate the influence of arthrosis on the DEPARTMENT Biomedical Research, Center for Experimental tribological (friction and wear), biomechanical Health Sciences, Medicine and Research Heart, kidney, lung, liver and pancreas Medicine and biological properties of cartilage. Different transplants are performed more than lubricants are being tested to minimize friction PROJECT LEAD PROJECT LEAD Stefan Nehrer 1,000 times a year in Austria. Still, they are on the cartilage. Michael Bernhard Fischer accompanied by serious side effects caused PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER by rejection of the organs or high incidence of PhD STUDENTS The second research question deals with Christoph Bauer infection due to immunosuppressive therapy. Agnes Kocsis repairing cartilage damage by means of COORDINATION The donor organ is recognized by the bodies’ Markus Pasztorek mosaicplasty. Mosaicplasty is a cartilage- Bettina Kronsteiner Danube University Krems foreign defense mechanisms and attacked bone graft, in which a part of smooth by the immune system. This transplantation COORDINATION cartilage is removed from an area in the PARTNER barrier comprises the blood group ABO Danube University Krems knee joint that is not or only mildly subjected AC2T research GmbH (Friedrich Franek; Olga system and the human leukocyte antigen to strain, and grafted onto the damaged Kuten-Pella) PARTNERS system, a group of human genes central for a Austrian Center for Medical Innovation area. The effects of anti-inflammatory or tissue imprint. and Technology (ACMIT) anti-inflammatory mediators on the friction Technical University Vienna coefficient, the cartilage surface and molecular Suppressing inflammatory processes in biological parameters of the grafts are then the immune system tested. Additionally the use of lubricants This project investigates whether immune such as hyaluronic acid to improve the cell-induced inflammation can be modulated friction coefficient between grafts is being with the aid of MSCs. MSCs are the investigated. stem cells of the connective tissue with the potential to regenerate damaged or Protecting cartilage outdated tissue and organs. They exhibit In the course of the project, new insights immunoregulatory capabilities, but the into cartilage physiology and function have underlying mechanism including specific already been gained. A cartilage homeostasis receptors and their signal transduction disorder with pro-inflammatory mediators pathways, biomechanical couplings and their resulted in changes to the friction coefficient conversion to biochemical signals and their and the cartilage surface. In order to develop physical properties are largely unknown. cartilage-protecting substances, various Research needs to be carried out to better lubricants and their influence on the grafts are characterize MSCs for a potential cellular being investigated. immunotherapy in a clinical setting.
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 22 Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics Regenerative Medicine > Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics 23
Advances in Sepsis Therapy
Intensive basic research as well as the availability of new analytical methods Christian Doppler Laboratory for have considerably increased our Innovative Therapy Approaches knowledge on the pathophysiology of in Sepsis sepsis. FUNDING Christian Doppler Forschungsgesellschaft and Sepsis is a life-threatening inflammatory Fresenius Medical Care, Germany reaction of the body to an infection. It is characterized by pronounced heterogeneity DURATION 2013 – 2019 both on pathogen and on patient level. The CD Laboratory for Innovative Therapy DEPARTMENT Approaches in Sepsis investigates the Biomedical Research pathophysiology of sepsis in order to develop PROJECT LEAD efficient diagnostic tools and supportive Viktoria Weber therapies. The integrity of the endothelium, which is a barrier between the circulation and PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS the surrounding tissue is lost during sepsis. Birgit Fendl Mechanisms underlying this loss-of-barrier Tanja Eichhorn The Department for Biomedical Research and the Christian Carla Tripisciano function of the endothelium under septic Anita Schildberger Doppler Laboratory focus on the development of extracorporeal conditions are investigated in this project. Lucia Kraj ík Lauková Ingrid Linsberger therapies. One central goal is to develop cell culture models and Extracellular Vesicles René Weiß Michael Fischer diagnostic procedures that allow a better understanding and a In addition to research on the pathophysiology of sepsis, the role of extracellular vesicles COORDINATION faster, more accurate diagnosis of sepsis. as markers and targets in inflammatory Danube University Krems Pictured (f. l. t. r.) processes and their roles in the activation front row: of coagulation and immune modulation are PARTNERS Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH Markus Pasztorek investigated. Extracellular vesicles serve as Anita Aichinger Medical University Vienna Stephan Harm signal carriers between cells and as markers Christiane Gföhler for cellular activation. In particular, they can www.sepsisresearch.at Anita Schildberger serve as biomarkers for cellular activation www.asev.at Lucia Kraj ík Lauková Tanja Eichhorn in extracorporeal therapies. A spectrum of Birgit Fendl methods has been established in the CD Bettina Kronsteiner laboratory for the detection, characterization middle row: and quantification of extracellular vesicles. Andrea Pichler Ute Fichtinger Claudia Schildböck Michael Bernhard Fischer Eva Rossmanith Ingrid Linsberger Martina Juppe back row: René Weiss Jens Hartmann Matthias Pilecky Karin Strobl Vladislav Semak Carla Tripisciano Viktoria Weber Sobha Karuthedom George
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 24 Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics Regenerative Medicine > Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics 25
Detection of Blood Stream Infection Developing High-Performance Using Molecular Diagnostics Diagnostic Tools for Pathogen Detection
Every hour of delay in antibiotic therapy Swift and targeted treatment is crucial in increases the risk of sepsis mortality. Advanced Pathogen Detection sepsis and can reduce sepsis mortality. Next Generation Sepsis Diagnosis – In order to reduce this risk, molecular in Blood Stream Infection The project Smartdiagnos focuses on the Smartdiagnos diagnostic methods for rapid pathogen development of diagnostic tools to detect FUNDING FUNDING detection in the circulation are being FFG – Austrian Research Promotion Agency and identify pathogens in the circulation EU – Horizon 2020 developed as part of this project. quickly and efficiently. DURATION DURATION The project Pathogen Detection aims to 2019 – 2022 The European research project deals with the 2016 – 2020 develop new ways to detect and identify DEPARTMENT question of how to improve pathogen detec- DEPARTMENT pathogens in the circulation. It investigates Biomedical Research tion during blood stream infection. Within Biomedical Research how long pathogen DNA remains detectable the framework of the project, a point-of-care in the bloodstream after successful antibiotic PROJECT LEAD system was developed for swift implemen- PROJECT LEAD KREMS Viktoria Weber Viktoria Weber therapy. This is crucial for the interpretation Matthias Pilecky tation directly in intensive care units, and a of molecular diagnostic results in order to Anita Schildberger lab system for use in clinical laboratories. The COORDINATION exclude possible secondary infections. In latter covers a broad spectrum of pathogens Technical University of Denmark addition, the researchers are examining which COORDINATION and can also detect antibiotic resistances. The Danube University Krems PARTNERS factors can influence or inhibit pathogen two systems are now being validated using Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, detection in the blood. With the help of these PARTNER clinical samples. Denmark results, existing pre-analytical enrichment Medical University Innsbruck, Section of Copenhagen Business School, Lyngby, Denmark methods of pathogen DNA can be improved. Microbiology and Medical Hygiene TATAA Biocenter, Göteborg, Sweden It will also be investigated whether next- Ares Genetics GmbH Zoetis, USA generation sequencing can be used to identify CubeDX, St. Valentin, Austria Unilabs, Switzerland pathogens directly in patients’ blood. University of Skövde, Sweden Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Deutsches Institut für Normung, Berlin, Germany
www.smartdiagnos.eu
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 26 Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics Regenerative Medicine > Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics 27
Characterizing Interactions Between Extracellular Vesicles Endotoxins and Blood
Extracellular vesicles play central roles To deplete bacterial endotoxins from the in intercellular communication and Characterization of Blood Cell circulation, the interactions of endotoxins Elimination of Bacterial and Uremic cell regeneration. Vesicles form a very Derived Extracellular Vesicles with components of human whole blood Toxins in Extracorporeal Procedures heterogeneous group of subcellular with Nano Electrospray Gas-Phase are examined. Electrophoretic Mobility Molecular FUNDING structures in terms of their size, origin Analysis Technology Fund, Province of Lower Austria and their molecular cargo. Thus their Extracorporeal therapies are used to remove characterization requires a combination pathogenic substances from the blood. DURATION FUNDING 2019 – 2020 of different methods. NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. (NFB) Examples of clinically established procedures include dialysis, liver support, immune DEPARTMENT Extracellular vesicles are membrane particles DURATION adsorption, and lipid apheresis. Some Biomedical Research 2018 – 2021 secreted by cells which transfer information pathogenic substances, such as pathogen- between cells and are involved in numerous associated molecular patterns, cannot yet be PROJECT LEAD DEPARTMENT Jens Hartmann physiological and pathological processes. Biomedical Research removed or are only insufficiently removed with current approaches. These include PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS PROJECT LEAD Extracellular vesicles overlap in size and bacterial membrane components, such as Stephan Harm and the team at the Center for Viktoria Weber Biomedical Technology density with other biological structures, which Carla Tripisciano endotoxins and lipopeptides. makes their enrichment from body fluids Günther Allmaier COORDINATION or cell culture media challenging. More so, The aim of this project is to characterize the Danube University Krems specific protein markers that would clearly COORDINATION interaction between human lipoproteins and Danube University Krems identify individual vesicle populations are endotoxins by studying different lipoprotein missing to date. PARTNERS fractions from blood and their influence on the Technical University, Vienna biological activity of endotoxins. Characterizing vesicles Karl Landsteiner Private University for Health Sciences, Krems The aim of this project is to develop innovative University Clinic St. Pölten, Sepsis-Unit techniques for the isolation, quantification and characterization of extracellular vesicles from biological materials. In particular, Nano Electrospray Gas-Phase Electrophoretic Mobility Molecular Analysis (nES-GEMMA) in combination with mass spectrometry, is used to characterize extracellular vesicles from healthy donors and from septic patients.
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 28 Neurosciences and Prevention Regenerative Medicine > Neurosciences and Prevention 29
The Stroke and Dementia Challenge
In view of the rise in neurological disorders, there is an increasing focus Meta-Analysis on the Effectiveness on research and teaching in the field of of Multiple Risk Factor Intervention neurosciences. Developing measures for for the Prevention of Post-Stroke Cognitive Decline the prevention and treatment of damage
caused by neurological diseases is essen- Teuschl Y., Ihle-Hansen H., Matz K., Dachenhausen tial for health maintenance. A., Ratajczak P., Tuomilehto J., Ursin M.H., Hagberg G., Thommessen B., Øksengård A.R., Brainin M.; Stroke is the third leading cause of disability ASPIS Study Group (2018) Multidomain intervention for the prevention of cognitive decline after stroke – a pooled and death worldwide. Every year 24,000 patient-level data analysis. Eur J Neurol., 25: 1182-1188. people suffer a stroke in Austria. In close cooperation with the Austrian Stroke Society and the World Stroke Organization, a team at Danube University Krems is studying factors that reduce the risk of stroke and improve the chances of post-stroke recovery.
Lifestyle changes against cognitive decline Research at the Department for Clinical Neurosciences and The latest results of this research project Preventive Medicine concentrates on preventing vascular diseases show which measures prevent post-stroke cognitive decline. such as stroke, dementia, diabetes and their complications, as well Up to 76 % of patients suffer from cognitive as on the application of new neurorehabilitation therapy methods. impairment three months after a stroke, and Particular attention is paid to maintaining cognitive performance 10 % develop dementia. In a cooperative project with Norwegian scientists, the in patients with diabetes, or after a stroke, and to the use of non- effectiveness of lifestyle changes on post- pharmacological treatment methods for people suffering from stroke cognition was assessed. For this purpose, the data from the only two studies dementia. on this topic were jointly evaluated. There were weak indications that intensive lifestyle changes and the improvement of risk factors could slow down post-stroke cognitive decline. Such modifiable risk factors include high blood pressure, sugar and lipid metabolic disorders, smoking, lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet. Further international projects Pictured (f. l. t. r.) are planned to investigate the effects of front row: lifestyle interventions. Michaela Pinter Wolf-Dieter Heiss Alexandra Dachenhausen Karl Matz Alina Schwarz back row: Irene Ebhardt Michael Brainin Yvonne Teuschl Paulina Ratajczak Margit Höfler
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 30 Neurosciences and Prevention Regenerative Medicine > Neurosciences and Prevention 31
The Czech-Austrian Nursing Searching Efficiently Home Project
Currently, 50 million people worldwide Visual search allows people to find live with dementia. This number will The Czech-Austrian Long-Term Care targets in a set of very similar objects. Inhibition of Return and Memory double in the next few years. Therefore, Home Project – DEMDATA This involves various processes such FUNDING profound scientific data is essential for as short-term memory and inhibition of FUNDING FWF – Austrian Science Fund evidence-based decisions to optimize FWF – Austrian Science Fund return. This project focuses on how these long-term care. visual and memory functions interact. DURATION DURATION 2019 In the DEMDATA project, data from Austrian 2016 – 2019 Efficient search plays a major role when DEPARTMENT and Czech nursing home residents were DEPARTMENT looking for abnormalities in X-ray images or Clinical Neurosciences and Preventive Medicine, collected using a common study protocol. The Clinical Neurosciences and Preventive Medicine dangerous items in luggage in flight safety. Center for Dementia Studies spotlight was on the occurrence of cognitive A range of processes can facilitate visual deficits of residents, the burden of care teams PROJECT LEAD searches, such as the interaction between PROJECT LEAD Stefanie Auer Margit Höfler and the needs of relatives. For this purpose, short-term memory and inhibition of return. data were collected in four important areas: ACADEMIC STAFF Smaller amounts of visual information can COORDINATION (1) residents, (2) nursing team, (3) relatives Margit Höfler be stored in the short-term memory and Margit Höfler and (4) environmental factors of the facility. Paulina Ratajczak compared with the newly arriving information. PARTNER PARTNERS Inhibition of return is a phenomenon that University of Graz (Christof Körner) Designing new treatment and care MAS Alzheimerhilfe; prevents us from immediately refocusing the concepts Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic eye on an area that has already been viewed. The first results showed that around 85 % Both processes are time-limited. of nursing home residents show symptoms https://www.donau-uni.ac.at/demenzstudien Höfler, M., Liebergesell, K., Gilchrist, I. D., Bauch S. A., Ischebeck, A., & Körner, C. (2019) Post-search of cognitive deficit and dementia. This figure Connections between short-term IOR: Searching for Inhibition of Return after search. Acta is much higher than previously assumed. A memory and inhibition of return Psychologica, 197, 32-38 total of 1,085 people were examined, 571 Auer S.R., Höfler M., Linsmayer E., Beránková A., This basic research-oriented project uses residents were assessed in Austria. The Prieschl D., Ratajczak P., Šteffl M., Holmerová I. (2018) eye tracking to investigate the relationship sample also showed that 81 % of residents Cross-sectional study of prevalence of dementia, between inhibition of return, short-term behavioural symptoms, mobility, pain and other health demonstrate behavioral symptoms, 44.5 % of parameters in nursing homes in Austria and the Czech memory and visual search. It examines the persons complain of slight to severe pain Republic: results from the DEMDATA project. whether the same brain resources are and 78.4 % are restricted in their mobility. BMC Geriatr. 18(1):178. used for these activities. Furthermore, it This study shows that improved diagnostic Auer S.R., Linsmayer E., Beránková A. Pascher P., investigates whether short-term memory services and treatment approaches are Firlinger B., Prischl D. (2017) DEMDATA: The Austrian- and inhibition of return influence each other needed to improve the care of people with Czech institutional long term care project – design and or whether they are independent processes. protocol of a two-centre cross sectional study. BMC Health dementia in nursing homes. Results reveal Services Research 17:296 DOI 10.1186 / s12913-017-2244-x The results provide information on how potential differences between countries. the search can be made more efficient and This study helps to understand the needs Holmerová I., Auer S.R., Beránková A., Höfler M., accurate. In addition, these data can be Ratajczak P., Šteffl M. (2018) Cognitive status and use of of nursing home residents, to develop new analgesics and anxiolytics in residents of nursing homes in used to implement algorithms for artificial treatment and care concepts, and to break the Czech Republic. Clin Interv Aging; 13:2511-2515. intelligence or machine vision. down old routines, structures and processes.
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 32 Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health Regenerative Medicine > Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health 33
Sleep Influences Pain
The project “Sleep and Pain” investigates whether there is a connection between Pieh C., Jank R., Waiß C., Pfeifer C., Probst T., pain and sleep. The results show that Lahmann C., Oberndorfer S. (2018) Night-shift work increases cold pain perception. In: Sleep Medicine: Vol. 54, sleep deprivation influences pain percep- S. 74-79. tion. This connection between sleep and pain can therefore play a significant role in the process of the chronification of pain.
Chronic pain not only causes severe personal suffering, but also leads to high direct and indirect health-care costs. Various factors can influence pain chronification. The project “Sleep and Pain” assesses the influence of sleep deprivation on pain perception. Pain perception and pain threshold were measured in night shift workers at the University Hospital St. Pölten according to their sleep. The pain threshold and pain perception were The Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health tested with pain stimulation. conducts both basic and clinical application research. The Factors that influence pain perception research focuses on the effectiveness of psychotherapy, causes The test persons were much more sensitive to pain after the night shift. The same pain and therapy of physical complaints stemming from psychological stimulus was rated almost 30 % stronger than causes, psychological factors of pain development or chronicity, after normal sleep. After a recovery night, pain sensitivity returned to normal. Future digitalization in the psychosocial field, and the interaction between projects should focus on sleep disorders as psychotherapists and patients. a chronification factor of pain. Improvement of sleep in patients with chronic pain and sleep disorders might also improve pain. A recent study investigates whether patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome have increased pain perception and if this can be influenced by sleep disorder treatment.
Pictured (f. l. t. r.) Maria Theresia Rohrhofer Claudia Höfner Rafael Rabenstein Christoph Pieh Thomas Probst Robert Jank Krisztina Kocsis-Bogár
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 34 Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health 35
Relief for Chronic Diseases
The CHRODIS PLUS project promotes cooperation between EU states to reduce CHRODIS PLUS the burden of chronic diseases. Several FUNDING working groups deal with different topics European Commission and work together on solutions. DURATION CHRODIS PLUS is a three-year initiative 2017 – 2020 funded under the Third Health Program by DEPARTMENT the European Commission and their partner Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health organizations. The aim of this working group is to promote high-quality care for people with PROJECT LEAD chronic diseases. A tool for quality criteria and Thomas Probst quality recommendations, jointly developed COORDINATION by the eight different project partners, will National Institute of Health, Italy support this. This tool will be implemented National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia and evaluated in several countries in a series PARTNERS of pilots. The tool provides an analytical Ulm University, Germany framework that can be used by decision- Cantabrian Health Service, Spain makers, medical staff and patients. The care National Center for Health and Analysis, Bulgaria and procedures for patients with chronic University Clinic Regensburg, Germany diseases can thus be monitored, improved http://chrodis.eu and evaluated.
Developing apps for therapies The Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, together with other project partners, develops innovative solutions based on mobile technologies. The purpose of these mobile apps, for example, is to help diabetes and tinnitus sufferers regardless of time or place. In addition, the data collected will help to improve care systems and consider the needs of people with chronic diseases.
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 Research Report 2018/19 37
Institution-wide research field Cohesive and Innovative
Society Societies
Digitalization Migration and Integration PhD Program Migration Studies
Basic Research Application Energy Efficiency Evidence-Based Medicine Transdisciplinary Laboratories
Transdisciplinarity
Disciplines
www.donau-uni.ac.at/research 38 Digitalization Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Digitalization 39
The Contribution of Social Media to Radicalization
In the media it regularly plays an The project aims to facilitate automatic important role, but in research still content analyses. Linguistic radicalization hardly at all: the meaning of social indicators will be translated to corresponding media in the radicalization process. The word lists, with the help of which social ComRad project aims to expose the media portals can be screened for content. A communication patterns behind the conventional content analysis is also planned radicalization of young people. and conducted. In a next step, statements relevant under criminal law according to the So far, there have mainly been isolated violent existing legal framework will be particularly incidences that have drawn public attention scrutinized. This also includes considerations to the question of what role social media as to whether legal evaluations solely based played in radicalizing the perpetrators. on Big Data analyses, without human control, Although case analyses, interviews and are even possible. interrogation protocols exist, the radicalization tendencies in Austria have still not been systematically analyzed. The ComRad project closes this gap and aims to capture the status Pictured (f. l. t. r.) quo of Austrian network communications. front row: Harald Steiner; Albert Treytl; Thilo Sauter; Peter Parycek; Hubert Brückl; Michael Sachs; Thomas Schrefl; Thomas Lampolts- Building on this, (criminal) sociological hammer approaches will be additionally developed middle row: Jörg Ettenauer; Rafael Preuer; Lisa-Marie Wagner; Lisa Brandl; Martin Brandl; Anetta Nagy; Wilfried Hortschitz; with regard to criminalization trends. Social Aleksey Bratukhin; Markus Gusenbauer; Harald Özelt; Heike Strumpen; Shefali Virkar; Alexander Waldemar Kovacs; Maria Schuler; Johann Fischbacher; Herbert Weitensfelder media channels on the Internet appear to play a role in the formation of special interest back row: Karlheinz Kellner; Thomas Posnicek; Thomas Bigler; Matthias Kahr; Gabor Kovacs; Noella Edelmann; Gregor Eibl; Communication Patterns in Anna-Sophie Novak; Karin Steiner, Bettina Höchtl; L rinc Thurnay; Günther Kainz groups. Radicalization
Content analyses for pattern recognition FUNDING The ComRad project researches the Austrian Academy of Sciences, City of Vienna question of which linguistic indicators In addressing digitalization, Danube University Krems particularly and communication patterns can be used DURATION 2017 – 2019 to identify radicalization tendencies in demonstrates its focus on social impact. Its research covers the social media and which network areas are DEPARTMENT technical aspects of the Internet of Things, AI-supported legal particularly affected by them. The connection E-Governance in Administration between communication location and social information systems, networked administration and automated PROJECT LEAD groups will also be investigated. Experts Edith Huber from journalism and communication science, social media analysis. This takes into account the far-reaching computer science and sociology of crime are PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS involved in answering these questions. Bettina Pospisil transitions caused by digitalization and all its consequences, which Walter Seböck
affect almost every area of life. COORDINATION University of Vienna, Department of Communication
PARTNERS University of Vienna, Department of Communication University of Vienna, Faculty of Computer Science, Research Group Multimedia Information Systems
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 40 Digitalization Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Digitalization 41
Groundwork for New Dealing With a Legal Localization Algorithms Information Overload
Localization is a key technology to fully conducting important basic research to It is almost impossible for laypeople to With the aid of text mining tools and exploit the potential of the Internet enable localization by directed antennas. Two obtain a clear overview of the current algorithms, interdependencies, interlinkages, of Things. New algorithms based on major challenges have to be overcome: The legal situation. The project “ManyLaws – and conflicts within the legal corpora of directional antennas will enable more ambiguity of the received signal strength EU-wide Legal Text Mining using Big Data Austria and Greece should become easier accurate localization by compensating values resulting from directional antennas Processing Infrastructures” aims to make to identify and understand. This knowledge for common disruptions while reducing must be eliminated, and the data of the Austria’s and Greece’s acquis readily can support public stakeholders in decision- energy consumption. antennas placed at different positions on the accessible through computer-assisted, making processes. These core services factory floor must be combined. In particular, conceptive analyses. will be tested within at least two legislative Industry 4.0 is planning factory facilities the latter measure serves to increase procedures in Austria and Greece. that will enormously increase flexibility in localization accuracy and coverage. The ManyLaws project examines how legal production through digitalization. The vision information such as national legislation can be is an adaptable industrial Internet of Things extracted and used by different stakeholders that gets by with marginal configuration across Europe, and what infrastructure is and installation. Localization fulfils an required to achieve this. The overall objective important function in this context: Mobile is to make it possible for citizens, businesses, devices, automated guided vehicles or even and administrations to access and analyze electronic product labels can be linked with law-related texts. The application spectrum their environment (location awareness). But ranges from the exploration of national legal applications go much further: among others, systems to analyzing how European legal the automotive industry is also showing requirements have been transposed into interest in using structures in the chassis as national law through to complex enquiries as directional antennas to locate approaching to which legal norms are applied in the two drivers with mobile phones and only to open pilot countries of Austria and Greece under EU-wide Legal Text Mining Using Big doors, when the driver is directly in front of specific circumstances. Data Processing Infrastructures the car. FUNDING Pinpoint IoT – Localization Using Comprehensive Overview Through European Commission Greater precision thanks to directional Directional Antennas in Industrial Text Mining Tools and Visualisation antennas Internet of Things Techniques DURATION Current localization algorithms are based on The proposed platform supports internationali- 2018– 2020 the assumption of a perfect omnidirectional, FUNDING zation and European integration through the NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. (NFB) DEPARTMENT i.e. spherical antenna characteristic that provision of various services, not in the least E-Governance and Administration transmits and receives in all directions. DURATION by enabling parallel searches with the legal Directional antennas, on the other hand, offer 2019 – 2020 frameworks of European Union member PROJECT LEAD Shefali Virkar great advantages in terms of suppressing states. Visualizing the chronological evolution DEPARTMENT interference, increasing communication range Integrated Sensor Systems of legislation is also planned. Achieving these PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS and reducing energy consumption in the goals requires networked research in the Thomas J. Lampoltshammer factory of the future but also other application PROJECT LEAD fields of law, political science and informatics. Anna-Sophie Novak Albert Treytl areas such as supply chain management, COORDINATION automotive industry or building and home PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS University of the Aegean, Greece automation. The “Pinpoint IoT” project is Anetta Nagy Thomas Bigler PARTNERS Intrasoft International, S.A., Research and COORDINATION Innovation Development Department, Danube University Krems Luxembourg Hellenic Parliament, European Programs PARTNER Implementation Service Technical University Vienna Austrian Parliament, Parliamentary Research Unit
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 42 Digitalization 43
Experimental Space for the Public Sector
GovLabAustria works on innovative international projects, methods and solutions. solutions for administration and In addition, GovLabAustria aims to establish policymaking using an interdisciplinary a national contact point for innovation approach. It aims to bundle expertise laboratories concerned with the public sector. from administration, science, business and society and consolidate it by means of continuing education measures.
Digitalization presents new challenges and opportunities for public administration. Within the framework of an open experimental space, GovLabAustria applies different meth- ods to its work on framing future-relevant questions and citizen-focused solutions. Dis- ciplines such as law, governance and public policy, political and social sciences, organiza- tional psychology and economics as well as IT are drawn upon to solve the problem.
Bundled knowledge with an international perspective The subproject GLAinno1: Transparency and Participation in Legislation focuses on how expertise from politics, administration, science, business and civil society can be brought together in the best possible way and incorporated into the legislative process. GovLabAustria
The purpose of the reference project DURATION Collective Mind is to investigate specific Since 2017 factors and their impact on collective DEPARTMENT intelligence. Interventions that increase E-Governance and Administration the collective intelligence of a group and Knowledge and Communication Management measures that can be derived for stakeholder PROJECT LEAD processes are also studied. Gerald Steiner Peter Parycek GovLabAustria implements research and development projects in the field of PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER administrative innovation and evidence-based Bettina Höchtl policy-making. It also monitors innovative COORDINATION Danube University Krems Federal Ministry Civil Service and Sport
PARTNER Federal Ministry Civil Service and Sport
www.govlabaustria.gv.at
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 44 Migration and Integration Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Migration and Integration 45
Knowledge Management and Dissemination of Migration Research
Migration is at the heart of the transfor- As a subject matter of high relevance for mation European societies are currently European societies, CrossMigration also experiencing, and robust evidence is aims to contribute to a public debate on the more than ever needed for informing topic. A Migration Research Hub as well as policy-making and public discourses. The dissemination activities and communication CrossMigration project comprehensively means will help hereby. accumulates the current state of knowledge in migration research and establishes an interactive research platform.
To be able to respond to the challenges and opportunities migration represents, it is necessary to know and understand the drivers Cross Migration of migration to Europe, the infrastructures that facilitate migration, and the specifics FUNDING of complex migration flows. Migration EU – Horizon 2020 research has developed rapidly over the The Department for Migration and Globalization investigates the DURATION past two decades, but without establishing 2018 – 2020 various causes of international migration movements and their the structures required to present the latest research findings and state of knowledge. DEPARTMENT effects on the economy and society in the countries of origin, Accessibility, connections and communication Migration and Globalization transit and host countries. The spectrum of research topics ranges about this knowledge based on current PROJECT LEAD research data and projects are limited. Mathias Czaika from investigating long-term refugee situations to systematic Moreover, there are contradictions, overlaps and gaps within the data and research PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS and cross-national data collection, policy analysis through to Constantin Reinprecht findings that require systematic processing. Albert Kraler the socio-economic prerequisites and implications of migrant Preparing a research agenda COORDINATION entrepreneurship. For this reason, the purpose of the Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands CrossMigration project collects research PARTNERS findings on migration systematically and Centre for Migration and Intercultural Studies cross-nationally in order to make knowledge (CEMIS), Belgium; Centre for Migration Research pertaining to migration issues accessible to (CMR), University of Warsaw, Poland; Centre on researchers and policy makers. The first step Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS), Oxford University, Great Britain; European University Pictured (f. l. t. r.) is to define the questions central to migration. Institute (EUI), Italy; International Centre for Adriana Harm In the next step, a method to coherently Alexandra Zeilinger Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Austria; Silvia Spielauer collect and merge research findings needs to Institute de Geografia e Ordanemento de Territorio Lydia Rössl be developed. This information will also lead (IGOT), Portugal; IOM Global Migration Data Manuela Fraberger to drafting a strategic research agenda for Analysis Centre (GMDAC), Germany; Migration Mathias Czaika migration research. Policy Group (MPG), Belgium; Migration Policy Isabella Skrivanek Institute (MPI) - Europe, Belgium; National Manfred Zentner Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), France; Michael Fasching Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Tania Berger Astrid Lehner Institute (NIDI), Netherlands; Peace Research Anna Faustmann Institute Oslo (PRIO), Norway; University of Thomas Pfeffer Verona, Italy Ernst Fürlinger Hakan Kilic
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 46 Migration and Integration Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Migration and Integration 47
Aligning Migration Management and Regional Development with Startups the Migration-Development Nexus by Migrants
MIGNEX, the largest EU-funded research The project is expected to deliver findings that The increased influx of migrants into project on migration, conducts extensive include a better understanding of the reasons Austria in recent years has set numerous Migrant Digital Entrepreneurship: research on migration management for migration, how migration and development social processes in motion. Migrant Migrants’ Startups as Drivers for and how migration and development affect each other, and on a political level, entrepreneurship is still a little- Innovative Regional Development affect each other. Fieldwork in ten home closer and more effective collaboration researched area that could produce FUNDING and transit countries provide a strong between the EU and other countries. positive long-term economic and social NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. (NFB) foundation for advanced analyses. effects. DURATION The core idea behind the MIGNEX project is The aim of this project is to develop a socially 2019 – 2021 to align migration management with migration robust understanding of the potential and DEPARTMENT and development, whereby development at impact of migrant digital entrepreneurship on Knowledge and Communication Management the regional level takes priority. Specific to regional, socio-economic systems, and the the project is the balanced project consortium underlying capacity for innovation. The PROJECT LEAD Gerald Steiner consisting of academic and politically- research project pursues a holistic approach Liliya Satalkina oriented institutions, and in addition to the that is not limited to economic perspectives, European countries, including members from but also encompasses the effects on social PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Afghanistan, Ghana, Pakistan and Turkey. cohesion and the knowledge potential of Lukas Zenk In addition to these countries, fieldwork is regions. Günter Schreder Aligning Migration Management Tina Gruber-Mücke also carried out in Cape Verde, Ethiopia, and the Migration-Development Guinea, Nigeria, Somalia and Tunisia. A Nexus – MIGNEX Benchmarks and Leverage Effects COORDINATION comprehensive data set of 12,500 surveyed A number of different academic disciplines Danube University Krems persons will be compiled. FUNDING such as systems sciences, economics, PARTNER EU Horizon 2020 psychology, data science, and sociology IMC University of Applied Sciences, Krems This dataset collects demographic and contribute within this transdisciplinary DURATION socio-economic background information at 2018 – 2023 approach. The project has two objectives: the household level, in particular perceptions The implementation of a comparative study of national development, possible future DEPARTMENT of migrant digital entrepreneurship in strategies and migration infrastructure. The Migration and Globalization selected countries and/or regions, taking research also focuses on the experience of PROJECT LEAD digital, technological and socio-cultural migration at the local level, over time and Mathias Czaika trends into account. The second objective how the benefits and risks of migration is to determine the leverage effects through are perceived by men and women. It also PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER which the interventions at different levels Albert Kraler investigates fulfilled and unfulfilled mobility of the innovation system can be particularly aspirations. Another focus is on migration COORDINATION effective. With this knowledge, rural areas policy, its development and the effects of Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Norway may be supported in their economic political interventions on migration. How development, new sustainable business PARTNERS migration policies influence transit migration University of Ghana, Ghana models may be developed, and social values and how migration impacts the context of Koç University, Turkey may be transformed in the long run. national or regional development policy will Lahore University of Management Sciences also be part of the investigation. (LUMS), Pakistan University of Maastricht, Netherlands Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Great Britain Oxford University, Great Britain Samuel Hall Consulting Co., Afghanistan
www.mignex.org
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 48 Migration and Integration 49
Better Understanding Long-Term Displacement Situations
Millions of people are in so-called long-term displacement situations. The Transnational Figurations of TRAFIG project studies how people cope Displacement – TRAFIG with living in exile for years without hope FUNDING of a lasting solution. The aim is to provide EU – Horizon 2020 findings that support political decision makers. DURATION 2019 – 2021
According to the UN refugee relief agency DEPARTMENT UNHCR approximately 13.4 million people Migration and Globalization were in protracted refugee situations at the end of 2017. These situations are defined as PROJECT LEAD Albert Kraler more than 25,000 people living outside their countries of origin for five years or longer with PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER no UNHCR-supported lasting solution in sight. Margarita Fourer Such solutions would be return, integration COORDINATION into the host country or a third country. The Bonn International Centre for Conversion (BICC) TRAFIG project investigates why displaced people live in precarious conditions for so PARTNERS long in the host countries and how they cope Department for Social Anthropology, with this situation. Networks that support Addis Abeba-University, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia; School of Spatial Planning and Development, refugees, and the role of these local and Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece; transnational connections, are also examined. Christian Michelsen-Institute, Bergen, Norway; Furthermore, the relationship between International and European Forum on Migration the refugees and the host community and Research (FIERI), Turin, Italy; the economic impact of the displacement International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Vienna, Austria; situation is analyzed. Society for Human Rights and Prisoners’ Aid (SHARP), Islamabad, Pakistan; Toolkit for practioners Sussex Center for Migration Research, In order to understand the importance of Sussex University, Brighton, Great Britain; social cohesion, networks and mobility in Van Vollenhoven Institute for Law, Governance coping with long-term flight situationsTRAFIG and Society (VVI) and the Institute for History University Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands; applies both qualitative and quantitative Refugees, Displaced Persons, and Forced research methods in camps and cities in the Migration Studies Centre, Yarmouk University, Middle East (Jordan), South Asia (Pakistan) Irbid, Jordan; and East and Central Africa (Ethiopia, Dignity Kwanza – Community Solutions, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic Dar es Salaam, Tanzania of Congo). Research is also conducted in www.trafig.eu Germany, Greece and Italy. The aim of the project is to provide an evaluation method for political decision-makers that can be used to quickly develop needs-based programs intending to strengthen the autonomy of displaced people and their relationship with the host society.
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 50 PhD Program Migration Studies Cohesive and Innovative Societies > PhD Program Migration Studies 51
PhD Program Migration Studies
In the summer semester 2016, the Faculty Research areas of Economics and Globalization launched Migration, Globalization and the PhD program in Migration Studies Transnationalism in which currently five students are Education, Work, Housing working on their PhD projects. The first Migration and Integration Policy and graduations are expected for 2020. Governance Security and Human Rights Migration research is one of the most Religion, Diversity and Social Cohesion dynamic areas of social scientific research International Management, Regimes and stands out by its interdisciplinary research and Organizations perspectives. Research approaches from disciplines such as economics, anthropology, sociology, political science, law, religious studies and communication science are interlinked to provide a comprehensive view and understanding of the subject.
The PhD program Migration Studies The PhD program Migration Studies provides a comprehensive welcomes applications primarily by post- understanding of migration issues, ranging from politics, the graduates of the social sciences (including economics, sociology, political science, and situation in the affected countries, to social aspects. Danube law). However, it is also open to students from the humanities and natural sciences. The aim University Krems relies on a strongly interdisciplinary approach of the PhD program Migration Studies is to to appropriately deal with these manifold facets. gain a better understanding of migration and integration process, the role of states in these complex societal processes, the drivers and and obstacles of migration, the challenges and opportunities emigration and immigration countries are experiencing to ensure quality of life and social cohesion.
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 52 PhD Program Migration Studies Cohesive and Innovative Societies > PhD Program Migration Studies 53
Understanding the Migration Integration Through of Highly Skilled People Extra-Curricular Youth Work
The project deals with the reasons for The project aims to broaden and deepen the The project examines the significance of migration, and the possible return of understanding of migration of highly skilled youth work in clubs and organizations The Significance of Extra-Curricular highly skilled Turkish origin people. people between two very different countries. based on actual integration processes. Activities for Integrating Youth with A point of great interest is the formation As there is a long history of migration What role sports and cultural clubs play in Migration Backgrounds of migration policy in Austria and Turkey, between Turkey and Austria, the historical integration and acculturation has not yet FUNDING and how it influences the motivation dimension is also examined. been academically investigated. NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. (NFB) and decision to return. Integration has always been a social DURATION Highly skilled migrants significantly contribute challenge, not only since the 2015 refugee 2017 – 2020 to the host country’s economic growth and influx. The degree of integration of migrants DEPARTMENT innovation capacity. This is why, from an and their children was already an issue when Migration and Globalization economic, social and political perspective, migrant workers immigrated after the 1960s. emigration of key workers is not in the interest In addition to school and vocational training, PhD-STUDENT Manfred Zentner of Austria and its domestic economy. At the the recreational activities offered by clubs and same time, these returnees can act as bridge- youth work play a major role for young people. SUPERVISORS builders and positively shape the interrelations Gerald Steiner between the host and migrant societies. Their Best practices in a European context Gudrun Biffl skills are complemented by transnational The project deals with the effects of individual Howard Williamson (University of South Wales) attributes and hybrid cultural characteristics experiences in youth work on the personal that enable them to interact effectively with history of integration. It involves interviewing COORDINATION both societies. extra-curricular youth work experts at all Danube University Krems levels as well as young people and young Factors influencing an intention to return adults. The aim is to find types of extra- Among other things, the project examines curricular activities which have proven to be the role that factors such as age, gender, Back to the Roots. Return Migration promising in integrating young people with education and qualification play in the of Highly Skilled Turkish Origin migrant backgrounds. The next step will be to intention to return. Further factors studied Migrants from Austria to Turkey promote them through appropriate measures. include the social, economic and political The focus will not remain on Austria alone; transformation processes in Turkey and FUNDING best practice examples for integrating young European Commission Austria as well as the role of migration policy. people through youth work will also be sought Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs (BMI) The expectations of highly skilled migrants NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. (NFB) in other European countries. from Turkey with regard to life in Austria will be compared with the experiences DURATION Applicability and transdisciplinarity are central gained here. The project also investigates 2017 – 2020 to this project. Youth work practitioners will the expectations of highly qualified Turkish DEPARTMENTS be informed about the research results, migrants when they “return” from Austria E-Governance and Administration; and recommendations for youth work and to Turkey, and how their arrival in Turkey is Migration and Globalization integration policies made. actually structured. PhD-STUDENT Hakan Kilic
SUPERVISORS Gudrun Biffl Mathias Czaika Christoph Reinprecht
COORDINATION Danube University Krems
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 54 Energy Efficiency Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Energy Efficiency 55
Energy-Saving Alternatives to Air Conditioning Units
The problem of overheating in buildings with energy-efficient cooling systems that due to climate change is becoming require only minor structural adaptations. increasingly acute. The CoolAir project is The goal is to meet user requirements using a response to this fact and is investigating model-based control systems and minimal energy-efficient cooling strategies that sensor technology. can easily be implemented in existing buildings and thus ensures increased Some areas of Danube University Krems’ old well-being for their users. building are being used as living labs for test purposes. Conventional air conditioning systems require large amounts of technology, energy and money – especially in existing buildings. Passive measures such as natural nighttime ventilation in combination with daylight- optimized shading are an alternative for air- conditioning of rooms. The CoolAir research project investigates methods to evaluate the potential of passive cooling for existing The topic of energy efficiency is gaining in importance against Predictive Control of Natural Night- buildings in different climate zones in Austria. time Ventilation and Daylight-Opti- the backdrop of climate change and increasing awareness of mized Shading for Passive Building Maximizing passive cooling potential Cooling – CoolAIR resource conservation. The Departments for Integrated Sensor In the course of the project autonomous, model-based, predictive control systems to FUNDING Systems and Building and Environment rise to the challenge by maximize the cooling effect will be examined. FFG – Austrian Research Promotion Agency focusing on innovative, environmentally sensitive research that is In particular control algorithms based on DURATION machine learning, which automatically 2018 – 2020 highly application-oriented at the same time. This contributes to adapt to changing environmental conditions and user behavior, are developed. Another DEPARTMENT the reduction of the ecological footprint in the industrial nations. Building and Environment key research question is devoted to the Integrated Sensor Systems optimization of shading in order to keep solar heat load as low as possible and at the same PROJECT LEAD time allowing high quality lighting by using Daniela Trauninger natural daylight. Insights from the building PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS industry, electrical engineering, electronics Markus Winkler and information technology are incorporated Wolfgang Stumpf into the project. Albert Treytl Aleksey Bratukhin The project aims to provide a simple planning Thomas Posnicek method on the one hand, while on the other COORDINATION hand making it possible to retrofit buildings Danube University Krems
PARTNERS Pictured (f. l. t. r.) Research Burgenland GmbH Johann Gerstmann Aleksey Bratukhin Thomas Posnicek Woschitz Engineering ZT GmbH Markus Winkler Fürstner RWA Systeme und Technik GmbH Daniela Trauninger Zach Antriebe GmbH Albert Treytl Wolfgang Stumpf
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 56 Energy Efficiency 57
Components for Tomorrow’s Jet Engines
Meet the highest safety standards and withstand extreme mechanical loads: HIgh PERformance Journal even the journal bearings of aircraft Bearing Technology for New Geared engines must satisfy these requirements. TurboFAN Generations (HIPERFAN) The “HIPERFAN” project is working on FUNDING new journal bearing materials and the EU – Horizon 2020 technologies for their production. DURATION The EU’s Clean Sky 2 program, a public- 2018 – 2021 private partnership between the European DEPARTMENT Commission and the EU aviation industry, Integrated Sensor Systems aims to reduce the environmental impact of air traffic. One way to achieve this is through PROJECT LEAD Thomas Schrefl geared engines, which can significantly reduce fuel consumption. These are aircraft PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER turbines in which the air intake turbine and Alexander Kovacs the compressor turbine are coupled via a COORDINATION planetary gear, allowing the two components High Tech Coatings GmbH to rotate at different speeds. The running surfaces of the gear components are PARTNERS important parts that must withstand extreme High Tech Coatings GmbH Montanuniversität Leoben mechanical loads. Technical Universtiy Vienna Sindlhauser Materials GmbH Challenge: Journal bearing material The aviation industry looks to new journal bearing materials as the key to future turbofan engines. However, even the most modern journal bearing materials do not meet the demanding operating conditions, calling for entirely new material concepts. “HIPERFAN” therefore aims to produce the most reliable, systematically analyzed, characterized and optimized high-performance journal bearing materials including the associated manufacturing processes. This involves developing a process simulation-supported coating technology. The project synergizes physics, material sciences and IT.
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 58 Evidence-Based Medicine Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Evidence-Based Medicine 59
Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Patients with Dyspnea
Point-of-care ultrasound is used for patients suffering from dyspnea and other Systematic Review Point of Care symptoms. This project systematically Ultrasound reviews the use of this device and draws FUNDING up guidelines with recommendations for American College of Physicians (ACP), clinical practice. Philadelphia, PA, USA
Point-of-care ultrasound describes a mobile DURATION ultrasound device used at the bedside on 2018 – 2019 patients in a medical facility, in the emergency DEPARTMENT room or in an ambulance. In recent years, Evidence-based Medicine and Clinical the ultrasound devices for point-of-care Epidemiology applications have become more compact PROJECT LEAD and accurate due to continuous technical Gerald Gartlehner improvements. In internal medicine, ultrasound is used as a diagnostic tool for RESEARCHERS patients with a variety of suspected illnesses Lisa Affengruber Angela Kaminski-Hartenthaler and symptoms as well as for numerous Meticulous analysis and independent medical data processing are Andreea Dobrescu other clinical scenarios, such as ultrasound- Irma Klerings among the core competencies of the Department for Evidence- directed punctures in pleural effusion, i.e. Emma Persad excessive accumulation of fluid in the pleural Gernot Wagner based Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology. The aim is to prepare cavity, or ascites, i.e. accumulation of fluid COORDINATION in the free abdominal cavity. scientific findings objectively and independently for political American College of Physicians (ACP), Philadelphia, PA, USA decision-makers, physicians and laypersons. Within the framework Precision, efficacy, and safety The Department for Evidence-based Medicine PARTNER American College of Physicians (ACP), of international research projects, different areas such as evidence- and Clinical Epidemiology is conducting a Philadelphia, USA based medicine, methodological research, health promotion and systematic review of the use of point-of-care ultrasound on dyspnea patients. This system- prevention are investigated. atic review was commissioned by the Amer- ican College of Physicians (ACP). It assesses the evidence on the accuracy, benefits, and harms of point-of-care ultrasound to detect pneumonia, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, heart failure, or pulmonary embolism in Pictured (f. l. t. r.) patients with dyspnea compared with clinical front row: Bernd Kerschner examination alone. Based on the available Patricia Julia Harlfinger evidence of the systematic review, ACP will Viktoria Titscher develop clinical practice guidelines. Anna Glechner Lisa Affengruber Ursula Griebler back row: Gernot Wagner Agnes Ebenberger Jana Meixner Gerald Gartlehner Isolde Sommer Angela Kaminski-Hartenthaler Ludwig Grillich
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 60 Evidence-Based Medicine Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Evidence-Based Medicine 61
A Comparative Study of Efficiently Treating Therapies for Shoulder Injuries Autumn-Winter Depression
A rotator cuff tear restricts the shoulder The research question was nominated About 2.5 % of the population in German- The topic for this research work was chosen function of the affected person. The by the Swiss Medical Board and refined speaking countries suffers from autumn- by German citizens. The German Institute for Department for Evidence-based Medicine in collaboration with the research team winter depression. A comparison of Quality and Efficiency in Health Care offers and Clinical Epidemiology, in cooperation composed of a multidisciplinary committee the treatment methods aims to show German citizens an opportunity to propose with the University Hospital Freiburg, of physicians and surgeons. The overall goal whether light therapy or vitamin D topics for HTAs. compared the therapeutic benefits and of the Swiss Medical Board is to assess supplementation are effective. harms of surgical interventions with diagnostic procedures and therapeutic conservative therapies in a systematic interventions for rotator cuff tears in regards Autumn-winter depression is a seasonal review. to clinical, economical, ethical, and legal disorder that is triggered by a lack of natural perspectives. light. Patients usually remit in spring and The rotator cuff is a muscle group that summer. In addition to typical depressive stabilizes the shoulder joint and consists of symptoms such as listlessness and sadness, four muscles which converge into the rotator those affected also frequently suffer from cuff tendon. A rotator cuff tear is a partial or atypical symptoms such as an increased complete rupture of the tendon which can be need for sleep, carbohydrate cravings, and caused by degeneration or trauma. Depending weight gain. The affected individuals have a Autumn-Winter Depression: on the severity of the injury, the function of high risk of recurrent depression the following Do Drug-Free Methods such as Light the affected shoulder can become compro- winter. Both the quality of life and work and Vitamin Therapy Lead to Better mised or completely lost. This international performance suffer. Results? project investigated different treatment options for this condition in order to provide Testing the efficacy of therapies FUNDING patients with the best possible therapy. The aim of this Health Technology Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) SMB Rotator Cuff Tear Assessment (HTA) is to investigate the Surgical or conservative treatment efficacy and safety of light therapy and DURATION Treatment options to improve shoulder func- FUNDING vitamin D therapy in adults suffering 2018 – 2020 tion after a rotator cuff tear include surgical or Swiss Medical Board, Zurich, Switzerland from autumn-winter depression. The two DEPARTMENT conservative approaches with physiotherapy. DURATION interventions will be compared with each Evidence-based Medicine and Clinical The benefit of surgical treatment, however, 2018 – 2019 other and with no therapy or placebo, Epidemiology is controversial. The evaluation of the current antidepressants or psychotherapy. In addition, DEPARTMENT studies showed that surgical treatment is the costs of light therapy and vitamin D PROJECT LEAD Evidence-based Medicine and Clinical Barbara Nußbaumer-Streit statistically more effective than conserva- Epidemiology therapy will be determined and their cost- tive treatment in terms of reducing pain and effectiveness assessed. Furthermore, the COORDINATION improving shoulder function. The difference, PROJECT LEAD study will include an analysis of ethical, social, Barbara Nußbaumer-Streit however, is small and may not be clinically rel- Gerald Gartlehner legal and organizational aspects associated Viktoria Titscher RESEARCHERS evant for patients after all. The review found with light or vitamin D therapy. Viktoria Titscher little data on other patient-relevant outcomes RESEARCHERS Angela Kaminski-Hartenthaler such as quality of life, muscle strength, and Barbara Nußbaumer-Streit shoulder mobility. Irma Klerings PROJECT ADMINISTRATION Sandra Hummel COORDINATION Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine, Medical PARTNERS Faculty at the University Hospital Freiburg, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Germany Assessment (Department of Health Economy and Ethics) PARTNER Stephan Kallab (legal expert) Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine, Medical Maximilian Huhn (psychiatrist, clinical expert) Faculty at the University Hospital Freiburg, Germany www.themencheck-medizin.iqwig.de
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 62 Transdisciplinary Laboratories Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Transdisciplinary Laboratories 63
Transdiciplinary Lab for Sustainable Mineral Resources
The world’s growing population and led to a further publication on the role of increasing prosperity pose a great phosphate mining in a circular economy. challenge to securing global food supply. Approximately half of the world’s crop yields relies directly on the use of mineral fertilizers. Phosphorus, as one of the three bio-essential macronutrients, plays an essential role. Unlike nitrogen (atmosphere) and potassium (ocean sphere) its primary form, phosphate rock, is a practically limited resource.
The transdisciplinary laboratory Sustainable Mineral Resources was founded in 2016. Its research contributes to responsible, sustainable and efficient phosphorus manage- ment and thus to global food security. The research team consists of many international The Transdisciplinary Laboratories at the Faculty of Business and experts who, in the sense of transdisciplinarity, Globalization, with their principle of knowledge integration and come from science and practice. Before a system can be improved, it must first be mutual learning between science and application, are dedicated understood in detail. Starting from the central research issues, phosphate extraction and to the complex societal challenges arising from digitalization, processing, the upstream exploration phase dynamic demographic developments and climate change. The and the subsequent phases up until to the finished fertilizers must be considered in the transdisciplinary research approach adopted by Danube University context of a holistic value chain. Krems takes particular effect in the interaction of basic research, Main research areas and highlights the individual scientific disciplines, application and society. In the journal Sustainability a special issue on the topic “Phosphorus Circular Economy: Closing Loops through Sustainable Innovation“ was published in guest editorship, including a Transdisciplinary Laboratory comprehensive editorial and framework paper Sustainable Mineral Resources – on the phosphate supply chain. Furthermore, SMR TdLab a conceptual alternative fertilizer subsidy system was developed and uncertainties FOUNDED 2016 regarding phosphate data were investigated. The presentation at the conference "Mines of SCIENTIFIC CO-LEADERS the Future" (AIMS 2018, RWTH Aachen) Gerald Steiner Bernhard Geissler Pictured (f. l. t. r.) Roland W. Scholz Michael Obersteiner Georg Neubauer Tanja Lumetsberger Heidemarie Weinhäupl CO-LEADER PRACTICE Andrea Höltl Michael C. Mew, CRU Liliya Satalkina Ludwig Hermann, ESPP Gabriel M. Lentner Gerald Steiner
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 64 Transdisciplinary Laboratories 65
Transdiciplinary Lab for Sustainable Digital Environments
Digitalization affects businesses, politics and society. The transdisciplinary labo- Transdisciplinary Lab for ratory Sustainable Digital Environments Sustainable Digital Environments – was founded at the Faculty of Business SDE TdLab and Globalization to shed scientific light ESTABLISHED on these effects. 2017
One objective of the SDE TdLab is to gain a ACADEMIC CO-LEADERS deeper understanding of the complex change Roland W. Scholz processes that trigger digitalization. Another Peter Parycek Gerald Steiner is to use this as a basis to develop strategies for a sustainable transition into the digital age CO-LEADER PRAXIS based on a transdisciplinary approach. This Reiner Czichos is achieved through interdisciplinary research Michael Dell and close cooperation between scientists ASSOCIATED RESEARCHERS and stakeholders from industry and business, Thomas Lampoltshammer public administration and civil society. As Gabriel M. Lentner an example, researchers and practitioners Kay Mühlmann assume joint responsibility for a project Gabriela Viale Pereira Shefali Virkar in the sense of co-leadership, starting at the Clemens Fischer problem definition phase. In a moderated and analyzed process, the basis for decision- PROJECTS making is developed for the sustainable DiDaT – Using Digital Data as Part of a Transdisciplinary Process use and further development of digital Teaching research project “Digital Governance” technologies in the future.
The human being in digital space The Sustainable Digital Environments Labo- Scholz, R.W. , Bartelsman, E.J. , Diefenbach, S. , Franke, ratory’s activities include transdisciplinary proj- L. , Grunwald, A., Helbing, D. , Hill, R., Hilty, L., Höjer, M., Klauser, S. , Montag., C., Parycek, P., Pereira, G.V. , ects, processes and educational programs. Prote, J.P. , Renn, O., Reichel, A., Schuh, G. , Steiner, G. The projects investigate the manifold inter- (2018) Unintended Side Effects of the Digital Transition: faces between human systems (individuals, European Scientists’ Messages from a Proposition-Based Expert Round Table. Sustainability, 10(6): 2001. DOI: companies, national institutions) and digital 10.3390/su10062001. systems with the aim of establishing resilient relationships. As a most recent example, the project DiDaT (Digital Data as part of a Transdisciplinary process) deals with the relationship between digital data ownership and its economic value, as well as the way digital data is accessed and used. Experts currently consider the interaction between these issues as the biggest unexplained problem in digital transition, accompanied by potentially unintended side effects.
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 Research Report 2018/19 67
Institution-wide research field Cultural Heritage
Society
Revitalization and Cultural Heritage
Basic Research Application Archives of Contemporary Arts Image Science and Media Art Research Museum Collections Management
Transdisciplinarity
Disciplines
www.donau-uni.ac.at/research 68 Revitalization and Cultural Heritage Cultural Heritage > Revitalization and Cultural Heritage 69
The Danube as an Identity Founder
The project DANUrB develops the regions can benefit from local and regional “Danube Region” brand further by tourism. The project is supported by an online means of sustainable cultural and platform that connects regional stakeholders touristic concepts. The aim is to allow transnationally, an app to raise awareness communities along the river to profit about the cultural heritage of the Danube from this and to underscore transnational region, and a travelling exhibition on nature identity in the Danube region. and culture in the Danube region.
The Danube is attributed a uniting role in historical, geographic and cultural respects in many riparian states. To date, however, a uniform strategy for exploiting its potential has been lacking at the transnational level. A coordinated approach to tap into the socio-cultural power of the river, especially its valorisation for communities and local and regional tourism, has so far been a desideratum. The DANUrB project addresses Thematic priorities include the utilization of existing buildings this task with the aim of further developing DANube Urban Brand – a Regional while taking into account conservational, building climatic, the “Danube Region” brand, identifying the Network Building Through Tourism “undiscovered” cultural heritage along the and Education to Strengthen the ecological and economic aspects over the buildings’ entire life river and underscoring this region’s shared “Danube” Cultural Identity and identity. The aim is to overcome partially Solidarity – DANUrB cycle; concepts for the protection of cultural assets against the lacking infrastructure, language and spatial barriers or the inhabitants’ lack of awareness. FUNDING effects of climate change and armed conflicts, with particular European Commission
emphasis on UNESCO World Heritage Sites. An additional focal Danube cultural promenade DURATION point is regional development and exploring cultural tourism Central to the project is to develop a 2017 – 2019 transnational geographic and cultural network DEPARTMENT along the Danube, the “Danube Cultural potentials. Building and Environment Promenade,” and to create innovative, sustainable cultural and tourism strategies PROJECT LEAD to economically and socially stimulate the Peter Morgenstein region. The question of which instruments PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS can be used to form transnational networks Christian Hanus that will unite local and regional stakeholders Darya Haroshka in taking an international, strategic approach Gregor Radinger to enhancing the cultural potential of the Peter Strasser Danube is as much a part of the research as COORDINATION Pictured (f. l. t. r.) the right path to sustainable tourism, and how Budapest University of Technology and Economics Patricia Engel Gregor Radinger PARTNERS Anna Maria Kaiser 18 partner institutions from countries in the Silvia Hofbauer Danube region and 20 associated project partners Peter Morgenstein Darya Haroshka www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/ Klaus Winiwarter danurb Peter Strasser Christian Hanus
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 70 Revitalization and Cultural Heritage Cultural Heritage > Revitalization and Cultural Heritage 71
Better Protection for Plattenbau – Architecture Cultural Heritage in Times Worth Preserving of Disaster
In Europe, emergency plans for the disasters such as torrential rain, floods, tidal An international seminar series aims contribute to changing awareness among protection and evacuation of cultural waves and fires, and its implementation to change attitudes. Contemporary experts active in the care and protection of assets in the event of disasters are rare. through practical exercises with emergency revitalization can provide high quality of housing estates. Interdisciplinary conferences ProteCHt2save strengthens international forces. living and at the same time contribute to are planned in Austria and the Czech Republic, cooperation and aims at practicable climate protection. involving experts in fields of architecture, protection of cultural assets in case of a urban planning, preservation of historical crisis. In the Czech Republic too, “Plattenbau” monuments but also experts on green infra (buildings constructed of prefabricated structure and mitigation of climate change The Central European countries have a high concrete slabs) once stood for substandard effects. The intention is not only to increase density of built monuments, cultural heritage housing. Now, more and more urban the quality of living and protect architectural ensembles and mobile cultural heritage with planners and authorities responsible for values through modern revitalization, but the legal obligation of their protection and the preservation of buildings are rethinking. also to reduce the effects of climate change preservation. Although the structure of the Risk Assessment and Sustainable In the recent past a number of research in cities. protection mechanisms has continuously Protection of Cultural Heritage projects and exhibitions have taken place in improved over the past decades, a number in Changing Environment – the Czech Republic, presenting prefabricated of important aspects in cultural heritage ProteCHt2Save housing estates as a valuable architectural protection have not yet been satisfactorily contribution. Experience shows that with developed and implemented. For example, FUNDING modern revitalization the functionalist emergency plans for cultural assets at national European Commission prefabricated housing estates have the and transnational level are largely lacking, DURATION potential to improve the quality of living mechanisms for cooperation between the 2017 – 2020 and to develop the so-called blue-green various levels of administration, as well infrastructure in order to mitigate the DEPARTMENT as emergency forces and specialists in effects of climate change. Building and Environment conservation and restoration, are not in place. There is also little awareness of the necessity PROJECT LEAD At the moment however, reluctance still and possibilities of preserving movable and Anna Kaiser prevails, and a balance between protection immovable cultural heritage. PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS and revitalization has still not been found in The issue of climate change has so far been Patricia Engel the Czech Republic. Value is lost through little associated with the conservation and Christian Hanus urban densification and the removal of the Plattenbau Housing Estates – protection of cultural heritage. Peter Strasser functional elements and building parts that Revitalizing vs. Preserving Values Klaus Winiwarter once served as community facilities, thus FUNDING Risk management for cultural heritage COORDINATION improving the quality of living. European Commission, Province of Lower Austria The ProteCHt2save project focuses on Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate – historical buildings and sites, museums, National Research Council of Italy Raising awareness DURATION archives and libraries in urban environments By organizing an international seminar series 2018 – 2019 PARTNERS and develops regional and local strategies on the value and revitalization potential of Ústav teoretické a aplikované mechaniky, Czech DEPARTMENT for better protection, management and Republic functionalist prefabricated housing estates, Building and Environment sustainable utilization of cultural heritage. Akademie v d eské republiky, Czech Republic in cooperation with the National monument Critical points for cultural heritage resilience Powiat Bielski, Poland institute of the Czech republic, the Depart- PROJECT LEAD Peter Morgenstein and risk management are also investigated, Agencja Rozwoju Regionalnego S.A w Bielsku- ment for Building and Environment aims to Białej, Poland e.g. inventories or interactive maps for risk PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Comune di Ferrara, Italy Christian Hanus management and cultural asset protection M stská ást Praha – Troja, Czech Republic ě Peter Morgenstein are developed. An important element: The Baranya Megyei Önkormányzat, Hungary Christine Rottenbacher development of a transnational strategy for Grad Kaštela, Croatia the protection of movable and immovable Obcina Kocevje, Slovenia COORDINATION cultural heritage in the event of natural Danube University Krems National Heritage Institute, Czech Republic
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 72 Revitalization and Cultural Heritage 73
Preserving First World War Architectural Heritage
The Networld project aims to counteract the decay of First World War architectural Networking in Preserving the heritage in the Danube region by means First World War Multicultural of a database and a touristic utilization Heritage in the Danube Countries – Networld concept, the centerpiece of which is the “Walk of Peace.” FUNDING European Commission With First World War architectural heritage in countries of the Danube basin threatened by DURATION decay, a socially relevant memory landscape 2017 – 2019 is in danger of disappearing. However, DEPARTMENT this heritage – also known as “contested Building and Environment heritage” – is part of national identity as well as European and non-European history. PROJECT LEAD Julia Walleczek-Fritz The intention is to develop various concepts to simultaneously ensure the protection, PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS valorisation and knowledge transfer of Christian Hanus this heritage. The project focuses on the Anna Kaiser Peter Strasser question of which measures and concepts are necessary for preserving, communicating, COORDINATION managing and exploiting this architectural Posoški razvojni center/So a Valley heritage for culture tourism, while at the same Development Centre time contributing to education about peace. PARTNERS The Walk of Peace in the So a Region Foundation, Database World War One Sites Slovenia; Rozmberk Society, Czech Republic; For this reason the project not only aims to Varna Economic Development Agency, Bulgaria; document, preserve and use the First World Regional Museum of History – Dobrich, Bulgaria; War architectural heritage in nine Danube Cultural LAB Social Cooperative, Hungary; Municipality of Town Veszprém, Hungary; region countries for culture tourism, but also Danube University Krems, Austria; die Berater to stimulate regional development. Important Unternehmensberatung GmbH, Austria; elements are systematically documenting the National Institute for Research and Development heritage in a database designed for broad use, in Tourism, Romania; Institution for Development the “World War One Sites – the NETWORLD of Competence, Innovation and Specialization Database”, a protection strategy and a tourism of Zadar County, Croatia; University of Presov, Slovakia; School of Economics and Business in concept centering on the “Walk of Peace.” Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegowina; Educational activities, exhibitions, maps Department for Development and International and events at selected sites in the partner Projects of Government of Zenica-Doboj, Bosnia countries complement the research. and Herzegowina
ww1sites.eu
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 74 Archives of Contemporary Arts Cultural Heritage > Archives of Contemporary Arts 75
Friedrich Cerha Online
The Archives of Contemporary Arts Under the academic direction of the Cerha at Danube University Krems collects researcher Matthias Henke (University and archives the musical estate of the of Siegen), the project’s methodological Austrian composer Friedrich Cerha. approach to categorizing Friedrich Cerha’s With the development of an interactive, complete works is a classification scheme on-topic online portal, the public based on cultural-scientific topics and not, presentation of the archive materials as is usual, in chronological order. “Friedrich will also provide digital access to Cerha Online” also aims to become a scientific knowledge. prototype for other pre-mortem collections in the Archives of Contemporary Arts. The pre-mortem bequest of the distinguished composer Friedrich Cerha (born in 1926) has been part of the Archives of Contemporary Arts at Danube University Krems since 2010. One outstanding feature of this institution is its notable treatment of the pre-mortem bequests of contemporary artists by maintain- ing the authenticity and trustworthiness of The Archives of Contemporary Arts is dedicated to preserving, unique sources through personal contact and preparing and presenting the collections of outstanding artists close collaboration with the artists.
from the fields of music, literature, film and architecture. In The Archives of Contemporary Arts regards cultural, scientifically-oriented mediation addition to archival tasks, the Archive’s activities also include work, taking the significance of artistic designing and implementing research projects and scientific personalities for cultural heritage into account, as one of its core tasks. For this reason the Friedrich Cerha Online conferences as well as publishing its own literature. As an project focuses on developing and maintaining the online database “Friedrich Cerha Online”. FUNDING institution of the Federal Province of Lower Austria, the archive NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. (NFB) New access to Cerha’s musical estate is embedded in Danube University Krems. DURATION The research-based portal is bilingual in 2019 – 2021 German and English and is intended to provide researchers, students, teachers and DEPARTMENT musicians with innovative, first-hand access Art and Cultural Studies to archival materials and information on the PROJECT LEAD life and work of the composer Friedrich Cerha. Christine Rigler Matthias Henke
PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Marco Hoffmann Pictured (f. l. t. r.) Gundula Wilscher front row: Reinhard Widerin COORDINATION Gundula Wilscher Danube University Krems Marco Hoffmann Brigitta Potz PARTNER back row: University of Siegen, Chair for Historical Christine Rigler Musicology Hanna Prandstätter Simon Wimmer
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 76 Image Science and Media Art Research Cultural Heritage > Image Science and Media Art Research 77
Image Science and Media Art Research
The Department for Image Science unites semester Master’s program aims at a better concepts from science and media art to understanding of the image revolution and understand the complex system that digital cultures. The partners are Aalborg is digital image. It regards its research, University, Denmark, the University of Lodz, teaching and documentation as a trans- Poland as well as the Lasalle College of the disciplinary answer to the digital image Arts in Singapore and the Ars Electronica and media revolution taking place today. Center in Linz. The program is flanked by research projects. The image sciences see themselves as a transdisciplinary response to the current digital image and media revolution. They analyze the transformation processes in culture, science and political iconography. The Department for Image Science works closely with international museums, archives and media as well as (media) artists and institutions from the humanities and cultural sciences. The Department for Image Science centers its research on the global image revolution – heavily influenced today by media and The department also investigates the qualitative peculiarities of the pictorial in digitalization – and how it affects our culture. Based on several the production, distribution and reception of knowledge. In addition to art and cultural extensive text and image archives, the department combines its studies analysis, the department focuses world-renowned media art research with teaching in international on researching reception and immersion in the respective areas of the visual - from art courses and conferences. Furthermore, the Lab for Digital to popular and scientific culture through to Image Science Archives as the Basis for Research, Teaching and Humanities provides an experimental space for innovative social networks. The Digital Humanities Lab documents media art as part of international Documentation research. research projects. The department also Archive of Digital Art as the internationally continues with the “Commented Bibliography most extensive overview of contemporary of Digital Arts Research Publications”. digital art with over 500 artists, tens of thousands of documents and the first Web MediaArtsCultures 2.0, 3.0 Archive of Humanities. The research findings are directly incorporated www.digitalartarchive.at into the department’s teaching. It focuses The Archive of the MediaArtHistories World on the Erasmus Mundus Joint European Conference hosted by the department with Master Programmme Media Arts Cultures, thousands of submissions, articles and videos whose funding was extended by the from seven world conferences European Commission in 2018. The four- www.mediaarthistory.org
The Graphic Collection Göttweig-Online includes thousands of high-res digital copies Pictured (f. l. t. r.) from Dürer to Klimt, a knowledge cosmos Janina Hoth of the Baroque as well as sources to explore Viola Rühse image history and media technology. Oliver Grau www.gssg.at Wendy Jo Coones Carlos Rodrigo Guzman Serrano
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 78 Image Science and Media Art Research Cultural Heritage > Image Science and Media Art Research 79
Meta-Thesaurus Digital Humanities Lab and Visual Literacies
Building on the AT-MAR project, the the project, an open platform with didactically Documenting media art is one of the music festivals and hackathons. Institutions integration of media art into art history prepared research and teaching materials core tasks of the Department for Image can upload and manage information is currently being continued. The Visual with five webinars was set up on the basis of Science. The Digital Humanities Lab themselves. Literacies project, completed in 2018, theoretical models and empirical evaluations. projects and dissemination measures explored the role that visual media plays such as the conference series Re:Trace Conference series Re:Trace in scientific knowledge. ensure that media art collections are To disseminate the research results, the preserved for research and posterity. department organizes the international Building on the project “Interactive Archive conference series Media Art History and Meta-Thesaurus for Media Art Research”, The mission of the Digital Humanities Lab is (Re:Trace), which takes place every two years funded by the FWF from 2013 to 2016, the to continue developing an online database as on a different continent. The conference department continues to pursue the goal of well as research tools for documenting media “On the Histories of MediaArt, Science integrating media art into art history. It also art. The team studies the documentation and and Technology”, held in November 2017 intends to investigate new questions from preservation conditions of media art online, at Danube University Krems, was the most the digital humanities, such as the influence and analyzes case studies and data about successful edition of the series with more of artistic inventions in the digital age, by media art in their aesthetic, socio-political than 250 participants from 50 countries. The means of projection research using high- and technological characteristics, focusing results are currently published in three parts. resolution 2D and 3D image material as well on image-centered methods. With these as researching data annotation, new digital innovative research methods, questions search tools and innovative analysis methods regarding artistic inventions, practices (Big Data). The contributions will create an and influences in the digital age can be overall history of the human relationship investigated and placed into the context of with images. The research findings flow into new questions in the digital humanities. study programs such as Digital Collection Management and Media Art Histories as well Work is currently taking place on expanding as Media Arts Cultures (Erasmus+). documentation of the most important media Visual Literacies – VILI art trends. The aim is to integrate these into Visual Literacies (VILI, Erasmus+) FUNDING art history and facilitate comparability by The research project Visual Literacies, which EU – Erasmus+ developing new instruments, such as the first investigated the role and significance of visual Web 2.0-3.0 digital graphics/picture stories media in the production, communication and DURATION archive and a comprehensive thesaurus 2017 – 18 dissemination of scientific knowledge, was bridging categories/bridge thesaurus. completed in 2018. In this context, different DEPARTMENT techniques and practices in visual knowledge Department for Image Science Imaging media art institutions transfer were addressed systematically- Another ongoing documentation project is PROJECT LEAD comparative, critically-reflective, and DARIAH-DASTIN. As part of the Archive of Oliver Grau historical-genealogically. The study focused Digital Art it aims to render the research, on video, which is omnipresent in the age of PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER teaching and exhibition of this contemporary online moving picture media (YouTube, Vimeo, Ramon Reichert art visible. All areas of media art infrastructure Benchfly or Ooyala) and creates collective COORDINATION are covered, from museums, research knowledge on the internet. In the course of Danube University Krems centers, universities through to organizers of
PARTNERS Lancaster University (UK) CARDET (Cyprus) WIDE Services (Greece)
https://mooc.viliproject.eu/
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 80 Museum Collections Management Cultural Heritage > Museum Collections Management 81
Research Brings Monastic Music Treasures to Light
For the first time the core holdings of humanities, is the opening of the monastic three monastic music collections will music collections. A Linked Open Data web be researched, their networks explored application will allow anyone interested and insights gained into music-making to access the collections worldwide. The practices and everyday music culture of archive material will be digitized for this the 18 th and 19 th centuries. Digitalization purpose. Finally, the project is intended to opens up the collections to the world. provide information on which edition formats, whether analogue, digital or hybrid, are best Extensive music collections are waiting to be suited to different user groups. explored in the Lower Austrian monasteries of Göttweig, Klosterneuburg and Melk. The core collections at all three institutions, dating from the 18 th and early 19 th centuries, each more than 1,000 objects, have so far remained unexplored. The university professor for cultural history and museum and collection studies Anja Grebe and her research team are in the process of unearthing these treasures. Museum collections, as an important depository for our cultural Monastery_Music_Collections heritage, require sophisticated concepts for their care and study. The aim of the project is to document the music holdings and the collection history FUNDING Closely tied to the Lower Austrian state collections, collections by systematic basic research. It intends to NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. (NFB) provide information on the historical links DURATION research mainly focuses on cultural heritage, archaeology, art between the collections as well as the best 2017 – 2019 and natural science, conservation and preservation sciences. The methods for cataloging them. By exploring the music archives, the project will shed new DEPARTMENT concept of collecting as a museum research field also extends to light on the history of music in Lower Austria Arts and Cultural Studies and beyond. This includes testimonies of contemporary forms of artistic expression such as performance art PROJECT LEAD sacred, but also of profane music-making Anja Grebe or digital themes. practices in the monasteries themselves and of everyday music culture in the associated PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS parishes. They have remained largely Stefanie Preisl Johannes Prominczel unnoticed by previous research, which mainly Eva Maria Stöckler focused on a canonized concert repertoire. Günter Stummvoll Max Theisen Digitalization opens up collections Ulrike Wagner An important component of the COORDINATION interdisciplinary project, which involves Danube University Krems collection studies, history, cultural studies, Pictured (f. l. t. r.) musicology and computer science / digital PARTNERS Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute for front row: Marlies Surtmann History of Art and Musicology Kathrin Kratzer Masaryk-University Brno, Institute of Musicology Elisabeth Nowotny at the Faculty of Arts Sandra Sam Göttweig Abbey back row: Klosterneuburg Monastery Theresia Hauenfels Melk Abbey Franziska Butze-Rios Stefanie Juch
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 82 Museum Collections Management Cultural Heritage > Museum Collections Management 83
A Challenge for Museums: Building and Life Performance Art in the Middle Ages
Archiving performance art has so far The project incorporates approaches taken The Czech-Austrian museum landscape in as of towns and rural settlements, nutrition, been a knowledge gap in museum by art history, cultural anthropology, collection the border regions is set to become more agriculture and the landscape of the time collections. Marlies Surtmann’s disserta- and archive sciences, media theory and attractive, with the cultural heritage of will be addressed. Research also focuses on tion project aims to close this gap by performance studies. A further aspect is the shared border area placed more in the production, crafts and trade. developing a concept for a performance to establish ways in which performance art center of interest. archive. The documentation holdings archives can be made accessible to the public. of the Kunstraum Niederoesterreich Two border regions, one cultural offering: serve as a starting point. This is the short formula of the I-CULT. International Cultural Platform project. The Happenings and fluxus in the 1960s and project focuses on exhibitions and educational 1970s, feminist movements and action art … programs on the cultural heritage of the two these new manifestations gave birth to perfor- countries’ border regions. It includes the mance art. Its essence: the ephemerality of following topics: the history of the border, what is trapped in the moment. Transcience life and customs in the border region, glass by nature, only its documentation remains. production, as well as “building(s) and life in So, how to archive the acts and knowledge the Middle Ages”. The latter will be presented of performance art? The dissertation project as an exhibition at the MAMUZ Museum attempts to answer this question, which in Asparn / Zaya Castle in 2020. This show arose in connection with integrating the is one of the main results of the project’s documentation holdings of the Kunstraum archaeological track. The reconstruction Niederoesterreich into the State Collections Archive for Performance Art? of a small stone church based on the early of Lower Austria – systematically and from a About Archiving, Delivering to medieval model is also planned on the International Cultural Platform – collection-scientific perspective. The aim is to Posterity and Communicating an museum’s open-air grounds. The exhibition is I-CULT develop a concept for a performance archive. Art Form on the Move curated by the Center for Museum Collections at Danube University Krems, which is also FUNDING FUNDING European Commission, Province of Lower Austria Knowledge for posterity NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. (NFB) responsible for providing scientific advice on The research’s pivotal concern is: how can the church’s construction. DURATION artistic performative practices be archived, DURATION 2017 – 2020 delivered to posterity, and conveyed to 2019 – 2021 Studying the Finds DEPARTMENT the public? The dissertation draws on private DEPARTMENT The research carried out within the framework Arts and Cultural Studies artist archives of first generation performance Arts and Cultural Studies of the cross-border project enables in- artists as well as oral history, body-to-body depth examination of the archaeological and PROJECT LEAD transmission and re-enactment to analyze the PROJECT LEAD archaeobotanical finds as well as the building Elisabeth Nowotny Theresia Hauenfels most suitable form of archiving and delivering structures at various sites in the Czech- PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER performance art knowledge. Copyright issues PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Austrian border region. Building on this, it will Stefanie Juch and references to contemporary performance Franziska Butze-Rios be possible to present the current state of COORDINATION art forms are also dealt with. Helmut Neundlinger research to the public. Among other things The Südböhmische Kreis Kathrin Kratzer the development, characteristics and function COORDINATION of residential buildings and villages, of fortified PARTNERS Danube University Krems, Center for Museum residences, of fortification systems as well Muzeum Vyso iny T ebí , Czech Republic Collections Management Jihomoravské muzeum ve Znojm , Czech Republic Regionální muzeum v Mikulov , Czech Republic PARTNERS Museumsmanagement Niederösterreich GmbH State Collections of Lower Austria, Kunstraum MAMUZ Museumszentrum Betriebs GmbH Niederoesterreich; Stadtgemeinde Retz Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (Elisabeth von Danube University Krems, Center for Museum Samsonow) Collections Management
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 Research Report 2018/19 85
Institution-wide research field Continuing Education
Society Research
Basic Research Application Educational Technologies and Professionalization in Higher Education Management Inter-Faculty Research Groups
Transdisciplinarity
Disciplines
www.donau-uni.ac.at/research 86 Educational Technologies and Professionalization in Continuing Education Research > Educational Technologies and Professionalization in Higher Education Management 87 Higher Education Management
Bandwidth of Continuing Education Research
The Department for Continuing Education on an international comparison. The project Research and Educational Technologies will assess the status quo and formulate at Danube University Krems pursues guidelines by which management and a topic of high social relevance: the organizational processes at universities research of lifelong learning in all its should be regulated. An open resource different aspects. The spectrum ranges self-assessment instrument is provided. from didactics and media competence The department establishes connections to the possibilities of using technology- between applied research and career- supported digital tools. oriented continuing education, focusing on the possibilities that the latest educational Continuing education research is an technologies open up. important topic at Danube University Krems, the only public university for continuing education in the German-speaking countries, particularly in regard to its mature students. The Department for Continuing Education Research and Educational Technologies works on lifelong learning concepts that are closely Technological changes, the transition towards lifelong learning tailored to the needs of mature working and the internationalisation of education are important fields students, enabling them to reconcile work, family, studies and leisure time. of research at Danube University Krems. The topic of education Professional and academic continuing is studied on various levels, including learning materials that education are considered in the context utilize digitalization possibilities, promoting the third mission at of adult education in general. Innovative teaching and learning concepts aim to create universities, university management and transnational optimal conditions for acquiring competencies vocational training. in different phases of life; the students themselves are pivotal in these efforts.
To ensure that this succeeds, managing educational institutions and expert organizations is a critical factor. For example, the project “Modernisation of Higher Education Institutes through Enhanced Human Resource Management” deals with the issues of efficient personnel management at universities. This project develops the structural and functional basics of university-
Pictured (f. l. t. r.) compatible personnel management based Sonja Brachtl Wolfgang Rauter Susanne Gschossmann Attila Pausits Andrea Ghoneim Stephan Längle Filiz Keser Aschenberger Edmund Panzenböck David F. J. Campbell
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 88 Educational Technologies and Professionalization in Continuing Education Research > Educational Technologies and Professionalization in Higher Education Management 89 Higher Education Management
Digitalization Calls for Seamless Learning: New Priorities On the Way to School Book 4.0
The radical changes taking place today In the field of education the printed book have strongly impacted the activities of is still the leading medium. No other Seamless Learning – SeLe the Department for Continuing Education successful model has been able to FUNDING Research and Educational Technologies. establish itself so far. The Seamless FFG – Austrian Research Promotion Agency Digitalization and the growing importance Learning research project is working with of lifelong learning are taking research educational publishers to explore how DURATION and teaching in new directions. the potential of interactive, multimedia 2018 – 2020 learning environments can be exploited. DEPARTMENT Digitalization encompasses and revolutionizes Continuing Education Research and the possibilities of knowledge transfer and SeLe aims to qualify the employees of Educational Technologies knowledge acquisition. Research therefore Austrian educational publishers for creating concentrates on investigating, adapting or didactically sophisticated educational PROJECT LEAD Wolfgang Rauter newly developing technology-supported resources for the digital age. First, surveys learning scenarios. are conducted as to the areas in which PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS publishing houses need qualification, and Peter Baumgartner Danube University Krems practically applies what requirements digital learning materials Edmund Panzenböck its expertise in the field of lifelong learning will have to meet in future in the Austrian Isabell Grundschober Andrea Ghoneim and digitalization. The project “Towards education sector. Andrea Schlager European University Lifelong Learning Model Stephan Längle in Moldova” develops strategies for lifelong New structures for digital content learning for six Moldovan universities. The project highlights the need to develop COORDINATION Danube University Krems a viable business model for these new As the world becomes increasingly educational resources. Marketing digital PARTNERS connected, access to information is easier learning materials requires new strategies Publisher Ed. Hölzel today than ever before. At the same time, to establish feasible business models that Helbling Publishing Company however, it has become apparent that safeguard the interests of learners, authors Publisher Hölder-Pichler-Tempsky innverlag Lehr- und Lernsystem handling digital media requires more advanced and publishers. Knowledge Markets skills. This applies to both personal and social Österreichischer Bundesverlag challenges in dealing with the new media. The practical, innovative student projects Westermann Group Austria emerging from SeLe will be presented to the A further area of research at the department general public at EDU|days 2020, a conference www.seleprojekt.at focuses on the approach to knowledge for teachers of all subjects. After the project transfer, and communicating these new phase, SeLe will be continued as a course at approaches. Didactic arrangements are Danube University Krems. An education hub developed to facilitate knowledge transfer. for sharing and developing new ideas will continue to connect the project partners.
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 90 Educational Technologies and Professionalization in Continuing Education Research > Educational Technologies and Professionalization in Higher Education Management 91 Higher Education Management
Increasing the Social Impact Research on the Vocational of Universities Education Systems in Border Regions
The project aims to raise students’ The job market in the border region awareness for societal challenges. The Service-Learning in Higher between the Czech Republic and Austria Concepts for Professional Education topic evolved from the current political Education – Fostering the Third is particularly demanding. Companies in Border Regions discussion about the role and tasks of Mission of Universities and Civic seek personnel with skills required in Engagement of Students FUNDING universities, particularly in regard to their both countries. However, the education European Commission responsibility towards society. sector still lacks a common strategy for FUNDING EU – Erasmus+ teaching these competences. DURATION The project investigates so-called service 2018 – 2021 learning, an action-oriented method of DURATION This project’s research goal is derived from 2017 – 2020 DEPARTMENT competence acquisition that is often referred the requirements of the business sector and Continuing Education Research and Educational to as “learning through engagement”. In DEPARTMENT job market in the border region between Technologies the higher education sector, this means that Continuing Education Research and Educational the Czech Republic and Austria. The goal is PROJECT LEAD academic content is combined with students’ Technologies to establish a pilot strategy for trans-border Stephanie Nestawal civic engagement. Universities should be professional training. The prerequisites for PROJECT LEAD geared more strongly to the needs of society, Attila Pausits this will be created by providing vocational PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS not only in research but also in teaching. high schools and professional training Sonja Brachtl PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER institutions with guidelines for cooperation Filiz Keser Aschenberger Lucie Procházková Social responsibility as part of teaching Florian Reisky with comparable schools in the neighbouring Jindřiška Svobodová Three research questions were at the outset COORDINATION country. of the project. The first was to define which Matej Bel University, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia COORDINATION challenges universities face in particular with Connecting theory with practice Danube University Krems regard to service learning. Furthermore, PARTNERS In order to better meet the demands of the Babeș-Bolyai-University Cluj, Romania PARTNERS to study the existing institutional models Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany job market, vocational guidance coordinators PH Lower Austria for implementing social responsibility in Palacký-University Olmütz, Czech Republic who are familiar with the specifics of the Vysočina Education teaching; and finally, to make an international University Rijeka, Croatia border region will be trained. Another SPŠT – Střední průmyslová škola Třebíč (Technical comparison of how universities can be objective is to link the education sector with High School Trebic) supported in developing service learning. the business sector. An important part of the SSŠ Brno – Středisko služeb školám a Zařízení pro další vzdělávání pedagogických pracovníků Brno vocational training is the students’ contact (Service Centre for schools and facilities for the The project intertwines knowledge from the with industry and business. further education of teachers in Brno, state-funded educational sciences with knowledge from organisation) management and organizational sciences. Measures are jointly developed and implemented within the framework of trans- border pilot school cooperations. These include the harmonisation of qualifications, bilateral training projects, language training and the development of occupation- specific learning materials. The counselling competences of the vocational training coordinators will be extended in order to support young people in gaining an overview of the trans-border job market.
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 92 Inter-Faculty Research Groups Continuing Education Research > Inter-Faculty Research Groups 93
Space for Continuing Education
The effect buildings have on human beings has been studied ever since it has Learning and Innovation Spaces for been known that our spacial surroundings Continuing Education influence our health and our behavior. The DURATION transdisciplinary research group Learning 2019 – 2020 and Innovation Spaces for Continuing Education studies the characteristics COORDINATION of multi-dimensional learning and Department for Building and Environment innovation spaces. PROJECT LEAD Christina Ipser Danube University Krems as a university Gregor Radinger for continuing education offers the ideal PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS framework for studying how spatial design CORE TEAM influences the learning outcome of adult Pictured (f. l. t. r.) education. Not only in terms of learning DEPARTMENT FOR BUILDING AND front row: success, but also in maintaining and encour- ENVIRONMENT Daniela Trauninger aging motivation, creativity and health of Gregor Radinger Sonja Brachtl Christina Ipser teachers and students. Many disciplines – Filiz Keser Aschenberger Cornelia Winter Nicole Hynek among them architecture and building Peter Parycek research, continuing education research, DEPARTMENT FOR CONTINUING Christina Isper EDUCATION RESEARCH AND Gregor Radinger media and communication sciences, transdisciplinary research, complexity science, EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES back row: Filiz Keser Aschenberger Gerald Steiner economics, health sciences, medicine, Attila Pausits Attila Pausits psychology, sociology, and information Isabell Grundschober Alexander Braun Günther Schreder technology – contribute findings to this topic. DEPARTMENT FOR KNOWLEDGE AND Thomas Lampoltshammer Pictured (f. l. t. r.) COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT Günther Kainz Klausjürgen Heinrich; Arleta Anna Franczukowska; Alexander Braun; Eva Krczal; Isolde Sommer; Lydia Rössl; Knowledge transfer required Gerald Steiner Lukas Zenk Filiz Keser Aschenberger While much is known in different disciplines Albert Treytl Lukas Zenk Cornelia Winter about spacial characteristics that promote Nicole Hynek Christian Hanus learning and innovation and how these Günther Schreder are influenced by social and technological developments, a knowledge transfer between The inter-faculty research groups at Danube University Krems, the disciplines is still largely lacking. which were established for the first time in 2016, combine questions Together the research group identifies the spatial and structural design requirements for on several research foci and expertise from different departments. learning and innovation spaces, and merges Their interdisciplinary approach enables research in complex these into future scenarios defined for Danube University Krems. This theoretical- subject areas and strengthens cooperation across organizational conceptual work will be field tested under scientific supervision using specific case boundaries. Two new groups started their research in 2018. studies related to Danube University Krems. They combine continuing education with issues of ageing and innovation.
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 94 Inter-Faculty Research Groups 95
Age-Sensitive Learning
As lifelong learning is becoming more chosen to embrace findings from the and more important, new questions are educational sciences, media sciences, in the limelight: How can older people medicine, health economy and sciences, learn, or rather, how can they deal with sociology, cultural sciences and psychology. the challenges of an increasingly digitized world? What setting, which learning concepts do they require? These are the questions a faculty-overarching group of researchers at Danube University Krems is exploring.
Continuing education can pose challenges on employees who are not yet “digital natives”: Modern teaching materials require being familiar with digital systems, and modes of Research Group Age-Sensitive knowledge acquisition changes with age. The Learning – Stress-Free Learning research group Age-Sensitive Learning is with Digital Media for the Older therefore concentrating on teaching formats Workforce and methods enabling learning and knowl- edge transfer across all generations. The aim DURATION is to prepare the older workforce for the 2019 – 2020 challenges of the increasingly digitized COORDINATION workplace by providing a suitable learning Department for Economy and Health environment. PROJECT MANAGEMENT Eva Krczal New didactic insights for continuing education PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS The research group Age-Sensitive Learning EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE AND CLINICAL explores factors that affect employees as EPIDEMIOLOGY they acquire digital competencies. Influences Agnes Ebenberger relevant to older people’s digital media Isolde Sommer skills are studied as well as the learning Birgit Teufer biography and the roles learning receptivity MIGRATION AND GLOBALIZATION and experience play in the process. One Anna Faustmann of the research group’s aims is to create a Lydia Rössl solid planning basis for designing continuing Isabella Skrivanek education programs. The findings from this research group will be used to further develop ECONOMY AND HEALTH Eva Krczal on-topic curricula of Danube University Arleta Franczukowska Krems. A transdisciplinary approach was Alexander Braun
CONTINUING EDUCATION RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Andrea Ghoneim Stefan Längle Klausjürgen Heinrich Filiz Keser Aschenberger
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 Research Report 2018/19 97
Research Clusters
Society
Basic Research Application WasserCluster Lunz Complexity Science Hub Vienna
Transdisciplinarity
Disciplines
www.donau-uni.ac.at/research 98 WasserCluster Lunz Research Clusters > WasserCluster Lunz 99
Aquatic Animals Influence Terrestrial Ecosystems
The AquaTerr research project investi- gates the transport of organic material Aquatic-Terrestrial Coupling: Export from rivers and lakes into the surrounding of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from terrestrial ecosystems. The quality and Aquatic Ecosystems by Insects and Possible Consequences for Terrestrial quantity of energy in the transferred Consumers – AquaTerr biomass and in the terrestrial animals will be investigated. The results contribute to FUNDING the understanding of nutrient flows FWF – Austrian Science Fund, DFG – German across system boundaries. Research Foundation
Currently aquatic research is mainly conducted DURATION 2019 – 2022 in rivers or lakes. Not enough importance is attached, however to the role of aquatic life in DEPARTMENT surrounding terrestrial ecosystems. And yet, WasserCluster Lunz the productivity of the surrounding terrestrial PROJECT LEAD ecosystems can be increased by these aquatic Martin Kainz organisms and by organic material. Emerging aquatic insects, for example, are significantly COORDINATION Danube University Krems, in collaboration with the University involved in the transport of organic material WasserCluster Lunz of Vienna and the University of Natural Resources and Applied from inland waters to adjacent terrestrial PARTNER systems. These insects provide essential Universität Konstanz, Germany Life Sciences Vienna, operator of the WaterCluster Lunz, conducts biochemical nutrients such as polyunsaturated ecological water research with the Aquatic Lipid Research and fatty acids. Ecotoxicology (LIPTOX) research group. LIPTOX’s basic research Overview of Biomass Export Possible effects of nutrient fluxes on adjacent focuses on aquatic food chains, from algae to microorganisms food webs depend primarily on the amount of and fish, with a special focus on lipids, fatty acids and potential biomass transferred. The aim of this project is to quantify the export of essential biochemical pollutants. nutrients in the form of emergent insects from inland waters. This will determine the importance of these nutrients for adjacent terrestrial habitats. A new method – the application of stable isotopes and fatty acids as biomarkers – will provide new insights. The nutrient changes in lakes and their effects on energy quality in insect larvae will subsequently be investigated followed by studying the effects of qualitative differences in biomass on adjacent food webs. Pictured (f. l. t. r.) Samuel-Karl Kämmer Peter Dechant Nadine Ebm Katharina Winter Martin Kainz Richard Adams Margaux Mathieu-Resuge Hannes Hager
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 100 WasserCluster Lunz Complexity Science Hub Vienna 101
Studying Ecosystem Studying Interrelationships Systemic Risks
The Mitchell River is an unregulated river The results will not only provide information The Complexity Science Hub Vienna aims Danube University Krems became a member in North Australia and famous for its un- about stream food in freshwater ecosystems; to understand complex issues and their of the Complexity Science Hub Vienna in spoiled riparian forests. The “QueenIsFat” the project also investigates the ecosystem impact on society in using Big Data. 2018. project examines the aquatic ecosystem connections between river, floodplain forests Danube University Krems is a member of and attempts to preserve sustainable and flood currents. the hub since 2018. stream management despite encroaching agriculture. Climate change, financial crises, global urbanization trends, the rising number of There is broad interest in expanding natural disasters, the repercussions of fake agriculture in the catchment area of the Gulf news, migration … mastering the great of Carpentaria, the Mitchell River. However, challenges of the 21st century requires a intensive use of land and water resources can deep, quantitative and far-seeing under- have negative impacts on floodplain forests, standing of complex systems. Studying such fish recreation areas and endangered species. complex systems opens up new methods This project aims to gain new knowledge on and ways to analyze systems that, only a few how to protect aquatic ecosystems and to decades ago, were considered incomprehen- enable sustainable stream management in sible. the context of expanding cultivation in Complexity science combines mathematics, northern Australia. modeling, data, and information technology to approach basic questions posed by different Identifying nutrient sources disciplines such as medicine, economy, Stream patterns and nutrient flows during ecology or social sciences with the goal of dry seasons and periods of flooding are Critical Water Needs to Sustain achieving a deeper understanding of systemic studied. In addition new methods to identify Freshwater Ecosystems and Aquatic risks, resilience, efficiency and the challenges nutrient sources are being used: With the Biodiversity in the Mitchell River – of sustainable innovation and creativity. help of stable isotopes the sources of fatty Investigating Stream Food Webs in acids are differentiated in order to determine Queenland’s Floodplain Ecosystems Center for Complexity Science in Europe whether these have been washed into the Using Stable Isotopes and Fatty Acids The Complexity Science Hub Vienna sees river or enter the river in the form of algae – QueenIsFat itself as an incubator for radical new ideas in or other resources. The quality of the nutrient the field of complexity science. It strives to sources is also measured. These findings FUNDING become the center of complexity science in Government Queensland, Australia provide information on where the food for Europe. The hub’s researchers aim to provide fish and living beings comes from and DURATION a creative environment without bureaucratic whether different food sources have an 2019 – 2022 constraints. influence on the growth, reproduction and The hub includes several universities and DEPARTMENT fitness of consumers. In addition, the project WasserCluster Lunz research institutions in Austria and works investigates how the different nutrients in in an international network with the Santa the fish are converted into cell membranes PROJECT LEAD Fe Institute, the NTU Singapore Complexity for example. Martin Kainz Institute, the Arizona State University and the COORDINATION Institute of Advanced Studies Amsterdam. WasserCluster Lunz Complexity Science Hub Vienna PARTNERS Department of Environment and Science, DURATION Government Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Since 2018 Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia https://www.csh.ac.at/
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 Research Report 2018/19 103
Science & Society
Society
Basic Research Application
Tableau Vivant – Old Pictures Come Alive Again!
Transdisciplinarity
Disciplines
www.donau-uni.ac.at/resesarch 104 Science & Society Science & Society > Science & Society 105
Danube University Krems takes it as an obligation and task to convey Tableau Vivant – research to the public by giving an insight into its structure and the Old Pictures Come daily work researchers are involved in. To satisfy the public interest Alive Again! Danube University Krems organizes events and participates in initiatives supporting science communication, such as The Long Night The 300th birthday of Krems’ most famous young people react to both the freedom and of Research or The Research Festival Lower Austria. baroque painter Martin Johann Schmidt the responsibility in participatory activities. was the occasion for a project that builds The self-staging of the selfie generation bridges between epochs. Teenage fashion within the framework of this project was also students from Krems studied his works to academically studied. create tableaux vivants, “living pictures”, with a 21st century twist.
In the 18 th century, tableaux vivants were a popular form of entertainment in which people re-enacted paintings and sculptures. In this context it was chosen as a means of introducing pupils of the fashion class at HLM HLW Krems to the works of “Kremser Schmidt”. The primary goal of the research project was to scientifically accompany Research Festival Lower Austria contemporary reinterpretations of individual The Research Festival Lower Austria paintings and prints by Schmidt. The starting celebrated its first showing in 2017. Danube point was to examine the formal and content- University Krems will again participate in this related aspects of original works. In a next event presenting a number of its research step, selected historical aspects of these projects in the Palais Niederösterreich, were specifically modified by the students Vienna in September 2019. during the re-enactment, and interpreted for the 21st century.
Experiencing exhibition practice at Tableau Vivant – Old Pictures first hand Come Alive Again! Girls‘ Day In addition to intensively studying the work of Every year female high school students the Krems genius loci, another focus was on FUNDING aged 13 to 18 take advantage of the Girl’s the professional presentation of the art project. Viertelfestival Niederösterreich – Kulturvernetzung NÖ day to visit Danube University Krems in A professional photographer documented the order to gain information about career paths tableaux vivants. Her photos were shown DURATION leading toward science and technology. at museumkrems as part of an exhibition February – October 2018 designed by the students. An accompanying DEPARTMENT educational program supported the fashion Art and Cultural Studies students in their task. In the process, the risks and opportunities in museum and exhibition PROJECT LEAD management were examined by way of Barbara Margarethe Eggert The Long Night of Research example through authentic participatory COORDINATION In 2018 Danube University Krems was part of projects. Another research question was how Viertelfestival Niederösterreich / The Long Night of Research nationwide held Kulturvernetzung NÖ in Austria, and invited every man, woman and PARTNERS child independent of age to participate at its Verena Taschner, specialist teacher, and 3rd year 30 stations. fashion pupils from HLM HLW Krems museumkrems (Stadt Krems) Verein raumgreifend, Krems
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 Research Report 2018/19 107
Facts & Figures
Society
Basic Research Application Office for Research Services Recently Appointed Professors and Assistant Professors Key Figures and Diagrams
Transdisciplinarity
Disciplines
www.donau-uni.ac.at/research 108 Office for Research Services Recently Appointed Professors and Assistant Professors 109
Mathias Czaika Mathias Czaika was appointed university professor of Migration and Integration (§ 98) on September 1, 2017. Czaika earned his PhD at Freiburg University (Germany). Since 2010 he was Senior Research Officer and Senior Fellow at the Oxford Martin School and from 2015 onwards Governing Body Fellow at Wolfson College, both at the University of Oxford (UK). In 2015, Mathias Czaika became associated professor of Migration and Development, and a year later was conferred the position of Director of the International Migration Institute in Oxford. At Danube University Krems, Mathias Czaika heads the Department for Migration und Globalization.
Thomas Probst Thomas Probst was appointed university professor for Psychotherapy Sciences (§ 98) on October 1, 2017. Probst studied psychology at Regensburg University and is a certified cognitive-behaviour therapist in Germany. He obtained his doctorate in psychology (PhD) from Humboldt University, Berlin. Probst has worked at several German universities, among others as interim professor for clinical psychology and psychotherapy at Georg-August- University Göttingen, Germany.
Hubert Brückl Hubert Brückl was appointed university professor of Sensor Technology (§ 98) on May 1, 2019. Brückl studied physics and obtained his doctorate degree at the University of Regensburg. After two years as postdoctoral researcher at Technical University of Darmstadt, Brückl served as group leader at the Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW) in Dresden. Following a research stay at Siemens, Brückl became head of the business division Nano Systems of the AIT, Austrian Institute of Technology, in Vienna Pictured (f. l. t. r.) from 2005 to 2012. Brückl heads the Department for Integrated Sensor Systems at Danube Karin Siebenhandl; Sabina Ertl; Edith Huber; David J. Krych; Claudia Paulhart University Krems.
Assistant professorships The Office for Research Services at Support, advice, documentation: The Office In 2017, Danube University Krems appointed the first assistant professors in accordance for Research Services at Danube University with its new academic career model. So far, assistant professorships have been awarded to Danube University Krems supports Krems offers researchers a range of support. 13 academic staff members. Researchers are assisted in identifying researchers applying for research suitable international, European or Austrian Assistant professorships funding instruments for research projects Elisabeth Donat, Assistant Professor of Empirical Democracy Studies projects, project administration through as well as mobility, in application processes, Jens Hartmann, Assistant Professor of Apheresis and Extracorporeal Therapies Filiz Keser Aschenberger, Assistant Professor of Educational Research and Lifelong Learning and in dissemination of results. Furthermore, to disseminating the results. Eva Krczal, Assistant Professor of Health Management it documents all research projects in the Thomas Lampoltshammer, Assistant Professor of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) research database established at Danube Gabriel M. Lentner, Assistant Professor of International Law and Arbitration University Krems, and offers training for Andrea De Luna, Assistant Professor of Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering researchers. Karl Matz, Assistant Professor of Vascular Prevention Walter Seböck, Assistant Professor of Security Studies Isolde Sommer, Assistant Professor for Clinical Epidemiology Yvonne Teuschl, Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurosciences and Preventive Medicine Carla Tripisciano, Assistant Professor for Biomaterials and Blood-Material-Interaction Lukas Zenk, Assistant Professor of Innovation and Network Research
Associated professorship Attila Pausits – Associate Professor of Educational Research and Lifelong Learning
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 110 Key Figures and Diagrams 111
Research at Danube University Krems is characterized by its Facts & Figures transdisciplinary approach. Exchanges among the disciplines, between Data collected 2018 basic science and application as well as interconnection between Academic Staff Third-party research funding in 2018 research and teaching ensure innovation and knowledge transfer. Total: 359 Total: 7.3 million euros
Women: 186 By funding parties: Men: 173 Private (endowments / Other associations) EU Companies Research at Danube University Krems is Research is conducted by the three faculties 50 % Federal Government Public legal entities guided by the search for answers to societal and their departments: (Ministries) (corporations, challenges. It combines basic and applied trusts, funds) research, and integrates knowledge from Faculty of Health and Medicine Jubilee Funds outside the academic sphere. Faculty of Business and Globalization of the ÖNB Faculty of Education, Arts and Research follows a clear profile infour Architecture
main fields: Women Men FFG The inter-faculty research groups underscore Source: uni:data (As per 31.12.2018) Cohesive and Innovative Societies interdisciplinarity and support the research Federal Provinces (incl. their trusts Cultural Heritage FWF and institutions) across the departments. Communities / Regenerative Medicine municipalities (excl. Vienna) Continuing Education Research
Development third-party funding and cost of research 11,405 11,000
10,000
Publications total: 450 9,362
9,000 8,712 Number of scientific/artistic publications 8,636
f: 4 h: 2 8,000 a: 31 b: 142 c: 51 d: 181 e: 34 g: 3 i: 2 7,000
6,000 7,322
5,000 a First edition reference books and textbooks: 31 5,397 5,150 b Articles first published in SCI, SSCI and AHCI journals:142 4,000 5,149 c Articles published in other scientific journals:51 d Articles published in compilations: 181 million euros 2015 2016 2017 2018 e Other scientific publications: 34 f Artistic sound, image, data carriers: 4 Third-party research funding Research spending g Contributions to artistic sound, image, data carriers: 3 h Art catalogs and other art publications: 2 i Articles in art catalogs and other art publications: 2
Source: Intellectual Capital Report 2018 Projects according to sponsors total: 176
Business: 6 EU: 31 Government: 11 Provinces of Lower Austria: 56 FWF: 10 FFG: 23 ÖAW: 1 Other: 38
Danube University Krems, Research Report 2018/19 112 Sponsors and Imprint
We gratefully acknowledge funding by:
Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union
Jubilee Fund, City of Vienna
Imprint
Herausgeber/Media owner: Donau-Universität Krems, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Str. 30, 3500 Krems Konzept/Concept: Vizerektorat für Forschung, Stabsstelle für Forschungsservice, DLE Kommunikation und Wissenschaftsredaktion Abwicklung und Redaktion/Editing: Mag. Stefan Sagl; Mag. Dr. Roman Tronner, MAS (Koordination), Mag. Rainer Alexander Hauptmann, MMag.a Katharina Roll Übersetzung/Translation: Donau-Universität Krems Lektorat/Proof-reading: Donau-Universität Krems Gestaltung / Graphic Design: DIin (FH) Gudrun Mittendrein, DLE Marketing und Marketing Services / studio d–p Fotos/Pictures: Archiv Donau-Universität Krems, iStock, Rafaela Pröll, Andrea Reischer, Walter Skokanitsch, Unsplash Redaktionsschluss/Copy deadline: 31.05.2019 Druck/Print: janetschek, 3860 Heidenreichstein Alle Rechte vorbehalten/All rights reserved.
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