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www.donau-uni.ac.at/research

Research Report 2020/21

Danube University Krems. University for Continuing Education. Contents 1

Contents 1 Foreword 3 Introduction 4

Æ Overall university main field of research: Regenerative Medicine 6

Regenerative Medicine 8 Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics 12 PhD Program Regenerative Medicine 18 Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health 22 Neurosciences and Prevention 28

Æ Overall university main field of research: Cohesive and Innovative Societies 34

Digitalization 36 Innovative and Sustainable Solutions in Complex Systems 44 Study of Democracy, Law and Europe 50 Sensor Technology and Efficiency 58 Migration and Globalization 64 PhD Migration Studies 70 Evidence-based Medicine 74 Sustainable Habitats 80 Food Chains and Ecotoxicology 84 We gratefully acknowledge funding by: Æ Overall university main field of research: Cultural Heritage 90 With the support of the Erasmus+ Programme of the Revitalization and Cultural Heritage 92 Collections Management and Image Science 98

Jubilee Fund, City of Æ Overall university main field of research: Continuing Education Research 104

Higher Education Management 106 Higher Education Research 112 Interfaculty Research Groups 116

Æ Figures, Data, Facts 120

Imprint Facts & Figures 122 Research in Figures 124 Herausgeber / Media owner: Universität für Weiterbildung Krems, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Str. 30, 3500 Krems Recently Appointed Professors and Assistant Professors 126 Konzept / Concept: Vizerektorat für Forschung, Stabsstelle für Forschungsservice, DLE Kommunikation und Wissenschaftsredaktion Abwicklung und Redaktion / Editing: Science & Society 128 Stefan Sagl, Roman Tronner (Koordination), Rainer Alexander Hauptmann, Katharina Roll Outlook 130 Übersetzung / Translation: University for Continuing Education Krems Lektorat / Proof-reading: Josef Weilguni Gestaltung / Graphic Design: Gudrun Mittendrein, DLE Marketing und Marketing Services / studio d–p Fotos / Pictures: University for Continuing Education Krems/Archive, Andrea Reischer, Walter Skokanitsch, private, Unsplash, Michael Dürr, Michael Brus Redaktionsschluss / Copy deadline: 30 April 2021 Druck / Print: gugler* print

Alle Rechte vorbehalten / All rights reserved. 2 Foreword 3

Research Driven by Responsibility for Society

Research at the University for Continuing “The University for Education Krems is motivated by a desire to find answers to the major challenges facing Continuing Education society today. In keeping with our transdisci- plinary focus, we build bridges between basic Krems responds to the and applied research and integrate knowledge from various disciplines with knowledge from rapid pace of changes outside the academic sphere. in society and ensures Based on a clear research profile and the that its ’s transdisciplinary approach, in the past two years the University for Continuing continues to produce Education Krems has set priorities that have led to significant developments in research: value for society.” The university’s four research fields Cohesive and Innovative Societies; Cultural Heritage; Regenerative Medicine; and Continuing research projects, the university has addi- Education Research have recently undergone tionally been able to raise third-party funding thematic adaptation, and a new focus on generated by EU programs. Furthermore it Evidence-based Health Research has been has expanded its existing PhD studies by adopted. This enables the University for introducing new programs reflecting the uni- Continuing Education Krems to respond to the versity’s focus on research. rapid pace of changes in society and ensures that its research continues to produce value The most important foundation for this con- for society. stant development and research success is our staff. It is their expertise, enthusiasm The University has continued to develop its for innovation and passion for new scientific European and international research networks insights that enable us to explore new terrain and is increasingly involved in projects under and generate new knowledge. Horizon 2020 / Horizon Europe, in partic- ular projects targeting societal challenges. With this in mind, we invite you to take a look Apart from acting as a coordinator of H2020 at our research and meet the people behind it.

Viktoria Weber Vice- for Research

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 4 Introduction 5

Helping Find Solutions to Overcome Societal Challenges

Developments in recent years have intensi- Networking and Europe Science and Society “The Faculty of Health and Medicine is fied the dynamics of societal challenges even Over the last two years, the University for Research at the University for Continuing Edu- characterized by its readiness to take up further. Environmental issues and events con- Continuing Education Krems has also suc- cation Krems is characterized by a transdisci- medical issues and deliver innovative nected with the ongoing pandemic have put a cessfully continued its strategy of increas- plinary approach, which specifically incorpo- therapy approaches. Strong transdis- spotlight on the role of science and research ingly anchoring its research in international rates knowledge and experience from outside ciplinary knowledge and competence in the service of society. Using research to networks and aligning it to the European the academic sphere. Transdisciplinary transfer are additionally ensured through help overcome major challenges, ranging from Research Area. There has been a significant research approaches are particularly suitable close collaboration with hospitals, insti- protecting health to digital transformation, rise in the number of research projects ben- when the aim is to develop a solution-oriented tutes, and businesses working in the field. from migration to the impact of innovation and efiting from EU funding over the last years, focus to deal with complex societal chal- This interaction enables us to effectively transition processes, and from the influence in particular in Horizon Europe-projects tar- lenges and transition processes. The trans- tackle the challenges arising in the health of lifelong learning to preserving our cultural geting societal challenges. This upward trend disciplinary laboratories, TdLabs for short, at system.” heritage, is an important part of the respon- is reflected, for example, in the increased the Faculty of Business and Globalization pro- Stefan Nehrer sibility borne by the University for Continuing volume of third-party funds that have been vide an environment for investigating complex Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medicine Education Krems vis-à-vis society. raised. issues and devising systemic solutions. This research revolves around the impact of dig- “The accelerated pace of global change Clear Research Profile PhD Programs and Interdisciplinary italization on the world of work and society, has a far-reaching impact on society and Research at the University for Continuing Edu- Research Groups questions of sustainability and issues of polit- brings with it extremely complex chal- cation Krems is developing in tandem with The two PhD programs accredited by AQ ical decision-making and democracy. lenges that call for innovative methods the dynamics of these societal challenges. , namely “Regenerative Medicine” and of analysis and new decision-making The main research fields of the University, “Migration Studies”, are proud of their new The University for Continuing Education competencies. This is why the Faculty of “Cohesive and Innovative Societies”, “Cul- graduates and have also seen a fresh intake Krems also upholds its responsibility to Business and Globalization relies on trans- tural Heritage”, “Regenerative Medicine” and on these courses. Building on the successful society by making its research known to the disciplinarity in teaching and research, an “Continuing Education Research”, previously implementation of both PhD programs, the general public. It thus took part in the 2020 approach resulting in sound orientations four in number, have now been extended to establishment of further PhD programs in Long Night of Research, an event which was that come into being only with interaction include an additional field: “Evidence-based the five university-wide research fields has held online, and hosted school outings to between science and society.” Health Research”. This approach of contin- already been initiated. Research was further offer students an insight into science. With Gerald Steiner uous further development ensures the distinc- stepped up by the award of additional tenure the Research Summit series organized by the Dean of the Faculty of Business and Globalization tive profile of the research carried out at the track positions (assistant professors) and the University for Continuing Education Krems, University for Continuing Education. appointment of new university professors. it offers a forum where scientists and stu- “The impacts of climate change, digital dents from different disciplines can enter into transformation or indeed societal change With the establishment of two new interfac- discussion with members of the public inter- are three key issues for the future that ulty research groups, the University for Con- ested in doing so. sometimes pose challenges with regard to tinuing Education Krems further deepened ecological-sustainable building, continuous its strategy of interdisciplinary collaboration. further education, the further develop- These new groups are likewise exploring ment and integration of smart sensor sys- research topics in conjunction with scien- tems and the protection, preservation and tific lifelong learning. They are dedicated to communication of cultural heritage. The imparting meta-competencies for complex faculty tackles these challenges with new decision situations and to strengthening crit- university programs and research projects ical health literacy. as well as with increased transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration.” Christian Hanus Dean of the Faculty of Education, Arts and

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 6 Research Report 2020/21 7

Overall university main field of research: Regenerative Medicine

Æ Regenerative Medicine Æ Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics Æ PhD Program Regenerative Medicine Æ Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health Æ Neurosciences and Prevention

www.donau-uni.ac.at/research 8 Regenerative Medicine Regenerative Medicine > Regenerative Medicine 9

Bone Regeneration Using Biomaterials

Scientists developed a biomaterial-car- tilage complex to treat injuries to bone Developmental Tissue Engineering and cartilage. The results of the research Model of Endochondral Ossification project show that this complex promotes for Bone Regeneration – EndoBone bone formation. FUNDING Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Scientists are researching transplants pro- Niederösterreich m.b.H., Life Science call duced from tissue constructs to improve the healing of bone defects, by simulating natural DURATION bone formation processes. For this purpose, 2018–2021 a hybrid biomaterial was developed using car- DEPARTMENT tilage-derived extracellular matrix (CD-ECM) Health Sciences, Medicine and Research in combination with the organic polymer silk fibroin. Using the cartilaginous intermediate PROJECT LEAD scaffold on solid biomaterials, bone regen- Vivek Jeyakumar eration is expected to form a neo-tissue that Stefan Nehrer mimics bone structure and functionality. COORDINATION The higher incidence of osteoarthritis in an aging yet increasingly sporty University for Continuing Education Krems Testing Bone Formation population, the impact of digitalization on medicine and its paradigm shift The developed biomaterial scaffold was com- PARTNER from repair to regeneration are all challenges taken up by the Department pared to the gold standard, bone allografts University of Health Sciences for Health Sciences, Medicine and Research. They form the main direction used in the clinics. The next step was to implant the biomaterial under the skin of rats. of the research performed by the department, which aims to overcome A range of tests was carried out to examine these challenges with the help of its results. This research focuses on the the bone formation and determine the stiff- following three key areas: firstly, blood products and their mechanisms ness and strength of the constructed bone. of action; secondly, the use of artificial intelligence, above all to facilitate This study shows that the developed bioma- diagnostics; and thirdly, the development of new regenerative therapies terial can be used to produce a scaffold that in the field of cartilage and bone regeneration. New biotechnological has a significant effect on bone cell growth. therapies to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system are under With the scaffold, it was also possible to demonstrate an improved expression pattern development in cooperation with partner institutions from the universities, of specific genes compared with current bone hospitals, and industry. tissue engineering approaches. The results of this study likewise show an acceleration in stem cell-mediated, mineralized tissue formation in the hybrid biomaterial. Thus, the biomaterial-cartilage complex is a promising tissue engineering approach.

Pictured (f. l. t. r. & top down) Stefan Nehrer Thomas Klestil Andrea De Luna Eugenia-Paulina Niculescu-Morzsa Christoph Bauer Karina Kramer Daniela Kern Vivek Jeyakumar

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 10 Regenerative Medicine > Regenerative Medicine Regenerative Medicine > Regenerative Medicine 11

Stimulating Regenerative Processes in Cartilage

Signals and substances can be transferred cellular vesicles. Products derived from the Further Projects Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination between different cell types with the help blood, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), are of extracellular vesicles. This project inves- frequently utilized in orthopedics. The use of  Cartilage Regeneration with the Help of Blood  Staging of regular webinars to communicate Products the acquired knowledge with renowned research tigates whether such vesicles can activate blood products as a cell culture supplement To stop or reverse degenerative processes in joints, institutions such as the Society for Orthopaedic regenerative processes in joints. Based on will help translate laboratory findings from cell hyperacute serum (hypACT), a product derived from Traumatologic Sports Medicine (GOTS), the Knee their effects, vesicles can also stimulate culture experiments to clinical practice. blood, was developed in collaboration with Ortho- Society, the International Cartilage Regeneration & cell-autonomous repair. Vesicles are iso- Sera GmbH. Now, new methods using freeze-dried Joint Preservation Society (ICRS), and others. lated from stem cells of Hoffa’s fat pad, a products will expand the therapeutic applications. part of the articular tissue of the knee. The objective is to test the regenerative abilities  Participation in regular consensus meetings of the two new freeze-dried hypACT formulations with GOTS on therapy strategies, e. g., regarding both by themselves and in combination with hyal- “Platelet-rich plasma” (autologous blood plasma) or As the incidence of osteoarthritis is increasing uronic acid. “Primary prevention of sports injuries”. in frequency and now affects almost one- Funding: quarter of the population, the focus of Technology Fund, Technopol program  Organization of the MiniMed lecture series at attention is shifting to developing new thera- Project lead: the University for Continuing Education Krems: Medical experts explain specialist subjects to make peutic approaches for cartilage regeneration. Andrea De Luna, Department for Health Sciences, Medicine and Research them understandable to an audience of non-profes- Besides conventional treatments, stem cells sionals. have become a promising cell source for repairing cartilage due to their modulating  Online lectures: properties. However, the use of cells has not The Department has stepped up regular online lec- just resulted in benefits. Still, it could also tures due to the distance learning of the Univer- sity for Continuing Education Krems during the pan- involve adverse effects, e. g., the rejection of Extracellular Vesicles from Hoffa’s demic. cells following transplantation, tumor forma- Fat Pad – a New Strategy for tion or a low differentiation capacity into the Cartilage Regeneration – Stemsicles required cells and tissue. FUNDING To circumvent these limitations, it is neces- Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung sary to establish cell-free approaches that Niederösterreich m.b.H., Life Science call include the beneficial properties of stem cells. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) open up a new DURATION 2020–2023 pathway, allowing for the communication of signals between different cell types and DEPARTMENT prompting cellular reactions due to their cargo Health Sciences, Medicine and Research Selected Publications (e. g., proteins, lipids, mRNA, miRNA). PROJECT LEAD  Bauer C, Stotter C, Jeyakumar V, Niculescu-Morzsa E, Simlinger B, Rodríguez Ripoll M, Klestil T, Franek F, Nehrer S. Concentration-Dependent Effects of Cobalt and Chromium Ions on Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes. Cartilage. 2019 Nov 28;1947603519889389. Exploring New Therapies Andrea De Luna  De Luna A, Otahal A, Nehrer S. Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles – Silver Linings for Cartilage Regeneration?. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020 Dec This project aims to evaluate the therapeutic PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS 10;8:593386. potential of extracellular vesicles isolated Karina Kramer  Nehrer S, Ljuhar R, Steindl P, Simon R, Maurer D, Ljuhar D, Bertalan Z, Dimai H P, Goetz C, Paixao T. Automated Knee Osteoarthritis Assessment Increases from stem cells of Hoffa’s fat pad. It also Stefan Nehrer Physicians’ Agreement Rate and Accuracy: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Cartilage. 2019 Nov 24;1947603519888793. Alexander Otahal investigates the impact of blood products on  Neubauer M, Kuten O, Stotter C, Kramer K. De Luna A, Muellner T, Lacza Z, Nehrer S. The Effect of Blood-Derived Products on the Chondrogenic and Osteogenic the stem cells of Hoffa’s fat pad and extra- Differentiation Potential of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Originated from Three Different Locations. Stem Cells Int. 2019 Dec 31;2019:1358267. COORDINATION University for Continuing Education Krems  Otahal A, Kramer K, Kuten-Pella O, Weiss R, Stotter C, Lacza Z, Weber V, Nehrer S, De Luna A. Characterization and Chondroprotective Effects of Extracellular Vesicles from Plasma- and Serum-Based Autologous Blood-Derived Products for Osteoarthritis Therapy. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2020 Sep 25;8:584050. PARTNERS  Paixao T, DiFranco M D, Ljuhar R, Ljuhar D, Goetz C, Bertalan Z, Dimai H P, Nehrer S. A Novel Quantitative Metric for Joint Space Width: Data from the Osteoarthritis IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems Initiative (OAI). Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2020 Apr 23;S1063-4584(20)30981-X. Medical University Vienna  Stotter C, Bauer C, Simlinger B, Ripoll M R, Franek F, Klestil T, Nehrer S. Biotribological Testing and Analysis of Articular Cartilage Sliding against Metal for Implants. OrthoSera GmbH J Vis Exp. 2020 May 14;(159). DOI: 10.3791/61304.

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 12 Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics Regenerative Medicine > Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics 13

Detecting Pathogens from Whole Blood

Until the pathogenic germs involved are identified, sepsis is treated with Improved Pathogen Detection in broad-spectrum antibiotics. Although Blood they are effective against a wide range of FUNDING pathogens, their use can encourage the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG development of antibiotic resistance. This (BRIDGE) is why scientists are working on methods to quickly identify pathogenic bacteria DURATION and resistance patterns and to treat them 2019–2022 with targeted therapies. DEPARTMENT Biomedical Research Swift and focused antibiotic treatment of sepsis is crucial to the progression of the PROJECT LEAD disease and the survival of patients. Identifi- Viktoria Weber cation of the pathogens involved in an infec- tion using hemoculture is a time-consuming PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Anita Brindlmayer process and necessitates initial treatment Birgit Fendl with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Molecular The research activities of the Department for Biomedical Research Lucia Krajcik diagnostics using processes such as PCR Matthias Pilecky revolve around extracorporeal therapies and the blood-biomaterial (polymerase chain reaction) delivers results René Weiss interface. The range of its work extends from inflammation and sepsis, within a matter of hours but can be inhibited by specific constituents present in samples. COORDINATION through extracorporeal adsorption therapies, investigation into the role University for Continuing Education Krems Swift and sensitive diagnostics allows tar- of extracellular vesicles, to the immune-modulating properties of stem geted antibiotic therapy to be administered PARTNERS cells. These topics and questions arose from the current challenges facing sooner and reduces the risk of patients dying ARES Genetics GmbH medicine: firstly, increasing levels of life expectancy and associated from sepsis. Medical University Innsbruck diseases such as sepsis; secondly, the safety of global care chains in the Developing Targeted Therapies medical / pharmaceutical sectors, which is also the focus of the Master’s The aim of this project is to improve and fur- program MBA Biotech, Pharma & Medtech Management; and management ther develop the detection of pathogens in the of the COVID-19 pandemic, to which the Department is contributing with blood. Scientists are investigating how long the DNA of pathogens remains detectable in Pictured a COVID test laboratory (PCR tests). The basis for the transfer of research the blood, even once inactivated with antibiotic (f. l. t. r.& top down) findings into practical applications is provided by an interdisciplinary treatment. The researchers are also identifying Jens Hartmann Anita Brindlmayer team, high quality standards, continuous further development of the range factors that can inhibit the molecular diagnostic Ute Fichtinger process. They are furthermore searching for of methods and a network of partners from universities, industry and Tanja Eichhorn biomarkers which indicate the presence of Viktoria Weber hospitals. Michael Bernhard Fischer pathogenic germs in the bloodstream and are Claudia Nicola Schildböck investigating the development of resistance. Carla Tripisciano The aim is to come up with a concept for direct Stephan Harm Sabrina Summer pathogen detection from whole blood using Karin next-generation sequencing. Rene Weiss Lucia Krajcik Lauková Vladislav Semak

Not Pictured Birgit Fendl Eva Rossmanith

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 14 Regenerative Medicine > Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics Regenerative Medicine > Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics 15

Developing Life-Saving Specifically Eliminating Therapies for Sepsis Uremic Toxins

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dys- Extracellular Vesicles in Sepsis Almost 100 years have passed since In the case of patients requiring dialysis, the function resulting from severe systemic Extracellular vesicles serve as signal carriers German physician Georg Haas carried out adsorbers could be used during dialysis to elim- inflammation. The outcome is often fatal. between cells. Depending on the context, the first “blood washing” on a patient inate toxins that are protein-bound and poorly The development of new analytical proce- they may have coagulation-activating proper- in 1924. Despite the enormous progress soluble in water and to improve the state of dures and supportive therapy approaches ties, so further intensifying the pathophysi- made to date, dialysis still offers many health and quality of life for such patients. enables faster diagnostics and a better ology in sepsis through their interaction with starting points for optimization even understanding of the complex pathophys- immune cells. This project examines whether today. One of them is the removal of iology involved. extracellular vesicles may also be of diag- specific toxic metabolic products (uremic nostic significance based on certain surface toxins). This project aims to develop pro- Sepsis is one of the most common causes of molecules and offer indications for the pres- cedures to eliminate such substances. death throughout the world. It is not generally ence of a systemic infection. the local infection that is responsible for the Patients dependent on dialysis frequently severity of sepsis, but the systemic immune suffer from metabolic disorders. This is partly response mechanisms that have got out of due to the inability to sufficiently remove control. This also affects organs and tissue certain metabolic products from the circula- which are not concerned by the primary tion. These substances that are poorly soluble infection. in water bind to proteins such as albumin. As Inflammation, Sepsis and however albumin is also needed to transport Central Role of the Endothelium Regeneration: Development of drugs or natural metabolites, the natural trans- A key role is played here by the endothelium – Efficient Diagnostic Methods and port systems are blocked by uremic toxins. At that layer of cells lining the blood vessels and New Therapeutic Approaches in the same time, the toxins cannot themselves so forming a barrier between the blood and Inflammation and Sepsis be excreted, sometimes thus resulting in met- surrounding tissue. The immune response abolic disorders. As uremic toxins cannot at FUNDING causes important properties of the vascular Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung present be sufficiently removed using dialysis, endothelium to be lost, e. g. the ability to act Niederösterreich m.b.H., FTI call scientists are developing methods to elimi- as a barrier between blood and tissue or to nate these substances. maintain blood pressure levels. Activation of DURATION the endothelium and its underlying mecha- 2020–2022 Characterizing Adsorbers for Uremic nisms are investigated on this project with Toxins DEPARTMENT Elimination of Bacterial and Uremic the help of physiologically relevant cell culture Biomedical Research The first step is to detect the uremic toxins Toxins in Extracorporeal Procedures models. The researchers use for example in blood samples and to identify protein endothelial cells whose receptors for specific PROJECT LEAD binding via filtration. Next, the scientists test FUNDING pathogens can be switched on and off with Tanja Eichhorn adsorbers for their ability to remove uremic Technology Fund Province of Lower Austria light, allowing the influence of certain factors toxins from the circulation. Adsorbers bind on endothelium activation to be investigated. PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS toxic and pathogenic substances and are used DURATION Marie Ebeyer-Masotta 2019–2021 These cell culture models can additionally Michael Bernhard Fischer in extracorporeal therapies for blood purifi- offer indications for the effectiveness of par- Carla Tripisciano cation. The individual adsorber efficiency is DEPARTMENT ticular therapy approaches. Viktoria Weber determined by quantifying the uremic toxins Biomedical Research René Weiss before and after treatment. PROJECT LEAD COORDINATION Jens Hartmann University for Continuing Education Krems PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS PARTNER INSTITUTIONS Stephan Harm IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems Ute Fichtinger Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences Claudia Nicola Schildböck University Hospital St. Pölten Karin Strobl

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 16 Regenerative Medicine > Sepsis and Pathogen Diagnostics 17

Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination Further Projects

 Co-organization of the ESAO Winter School  Characterizing Exosomes 2020 “Science and Technology for BioArtificial The project focuses on the isolation of extracellular Organs and Tissue Engineering”, Lutherstadt vesicles (EV), in particular exosomes, from human Wittenberg, February 26 – 29, 2020 blood or plasma or from all culture media, and investigates the application of Nano Electrospray  Survey article in Österreichische Ärztezeitung: Gas-phase Electrophoretic Mobility Molecular Anal- “Sepsis – Innovative Behandlungsstrategien” ysis (nES-GEMMA) for the characterization of EVs. (October 2020) and “Extrazelluläre Vesikel und This method provides insights into diameter and ihre Bedeutung für die Diagnostik und Therapie” number. The project also examines whether EVs of (September 2020) varying sizes differ in relation to their protein and lipid content and whether there are differences in  Report on Austrian contributions to the the composition of EVs from physiological vesicles e-ISICEM symposium 2020 in the blog of the and pathological samples. Austrian Society for Anaesthesiology and Inten- Funding: sive Care (ÖGARI): Fendl, B.; Weiss, R.; Eichhorn, Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Niederöster- T.; Spittler, A.; Weber, V.: Influence of extracellular reich m.b.H. vesicles on the distribution of monocyte subsets. Project lead: Carla Tripisciano, Department for Biomedical  Contributions to the Long Night of Research Research 2020 (online) with three questions: “Challenge COVID-19”, “How do cells communi- cate?”, “What do we understand by sepsis?“

Selected Publications

 Eichhorn, T, Linsberger, I, Lauková, L, Tripisciano, C, Fendl, B, Weiss, R, König, F, Valicek, G, Miestinger, G, Hörmann, C, Weber, V. Analysis of inflammatory mediator profiles in sepsis patients reveals that extracellular histones are strongly elevated in nonsurvivors. Mediators of Inflammation, Mar 17, 2021; 2021: 8395048.  Fendl, B, Weiss, R, Eichhorn, T, Linsberger, I, Afonyushkin, T, Puhm, F, Binder, C J, Fischer, M B, Weber, V (2021) Extracellular vesicles are associated with C-reactive protein in sepsis and elicit a pro-inflammatory response in human monocytes. Scientific Reports 11(1):6996.  Harm, S, Schildböck, C, Strobl, K, Hartmann, J (2021) An in vitro study on factors affecting endotoxin masking in human plasma using the Limulus amoebocyte lysate test. Scientific Reports 11(1):4192.  Hohensinner, P J, Mayer, J, Kichbacher, J, Kral-Pointner, J, Thaler. B, Kaun, C, Hell, L, Haider, P, Mussbacher, M, Schmid, J A, Stojkovic, S, Demyanets. S, Fischer, M B, Huber, K, Wöran, K, Hengstenberg, C, Speidl, W S, Oehler, R, Pabinger, I, Wojta, J (2020) Alternative activation of human macrophages enhances tissue factor expression and production of extracellular vesicles. Haematologica, 105. DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2019.220210  Huber S, Weinberger J, Pilecky M, Lorenz I H, Schildberger A, Weber V, Fuchs S, Posch W, Knabl L, Würzner R, Posch A, Orth-Höller D. A high leukocyte count and administration of hydrocortisone hamper PCR-based diagnostics for bloodstream infections. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases 2021 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-020-04126-w.  Lauková L, Weiss R, Semak V, Weber V. Desialylation of Platelet Surface Glycans Enhances Platelet Adhesion to Adsorbent Polymers for Lipoprotein Apheresis. Interna- tional Journal of Artificial Organs. Nov. 3, 2020, DOI: 10.1177/0391398820968849  Tripisciano C, Weiss R, Karuthedom George S, Fischer M B, Weber V (2020). Extracellular vesicles derived from platelets, red blood cells, and monocyte-like cells differ regarding their ability to induce factor XII-dependent thrombin generation. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 8:298.

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 18 PhD Program Regenerative Medicine Regenerative Medicine > PhD Program Regenerative Medicine 19

The PhD program in Regenerative  Treatment of Osteoarthritis using Glucolorti- Medicine covers these topics: coids and Hyaluronic Acid Æ Methods of organ support and extracorpo- Name: Lukas Moser (ongoing) real blood purification Title of Dissertation: Treatment of Osteoarthritis Æ Pathophysiology of sepsis and investigating using Monovisc, the Glucocorticoid Lederlon and inflammatory mechanisms Cingal Æ Interaction of blood and / or tissue with biomaterials Description of Project: This project examines the treatment of osteoarthritis using glucocorticoids, a Æ Regeneration of articular surfaces (cartilage category of steroid hormone with an anti-inflamma- transplants, therapy with growth factors, tory and analgesic effect, and hyaluronic acid, a com- implanting mesenchymal stem cells) ponent of connective tissue in various in-vitro models. Æ Immune regulatory mechanisms of mes- It aims to uncover new findings the mode of action of enchymal stem cells these substances and contribute to the further devel- opment of existing therapeutics. Æ Tissue and organ replacement / regenera- tion using stem cells Funding: Anika Therapeutics Inc. Æ Neuro-rehabilitation Æ Geriatric rehabilitation and nursing science  The Effect of Blood-Derived Products on the Chondrogenic and Osteogenic Differentiation In 2020, the University for Continuing Education Krems offered the PhD Potential of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem There now follows an overview of the Cells Originated from Three Different Locations program in Regenerative Medicine for the fifth time, so helping to train the students and the projects that have occupied Markus Neubauer (completed) researchers of tomorrow. This course focuses on investigating processes them over the last two years. Name: Title of Dissertation: Regenerative Medicine in Car- such as inflammation and regeneration at a molecular and cellular level tilage Repair to enable the development of appropriate therapies. The PhD program in  Exosome Analysis by Hyphenated Electropho- Description of Project: This project deals with the Regenerative Medicine blends an innovative curriculum with research resis Techniques regenerative potential of fat cells, which are derived activities at the University for Continuing Education Krems. In the course Name: Sobha Karuthedom George (ongoing) from subcutaneous fat or fatty tissue in the knee joint. This research aims to use these cells to treat of externally funded projects students become an integral part of research. Title of Dissertation: Isolation and Characterization cartilage defects. of Extracellular Vesicles from Different Biological Matrices Funding: Evangelisches Krankenhaus Wien

Description of Project: Extracellular vesicles are key  The Role of Microvesicles from Blood Products elements in intercellular communication. In order to in Osteoarthritis better understand the different functions, standard- ized protocols are developed for the isolation of extra- Name: Alexander Otahal (completed) cellular vesicle fractions from blood products and cell Title of Dissertation: Characterisation of Extracel- Pictured cultures, and the role of vesicles from healthy donors lular Vesicles in Different Blood Products and Cyto- (f. l. t. r. & top down) and patients with sepsis examined in immunomodu- protective Effects in Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes Bojana Simlinger lation and coagulation activity. Katrin Colleselli Description of Project: Derived from the patient’s Lukas Moser Funding: Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Nie- blood, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hypACT serum Markus Neubauer derösterreich m.b.H. – Life Science call are already used for regenerative therapy approaches Matthias Pilecky with osteoarthritis. This research aims to isolate and Sobha Karuthedom George Alexander Otahal Agnes Kocsis Marie Ebeyer-Masotta Markus Pasztorek Anna Stierschneider Kai Sauerwein

Not Pictured Christoph Stotter

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 20 Regenerative Medicine > PhD Program Regenerative Medicine Regenerative Medicine > PhD Program Regenerative Medicine 21

characterize microvesicles from the two blood prod-  Immune Regulatory Capacity of Mesenchymal  Inflammation, Sepsis, and Regeneration: ucts PRP and hypACT serum, to determine their regen- Stem Cells Development of Efficient Diagnostic Methods and erative potential in the treatment of osteoarthritis. New Therapeutic Approaches in Inflammation Agnes Kocsis (ongoing) Name: and Sepsis Funding: Technology Fund Province of Lower Austria, Title of Dissertation: Dependence of Mitochondrial AtheNOE Function on the Filamentous Actin Cytoskeleton in Name: Anna Stierschneider (ongoing) Cultured Mesenchymal Stem Cells Treated with Cyto- Title of Dissertation: The Role of TLR4 in the Endo-  Smartdiagnos: Next Generation Sepsis Diag- chalasin B thelial Immune Response nosis Name: Markus Pasztorek (completed) Name: Katrin Colleselli (ongoing) Matthias Pilecky (completed) Name: Title of Dissertation: Immune Regulatory Capacity Title of Dissertation: Establishment and Characteri- Title of Dissertation: Advanced Pathogen Diagnos- of Mesenchymal Stem Cells sation of TLR-2/1 and 2/6 Knock-Out and Light-Induc- tics of Bloodstream Infection ible TLR Knock-In in Monocyte Cell Line(s) Description of Project: Mesenchymal stem cells are Description of Project: The project investigated the stem cells of connective tissue and are respon- Name: Marie Ebeyer-Masotta (ongoing) the factors influencing the detection of pathogens in sible for the regeneration of destroyed tissue and Title of Dissertation: Endothelial Activation under blood using molecular diagnostic methods. organs. Besides their regenerative capacity, mes- Septic Conditions enchymal stem cells also offer immune regulatory Funding: EU – Horizon 2020 capacity. This research project examines the mech- Description of Project: In this project physiologically anisms underlying the immune regulatory capacity of relevant cell culture models are developed to charac-  Characterization of Specific Antibodies with mesenchymal stem cells. terize the role of the endothelium in sepsis in order to Viral and Bacterial Infection: A Relationship explore new approaches for the treatment of sepsis between Isotype Affinity and Avidity of the Funding: Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Nie- and the effect of the removal of inflammatory medi- Formed Immunoglobulins derösterreich m.b.H. – Life Science Call ators though extracorporeal adsorption therapies in Name: Kai Sauerwein (ongoing) septic patients.  Tribocorrosion: Lifetime Assessment and Pre- Title of Dissertation: The Role of Specific Antibodies diction of Partial Replacement Technology Funding: NÖ Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. in the Protection against Infectious Agents Causing (NFB) – Research, Technology and Innovation Pro- Bojana Simlinger (completed) an Exaggerated Pro-Inflammatory Host Response Name: gram (FTI) Tribocorrosion of Orthopedic Thereby Supporting Regeneration. Title of Dissertation: Implants Sliding Against Articular Cartilage Studied Description of Project: The immune response to a on CoCrMo Alloy viral or bacterial infection can cause severe damage to tissue and organs. This project aims to establish a link Name: Christoph Stotter (completed) between the protective function of specific immuno- Title of Dissertation: Biotribology of Articular Carti- globulins and their influence on tissue regeneration. lage in Partial Joint Replacement Technology The thesis: A well-controlled immune response neu- tralizes the viral or bacterial infection, helping to make Description of Project: This project defines the me- regeneration more effective. chanical and physiological parameters that influence the lifetime of partial joint replacement technology. Funding: Immunologische Tagesklinik Wien The results are used as the basis for assessing the effects of partial endoprostheses on cartilage biol- ogy and on synovial fluid to optimize the concept of joint-affecting partial endoprosthesis.

Funding: Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Nie- derösterreich m.b.H. – Life Science call

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 22 Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health Regenerative Medicine > Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health 23

Bodily Perception in Times of COVID-19

In this study, researchers are investi- gating how the perception of the body Body and Health in Times of and health changed during the Corona COVID-19 pandemic and whether this varies FUNDING between different countries. The objec- Self-financed tive is to develop proposals for measures that enable good health and ensure that DURATION people positively experience the body. 2020

The perception of our own body plays an DEPARTMENT Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health important role in our health, for example, our perception of hunger, thirst and pain. Previous PROJECT LEAD studies on adults have shown that bodily per- Thomas Probst ception is closely associated with our physical and mental health. Factors such as stress, COORDINATION fear, or isolation may have a negative impact Department for Clinical and Biological of the Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, on our perception of the body and health. And above all, the COVID-19 pandemic and its The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for mental health are currently effects are confronting people with numerous PARTNERS playing a major role in the research of the Department for Psychotherapy challenges and new stressful situations. Department for Clinical and Biological Psychology and Biopsychosocial Health. This work revolves around the psychological of the Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Understanding Feelings and Responses Germany burden on the population here, with special regard for children and Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany Better University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand adolescents, and the provision of psychotherapy during the pandemic. In cooperation with various universities, the Further societal challenges that the Department is investigating through perception of the body and health during the its research include the aging population and the resulting demands on COVID-19 pandemic is under international investigation using online surveys involving psychotherapy, as well as topics in the context of psychosomatic medicine. adults. The results compare our perceptions The Department contributes to overcoming these challenges by researching of health and the body during the COVID-19 digitalization in psychotherapy, the evaluation of psychotherapy, the use of pandemic with those in the time before. They biomarkers in diagnostics and treatment for mental disorders. enable proposals to be developed regarding measures that could be introduced to ensure good health and a positive experience of the body during and after the Corona pandemic. These results additionally provide information, as well as a better understanding of the feel-

Pictured ings of people and their responses. (f. l. t. r. & top down) Thomas Probst Christoph Pieh Elke Humer Afsaneh Gächter Robert Jank Rachel Dale Teresa O Rourke Sanja Budimir Rafael Rabenstein Andrea Jesser Yvonne Schaffler Martin Kuska

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 24 Regenerative Medicine > Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health Regenerative Medicine > Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health 25

Telephone Emergency Services Evaluating Psychotherapy in Times of COVID-19 Methods

During the pandemic, offers of help that The results should provide information about In Austria, there are 23 accredited psy- Quantitative Internet-based surveys involving are easily accessible such as Austria’s potential stress factors for staff: Research chotherapy methods, with this number both psychotherapist and patient take place telephone emergency service (Telefon- suggests that increased levels of stress constituting a unique situation in the at the onset, in the course of treatment and seelsorge) are greatly in demand. This impair the ability to respond optimally and world. The research project plans to study at the end of the psychotherapy. Qualitative also repeatedly confronts counselors of to deliver adequate care. The results of the these unparalleled circumstances for the interviews with psychotherapists and patients telephone emergency services with new study can serve as a basis for developing provision of psychotherapy in Austria. The are additionally being held at different points challenges. This project aims to survey measures to optimize the professional situa- application of a mixed-methods design for in the psychotherapeutic process. the mental wellbeing and perceived stress tion of staff working for Telefonseelsorge, so the first time will offer detailed insights level of helpline counselors and to identify also ensuring high quality of easily accessible into the process and outcome of indi- the challenges facing them in their work offers of help for people in crises. vidual psychotherapy for adults treated in to optimize their professional situation. private practice.

2020 was characterized by different burdens The various psychotherapy methods differ in on mental health. Many people suffer from terms of the procedures used to heal and alle- loneliness, depressive symptoms, anxiety, viate psychological problems. Some methods or have trouble sleeping. Many of those are based on talking therapies, while other affected thus seek help from low-threshold techniques also involve exercises or taking a support services such as Telefonseelsorge. creative approach, painting for example. The The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this aim here is to support patients in exploring telephone emergency service is the focus of their personal experiences and inner conflicts. this research project. The observational study The ways of working also differ, e. g. the fre- is being carried out in cooperation with the quency of therapy sessions and the time the Austrian Telephone Emergency Service (Tele- course of psychotherapy is scheduled to last. fonseelsorge) and the Education Telephone Emergency Services in Austria (ABILE). Times of COVID-19 Determining the Process and Outcome of Process and Outcome in Psychotherapy Psychotherapy Practices Supporting Staff at Telefonseelsorge FUNDING This research project is investigating the pro- This study investigates whether the mental Self-financed cess and outcome of psychotherapy in Aus- FUNDING Self-financed wellbeing and subjective stress experienced trian primary care and will be the first to supply DURATION by the volunteers manning the helpline differs 2020–2021 such data for individual psychotherapy involv- DURATION from that of the general population. It addi- ing adults. The focus here falls on the outcome 2020–2023 tionally examines the professional challenges DEPARTMENT of psychotherapy in private practice concern- facing Telefonseelsorge in the age of COVID- Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health ing symptom improvement. The study is also DEPARTMENT 19. This also includes analyzing whether there investigating the development of the therapeu- Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health is currently a greater demand for the helpline’s PROJECT LEAD tic alliance in the psychotherapy process and Elke Humer PROJECT LEAD services and whether there has been a change whether there is a link between this alliance Thomas Probst in the topics thematized by helpline callers. PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS and the outcome of the psychotherapy. Christoph Pieh PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Thomas Probst Elke Humer Yvonne Schaffler COORDINATION University for Continuing Education Krems COORDINATION University for Continuing Education Krems PARTNERS Viktor Frankl Education Austria (ABILE) PARTNERS Austrian Telephone Emergency Service (Telefon- Austrian Federal Association for Psychotherapy seelsorge) Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 26 Regenerative Medicine > Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health 27

Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination Further Projects

 Symposia, organized by the Department for Psy-  Effects of the First Lockdown on Mental Health chotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EAPM (European Association of Psychosomatic mental health of the Austrian population has been Medicine) Conference 06.02.2021–06.05.2021 repeatedly studied by the Department for Psycho- (www.eapm2021.com), therapy and Biopsychosocial Health. The results Kremser Woche: Psychotherapy Update “Lock- of the first lockdown in spring 2020 showed that down – Opportunities for the Future”, 09.20.2021– one in four people were suffering from depressive 09.25.2021 symptoms, one in five from anxiety and one in six from insomnia. The greatest decline in mental  Transfer of specific results from research to health was seen in adults under the age of 35 years, the general public, with a special focus on the women, and persons who were unemployed or COVID-19 pandemic via media activities (press with a low income. conferences, broadcasts, interviews). Focusing on: Project lead: The stresses and strains on mental health and the Christoph Pieh provision of psychotherapy during the COVID-19 Thomas Probst pandemic  Diminished Mental Health Persists During the Second Lockdown A further study evaluated the mental health of the Austrian general population during the Christmas break in 2020 / 21. The results show that the mental health burden remained at a high level during this period and mental health even deteriorated com- pared with the first lockdown. Around a quarter of the population experienced depressive symptoms, one in four anxiety and one in five sleep disorders. Individuals younger than 24 years were most bur- dened. Project lead: Christoph Pieh Thomas Probst

Selected Publications

 Humer E, Pieh C, Probst T. Metabolomic biomarkers in anxiety disorders. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2020; 21: Article 4784.  Humer E, Stippl P, Pieh C, Pryss R, Probst T. Experiences of psychotherapists with remote psychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: Cross-sectional web-based survey study. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2020; 22: Article e20246.  Klein J P, Probst T, Kriston L, Assmann N, Bailer J, et.al. Changes in therapeutic alliance and in social inhibition as mediators of the effect of the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy: A secondary analysis from a randomized clinical trial. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 2020; 89, 261-262.  Pieh C, Budimir S, Probst T. The effect of age, gender, income, work, and physical activity on mental health during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown in Austria. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 2020; 136. Article 110186.  Pieh C, Budimir S, Delgadillo J, Barkham M, Fontaine J R J, Probst T. Mental health during COVID-19 lockdown in the . Psychosomatic Medicine 2020; 10/2020, DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000871.  Probst T, Berger T, Meyer B, Späth C, Schröder J, Hohagen F, Moritz S, Klein J P. Social phobia moderates the outcome in the EVIDENT study: A randomized controlled trial on an Internet-based psychological intervention for mild to moderate depressive symptoms. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2020; 88, 82-89.  Probst T, Stippl P, Pieh C. Changes in provision of psychotherapy in the early weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown in Austria. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020; 17: Article 3815.

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 28 Neurosciences and Prevention Regenerative Medicine > Neurosciences and Prevention 29

Dementia-competent Community Employees

Currently more than 50 Million people and problem-solving strategies are discussed worldwide are living with dementia. in an interactive and entertaining style. The This number will double every 20 years. content of the learning modules was created Societies need to integrate persons living by a team at the University for Continuing with dementia, empower their support Education Krems, while the technical imple- providers and create dementia-compe- mentation was accomplished by the Federal tent communities. Awareness building Ministry of Internal Affairs. and providing knowledge is therefore crucial. The project “Demenz.Aktivge- Municipalities, authorities and public adminis- meinde” (Dementia.Active.Community) tration can now be informed about dementia has developed a digital learning program with this E-learning program. A community for Austrian community workers. A 2-Step can apply to become a “dementia-competent certification process will be developed. community” under defined conditions.

A timely diagnosis of dementia and an early support program can help persons with dementia to live an independent live for much longer. This way, severe phases of the dis- We are currently observing a global increase in non-communicable Demenz.Aktivgemeinde ease with costly care can be shortened and diseases (NCD) such as stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and thus overall life quality can be improved. In FUNDING dementia. This increase is caused by an aging of the population in many order to reach this goal, awareness building Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs countries and by an increasing prevalence of vascular risk factors. Poor and knowledge transfer into all levels of society are necessary. Awareness building DURATION diet, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol abuse and air pollution contribute 2019–2021 (delayed by one year due to the creates an atmosphere of sympathy and COVID19 pandemic) to this trend. Research at the Department for Clinical Neurosciences and solidarity with persons with dementia and Preventive Medicine is dedicated to target these challenges. Focused areas their support providers. Understanding per- DEPARTMENT sons with dementia can prevent crises and Clinical Neurosciences and Preventive of research include brain health, treatment of neurological diseases and promote competent behavior. The project Medicine / Center for Dementia Studies prevention of NCD such as stroke, diabetes or dementia. These activities “Demenz.Aktivgemeinde” developed a PROJECT LEAD are embedded in an international network of collaborations and have learning program aiming at raising awareness Stefanie Auer as common denominator a neuroscientific based research focusing on and improving knowledge about dementia as well as increasing competent behavior in PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER cognition and the central nervous system as well as their preservation and critical situations among various professions Margit Höfler rehabilitation in the context of vascular and chronic neurological diseases. in the public administration. COORDINATION Security Academy Understanding the stages of Dementia The E-learning program was developed in a PARTNERS co-creation process with community workers Bundesministerium für Inneres Abt. I/9 – Sicher- and administrative staff. Focus groups were heitsakademie Zentrum für Ressourcensteuerung und Unternehmensqualität Pictured organized within a pilot region. In the focus Security Academy (BMI-E@acadamy; Markus (f. l. t. r. & top down) groups, experiences with persons with Richter) Michaela Pinter dementia and their support providers (family Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, Federal Stefanie Auer members, care workers) were discussed. Criminal Police Agency (Gerhard Lang †) Margit Höfler Irene Ebhardt Three learning modules were created in University for Continuing Education Krems, Karl Matz which general knowledge about the disease Department for Continuing Education Research Yvonne Teuschl (disease stages), communication principles and Educational Technologies Alina Schwarz Alexandra Dachenhausen

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 30 Regenerative Medicine > Neurosciences and Prevention Regenerative Medicine > Neurosciences and Prevention 31

Instrumental Evaluation of Preventing Stroke and Therapy for Spasticity Dementia

Motor neuron disease causes a wide The aim of the observational study is to inves- The Department for Clinical Neuro- Using Preventive Potential range of motor symptoms, including spas- tigate the effect of a single intramuscular sciences and Preventive Medicine has The mentor and promoter of this strategy is tic ataxic gait. The observational study ex- injection of BoNT-A on the spastic ataxic gait investigated options for the prevention of Michael Brainin, who has established and amines the effect of a single injection of pattern of patients with lesions of the first stroke and dementia. Against this back- developed a focus of stroke prevention at the botulinum toxin A on patients with gait motoneuron three weeks after injection. If the ground, the stroke expert Michael Brainin University for Continuing Education Krems. disorders. The effect on patient’s gait results are promising, this will be followed by initiated the development of the strategy He was the co-founder of the Stroke Units in speed will be measured using instrumen- a multicenter randomized clinical trial. “Cut Stroke in Half”. The aim is to reduce Austria and the Austrian Stroke Unit Registry, tal gait analysis prior to the injection of the incidence of stroke by 50 percent. which contributed to stroke research and botulinum toxin A and again three weeks helped to improve the quality of care. Michael after injection. The burden imposed by strokes and dementia Brainin retired in 2020. is increasing throughout the world. 200 million Neurological diseases such as stroke, trau- people will suffer a stroke and 106 million will matic injuries and inflammations of the brain be affected by dementia by 2050. Therefore, or of the spinal cord cause lesions of the first the University for Continuing Education Krems motoneuron leading to motor symptoms such organized in 2017 an international workshop, as muscle weakness and spasticity. resulting in the development of the prevention strategy “Cut Stroke in Half”. This strategy Evaluating Gait Patterns with Instru- aims at preventing dementia and stroke by a mental Gait Analysis population-wide approach including a fixed- Besides physiotherapy and oral antispastic dose combination pill (polypill), which lowers therapy, injection with botulinum toxin A blood pressure and cholesterol, coupled with Michael Brainin (BoNT-A) is recommended to treat spasticity. encouragement to adopt a healthy lifestyle. BoNT-A is a naturally occurring bacterial toxin The incidence of stroke could be reduced by which is frequently used as a therapy for neu- up to 50 % if such a polypill were distributed rological diseases. Tiny quantities of this toxin free of charge or at low cost within populations are injected into the hypertonic muscles of Effect of Botulinum Toxin A on the with a high level of untreated risk factors and the lower extremity to “sedate” and “relax” Spastic Gait Pattern in Patients with problematic access to medication in conjunc- overactive muscles. The effect of BoNT-A has Upper Motor Neuron Syndrome tion with a healthy life style (regular exercise, hitherto been measured mainly with passive healthy diet, giving up smoking). “Cut Stroke FUNDING goals such as changes of muscle tone or Self-financed in Half” has become the official strategy of the mobility of individual joints. In the planned World Stroke Organization for the primary pre- study, the gait pattern will be evaluated using DURATION vention of stroke and dementia and is currently instrumental gait analysis before the injection 2021 being established in a number of countries. of BoNT-A and three weeks after injection. DEPARTMENT Clinical Neurosciences and Preventive Medicine

PROJECT LEAD Michaela Pinter

PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Alexandra Dachenhausen Karl Matz Alina Schwarz Yvonne Teuschl

PARTNER Landesklinikum Allentsteig / Horn Neurology Dept.

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 32 Regenerative Medicine > Neurosciences and Prevention Regenerative Medicine > Neurosciences and Prevention 33

Further Projects Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination

 Treatment of Spasticity in Lockdown  Vascular Risk and Cognition  Organization and staging of the “Krems De-  Webinar series “Schau aufs Gehirn” (Mind the The COVID-19 lockdown has caused delays in the Yvonne Teuschl and Karl Matz are investigating mentia Conference” (to date two conferences) Brain): treatment with botulinum toxin A for patients suffering the prevention of post-stroke cognitive decline by Webinars on paths to brain health from dystonia and spasticity. A survey will investigate changes in lifestyle and in association with c disor-  Organization and staging of the 19th Krems con- the impact of the delays in re-injection on mobility, ders of glucose metabolism. In this context, Yvonne ference on topical issues in neurorehabilitation: Botu-  Webinar series “Gehirn zählt” (Brain counts): participation and quality of life. The study includes Teuschl is involved in the preparation of guidelines by linum toxin and functional electrical stimulation in neu- Webinars on facts and figures for cerebrovascular patients for whom the predefined intervals of two to the European Stroke Organization and the European rorehabilitation: A contradiction or complementary? health four months could not be observed and whose injec- Academy of Neurology. Karl Matz is investigating tions were delayed by at least two weeks. treatment options for stroke patients in the setting of  ESO-WSO 2020 Virtual Conference. First joint  Collaboration on the “Joint European Stroke Project lead: his clinical activities, e. g. treating swallowing disor- conference of the European and World Stroke Orga- Organization and European Academy of Neu- Michaela Pinter ders with electrical stimulation. nization under the management of Michael Brainin rology guideline on post stroke cognitive impair- Participating researcher: Project lead: (president of the WSO from 2018 to 2020) ment” Alina Schwarz, Department for Clinical Karl Matz, Yvonne Teuschl, Department for Clinical Neurosciences and Preventive Medicine Neurosciences and Preventive Medicine Partner: Landesklinikum Allentsteig / Horn Neurology Department

Selected Publications

 Auer S, Ratajczak P, Span E, Höfler M (2020). Timely diagnosis of dementia in rural areas in Austria: the Dementia Service Centre model. In: Innes A, Morgan D.(eds.) Rural Dementia Care.  Brainin M, Feigin VL, Norrving B, Martins SCO, Hankey GJ, Hachinski V; World Stroke Organization Board of Directors (2020). Global prevention of stroke and dementia: the WSO Declaration. Lancet Neurol 19(6):487-488.  Brainin M; World Stroke Organization, Sliwa K; World Heart Federation. WSO and WHF joint position statement on population-wide prevention strategies. Lancet. 2020; 396(10250):533-534.  Davis SM, Hacke W, Norrving B, Brainin M, Lees KR, Donnan GA. International Impact of Stroke. Stroke. 2020; 51(3):1036-1039.  Feigin VL, Vos T, Nichols E, Owolabi MO, Carroll WM, Dichgans M, Deuschl G, Parmar P, Brainin M, Murray C. The global burden of neurological disorders: translating evidence into policy. Lancet. 2020; Neurol 19(3):255-265.  Gabriel R, Boukichou Abdelkader N, Acosta T, Gilis-Januszewska A, Gómez-Huelgas R, Makrilakis K, Kamenov Z, Paulweber B, Satman I, Djordjevic P, Alkandari A, Mitrakou A, Lalic N, Colagiuri S, Lindström J, Egido J, Natali A, Pastor JC, Teuschl Y, Lind M, Silva L, López-Ridaura R, Tuomilehto J; e-PREDICE Consortium. Early prevention of diabetes microvascular complications in people with hyperglycaemia in Europe. ePREDICE randomized trial. Study protocol, recruitment and selected baseline data. PLoS One. 2020; 15(4):e0231196.  Ntaios G, Michel P, Georgiopoulos G, Guo Y, Li W, et.al. Characteristics and Outcomes in Patients With COVID-19 and Acute Ischemic Stroke: The Global COVID-19 Stroke Registry. In: Stroke. 2020; 51(9):e254-e258.

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 34 Research Report 2020/21 35

Overall university main field of research: Cohesive and Innovative Societies

Æ Digitalization Æ Innovative and Sustainable Solutions in Complex Systems Æ Study of Democracy, Law and Europe Æ Sensor Technology and Energy Efficiency Æ Migration and Globalization Æ PhD Migration Studies Æ Evidence-based Medicine Æ Sustainable Habitats Æ Food Chains and Ecotoxicology

www.donau-uni.ac.at/research 36 Digitalization Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Digitalization 37

Developing Digital Administration

New technologies make it possible to offer accessible, personalized, and user- Inclusive Governance Models and friendly public services, and to deploy ICT Tools for Integrated Public e-governance models and mobile apps Service Co-Creation and Provision – inGov for interactions with those services. The inGOV project aims to help public admin- FUNDING istrators achieve better performance and EU – Horizon 2020 use resources more efficiently. The goal is to increase citizens’ involvement, trust, DURATION and satisfaction with public services. 2021–2023

DEPARTMENT To make the use of e-governance more E-Governance and Administration attractive to the public the project focuses on involving citizens and stakeholders in the PROJECT LEAD process of developing digital services. To Noella Edelmann ensure that as many citizens as possible have access to these services, mobile apps should PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Valerie Albrecht be used, data has to be shared and re-used Our society is confronted with ongoing progress in digitalization and Lucy Temple and compatibility must be improved between Shefali Virkar new challenges centered around technical issues and the need for a the systems used in public administration. secure, inclusive socio-technical organization of analog and digital living COORDINATION University of Macedonia (Greece) spaces. The research conducted at the Department for E-Governance and Real-Life Tests of New Functionalities One challenge is to ensure collaboration Administration examines these issues, but also focuses on a data exchange between different public agencies in order PARTNERS Office of the Government of Lower Austria and data processing issues in a cross-border European context, the use of to provide users with personalized electronic (Austria) data that respects data sovereignty, data solidarity and data security, the public services. The basis for such services Bjelovar (Croatia) is a framework in which all legal, cultural, and Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas – requirements for education and skills in the digital era, the adaptations administrative challenges are identified, for CERTH (Greece) that need to be made to the legal framework in order to ensure innovation example, for mobile applications, a mobile Deloitte Consulting SRL () KU Leuven () reference architecture needs to be developed. in digital administration, Smart City space for public administration and Malta Information Technology Agency (Malta) Pictured the use of artificial intelligence to identify disinformation and fake news. Pilot projects based on this framework Periferia Thessaly (Greece) (f. l. t. r. & top down) are implemented and evaluated in four EU RIDE Technologies (Croatia) Pablo Collazzo All results gained from this research are implemented in order to address member countries (Austria, Croatia, Greece, UBITECH LIMITED (Cyprus) Karin Steiner the challenges and help shape future society. Malta), with plans to involve over 160,000 UNI SYSTEMS (Greece) Shefali Virkar UNISYSTEMS LUXEMBOURG (Luxembourg) Lörinc Thurnay citizens to assess their satisfaction and Judith Schoßböck increased trust in public institutions. Tomasz Janowski Thomas Lampoltshammer Melanie Morawek Anna-Sophie Novak Heike Strumpen Gabriela Viale Pereira Peter Parycek Walter Seböck Günther Burkert Joanna Rutkowska Lucy Temple

Not Pictured Bettina Biron Bernhard Riedl

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 38 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Digitalization Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Digitalization 39

International E-Governance Data-Driven Development Services of Sports Funding

The project promotes the use of inclusive Alongside the technical results, the transdis- This project addresses data-driven and A further objective is to develop capacities mobile government services in the EU. ciplinary evaluation framework and strategic evidence-based policy development and create knowledge, even outside the Core elements of the project are elec- sustainability concepts developed for the in Austria’s sports funding landscape. sports domain, in the field of strategic deci- tronic identity management, data storage, project will help to establish the foundation A transdisciplinary approach is used sion-making through agent-based simulations. and the exchange of electronic documents for further implementation of the Singe Digital to develop and model a shared under- across international borders – all in the Gateway Regulation (SDGR) on the way to the standing of the environment, and to context of the ongoing implementation Digital Single Market. translate that understanding into an of the Single Digital Gateway Regulation agent-based simulation which can then (SDGR) and the eIDAS regulation on elec- be used to play through and evaluate dif- tronic IDentification, Authentication and ferent scenarios. trust Services. Mobile Cross-Border Government As more data become available, the challenge Services for Europe – mGov4EU A basic prerequisite for acceptance and use is how to translate the vast amounts of data of e-government processes is the secure into recommendations for action. This project FUNDING Evidence-Based Policymaking using identification of the participants involved, EU – Horizon 2020 considers the technical, organizational and Agent Based Modelling – DG-R/SP1- e. g. through electronic signatures. Additional legal hurdles in data management and the ABM challenges arising in the international con- DURATION necessary skills in order to use data-driven text, such as technical, organizational, legal 2021–2023 technologies in public administration. In the FUNDING and semantic hurdles, are addressed by the field of strategic decision-making, the project EU – Structural Reform Support Programme DEPARTMENT (SRSP) project as well. The project also aims to make also aims to support structural shifts and E-Governance and Administration, Center for mobile e-government services more attrac- E-Governance changes in education and training in order DURATION tive to the general public through sustainable to exploit the full potential of agent-based 2020–2021 development of the technical infrastructure PROJECT LEAD approaches and methods of computer-aided for cross-border use of mobile eID, mobile Thomas Lampoltshammer modeling and simulation. DEPARTMENTS electronic identification with online IDs, and E-Governance and Administration PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Knowledge and Communication Management mobile signatures. Objective Criteria for Increased Gregor Eibl Lucy Temple Transparency PROJECT LEAD Pilot Projects in Three Areas Based on the example of federal sports Thomas Lampoltshammer The central goal of the project is to develop COORDINATION funding in Austria, sustainable long-term mobile-first approaches using eID and elec- TECHNIKON Forschungs- und Planungs- budget management and monitoring are PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS tronic signatures, and to run pilot projects gesellschaft mbH (Austria) studied from an output-oriented perspective. Nicole Hynek Nike Pulda based on these approaches in an international, This leads to the development of an agent- PARTNERS Liliya Satalkina cross-border context. Findings from the ecsec GmbH (Germany) based model that represents the current Gerald Steiner pilot projects in the three core areas of eID, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der stakeholder landscape, funding streams, and Lukas Zenk mobile signatures and e-voting will serve as angewandten Forschung e. V. (Germany) the impact of the resources provided. The starting points for later projects and applica- go.eIDAS e. V. (Germany) goal is to derive objective, indicator-based COORDINATION tions within the EU. The practical experiences Scytl Secure Electronic Voting, S. A (Spain) evaluation approaches from this model, University for Continuing Education Krems Time.Lex CVBA (Belgium) Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS) gathered in the pilot projects will contribute to leading to increased transparency for budget TU Graz (Austria) early identification and elimination of potential () expenditures and forming the basis for the PARTNERS hurdles and sticking points with the technolo- A-SIT – Secure Information Technology Centre – establishment of a flexible budget structure. Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Civil Service and gies being developed. Austria (Austria) Sport (BMKÖS), Austria Bundesrechenzentrum GmbH www.mgov4.eu Complexity Science Hub Vienna

 The mGov4EU project was funded by the European Union’s  The DG-R/SP1-ABM project was funded by the European Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agree- Union’s Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) under grant ment no. 959072. agreement no. GA2020/023.

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 40 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Digitalization Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Digitalization 41

Coping with Unexpected Consequences of Digitalization

For two years, scientists and practitioners Further Projects on the DiDaT research project worked on Forming a Responsible Use of Digital the negative consequences (“unseens”) of Data in Transdisciplinary Process  Innovation Lab for Public Administration Col-  Knowledge for Digital Transformation laboration the use of digital data. Based on a trans- (DiDaT) The process of digitalization changes technological, GovLabAustria is an open and interdisciplinary economic, political and social structures throughout disciplinary process developed by the Uni- FUNDING experimental space that provides a platform for the whole of society. In order to study such pro- versity for Continuing Education Krems, Federal Ministry for Education and Research public administration, science, business and so- cesses the Faculty of Business and Globalization the findings from theory and practice (Germany) – FONA ciety to address key challenges facing the public founded the Transdisciplinary Laboratory for Sus- have led to a paper that proposes sector. Potential solutions are developed in col- tainable Digital Environments (SDE TdLab). Here, socially robust guidelines for working DURATION laboration between organizations in a scientific scientists and system-relevant stakeholders gen- and practice-relevant context. The lab focuses on with digital data. 2019–2020 erate knowledge of these complex processes of implementing prototypes from research and de- change, and derive strategies for a sustainable tran- DEPARTMENT velopment projects to support innovation in public sition into the digital era. As digitalization progresses, data is omni- Knowledge and Communication Management administration and evidence-based policymaking. Scientific Co-Leaders: present. As people and computer systems The knowledge acquired here is put into practice in Peter Parycek are linked into global networks, the storing, PROJECT LEAD training and education programs. Roland Scholz sharing and processing of our data leads to Roland Scholz Project lead: Gerald Steiner Noella Edelmann the creation of “digital twins” that are more Co-Leaders Practice: Peter Parycek Reiner Czichos than just copies or simulations of the original. PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Gabriel M. Lentner Gerald Steiner Michael Dell These twins can be used to monitor, diagnose Peter Parycek Coordination: Peter Harold or control the original, or predict behavior – be Gerald Steiner University for Continuing Education Krems, Federal it human or machine. Search engines, cloud Ministry of Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport  Developing Expertise for Sustainable Cities storage, social media, web browsers and data COORDINATION (Austria) The goal of the Strengthening Governance Capac- encryption services are controlled by a small Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies ity for Smart Sustainable Cities project is to pro- (IASS) Potsdam  Public Participation in a Digital Era mote expertise for smart, sustainable cities in Latin number of global oligopolies. How can public Continuing progress in digitalization changes the America and Europe by developing course con- governance be established as a counter- PARTNER interaction between governments, public adminis- tent at different levels of education. The proposed weight to these supranational actors? Brandenburg University of Technology trations and citizens. Social media, digital technol- course curriculum focuses on technology and ad- ogies, new online tools and societal demands gen- ministration, and is based on a multidisciplinary ap- Transdisciplinary Research didat.eu erate opportunities for participation and interaction, proach. An international network of universities and but lead to new challenges for politicians, public ad- smart city-related actors is involved in the project. The DiDaT project involved over 150 scientists ministrators and society. In 2020, the Participation Funding: and practitioners and investigates the unex- in the Digital Era project led to the development the EU – Erasmus+ pected consequences of the use of digital Green Paper on Participation in the Digital Era pre- Project lead: data – the so-called “unseens”. The project sented to the Austrian Council of Ministers in 2020. Gabriela Viale Pereira focuses on the topics mobility, health, agri- Funding: culture, the future of small and medium-sized Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport (Austria) enterprises (SMEs), and the use of social Project lead: media, as these are seen as highly relevant to Noella Edelmann the achievement of social development goals. Participating researchers: In order to deal with the identified “unseens”, Gregor Eibl socially robust guidelines were developed Valerie Albrecht through a transdisciplinary process developed by the Transdisciplinary Laboratory for Sus- tainable Digital Environments (SDE TdLab).

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 42 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Digitalization Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Digitalization 43

Further Projects Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination

 Detecting Misinformation with Artificial Intelli-  A New Teaching Concept on Video Game Culture Selected contributions by the department to “sci- Selected “science-to-public” activities: gence The “StreamIT!” project examines children and ad- ence-to-science” knowledge transfer: In the field of civil security research, the project on olescents’ video game culture, which has so far re-  Participation in the Data Intelligence Offensive Detecting Misinformation with Artificial Intelligence ceived only little attention in school contexts. The  Co-organization of the EGOV-CeDEM-ePart (DIO), the public cooperation platform designed to explores ways to automatically identify misinforma- project aims to develop a participatory teaching con- Conference: build networks among stakeholders who create, pro- tion, especially of a politically motivated nature. The cept centered on creating gameplay videos in close This conference brings together communities from cess and use data. (www.dataintelligence.at) focus is on audiovisual media forensics, text analysis, collaboration with partner schools. Methods are de- the fields and communities of Electronic Government and their multimodal fusion using methods from arti- veloped and tested at all grade levels and an iterative (EGOV), Electronic Participation (ePart), and E-De-  GovLabAustria I-Lab Chat 2020 – “Sharing ficial intelligence. An example scenario is the verifi- process-oriented evaluation ensures a close align- mocracy and Open Government (CeDEM). Findings – Developing Ideas”: cation of content in “news articles” on the Internet. ment with the target groups’ needs. online event (September 2020) on the COVID-19 Funding: Funding:  Participation in the International Data Science pandemic’s impact on administrative processes. Gov- FFG Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG Austrian Research Promotion Agency Conference series (iDSC). LabAustria is an innovation lab for the public sector, Project lead: Project lead: operated by the University for Continuing Education Walter Seböck Natalie Denk  Annual organization of the Krems Security Krems and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Arts, Cul- Conference (SiKo) at the University for Continuing ture, Civil Service and Sport. Education Krems, which brings together the Austrian (www.govlabaustria.gv.at) cybersecurity community.  TIN Academy: At the TIN Academy, a transdisciplinary innovation Pictured (f. l. t. r. & top down) network of representatives from industry, science Verena Huber, Günther Kainz, Gregor Eibl, Noella Edelmann, Corinna Raith, Gabriele De Luca, Valerie Albrecht, Nike Pulda, Cornelia and public administration (University for Continuing Lendl, Ingeborg Zeller, Monika Oswald, Bettina Pospisil Education Krems and the New Design University St. Pölten) develops creative solutions. (www.tin.academy)

Selected Publications

 Edelmann N, Albrecht V, Eibl G, Rosenbichler U, Grünwald A, Kallinger M (2020). Grünbuch: Partizipation im digitalen Zeitalter. BM für Kunst, Kultur, öffentlicher Dienst und Sport, Vienna  Janssen M, Brous P, Estevez E, Barbosa L S, Janowski T (2020). Data governance: Organizing data for trustworthy Artificial Intelligence. Government Information Quarterly, 37 (3): 101493  Matheus R, Janssen M, Janowski T (2020). Design principles for creating digital transparency in government. In: Government Information Quarterly, 38(1): 10155  Pospisil B, Huber E, Quirchmayr G, Seböck W (2020). Modus Operandi in Cybercrime. In: Khosrow-Pour M (ed.) Encyclopedia of Criminal Activities and the Deep Web, pp. 193-209, IGI Global, online  Scholz R W, Czichos R, Parycek P, Lampoltshammer T J (2020). Organizational vulnerability of digital threats: A first validation of an assessment method. European Journal of Operational Research, 282(2), 627-643  Seböck W, Lampoltshammer T, Zeller I, Pospisil B (2021). Künstliche Intelligenz im Risikomanagement – Ein Überblick aus Sicht der KMUs. Österreichisches Jahrbuch für Risikomanagement 2021, pp. 139-152.  Viale Pereira G, Estevez E, Cardona D, Chesñevar C, Collazzo-Yelpo P, Cunha M A, Diniz E H, Ferraresi A, Fischer F M, Cardinelle Oliveira Garcia F, Joia L A, Luciano E M, de Albuquerque J P, Quandt C O, Sánchez Rios R, Sánchez A, Damião da Silva E, Silva-Junior J S, Scholz R W (2020). South American Expert Roundtable: Increasing Adaptive Governance Capacity for Coping with Unintended Side Effects of Digital Transformation. Sustainability 2020, 12, 718

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 44 Innovative and Sustainable Solutions in Complex Systems Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Innovative and Sustainable Solutions in Complex Systems 45

Addressing Complexity with Improvisation

The world is ruled by systems of will incorporate expertise from research into increasing complexity, a circumstance innovation and improvisation, cognitive and that can lead to unexpected situations. organizational psychology, communication The relevant competences and organiza- and systems sciences, cognitive sciences and tional frameworks that would enable us complexity research. This will provide a basis to deal appropriately with the unforeseen for developing concepts for interventions, for in the short term are often lacking. The instance, how improvisation can be systemat- project examines the ability to impro- ically trained. Ongoing results will already be vise in order to respond in a professional made available during the project, including manner in real time and to make proactive interviews with experts. and creative use of the resources available at a given moment.

For the homo economicus the plan of action was simple: set objectives, identify available resources, calculate consequences based on the knowledge relevant in each case, take account of routine procedures and draw up The Department for Knowledge and Communication Management an action plan within this guiding framework. applies a systemic approach to deal with the analysis of profound social However, today's ever-more complex world of transformation processes. Its research activities focus on three topics: work presents a challenge to this theoretical th Organizational Improvisation Firstly, transdisciplinarity: How can collaboration between scientists concept from the 19 century. The constant acceleration of processes and procedures and and practitioners be better understood and developed further? Which FUNDING interactions which are less and less trans- FFG Austrian Research Promotion Agency – approaches and methods have proved to be effective and how can we parent requires a closely timed separation of BRIDGE improve them? Secondly, digital transformation: How is digitalization problem identification, generation of ideas and implementation of ideas. The art of impro- DURATION changing society as part of the human-environment system? Which visation in the context of organizations and 2019–2022 unintended side effects come into play here and how can they be utilized companies is set to become a key skill of the DEPARTMENT st to create niches for innovation from spaces of vulnerability? And thirdly, 21 century. Knowledge and Communication Management sustainable innovation: How can complex systems be understood and Furthering of Competencies PROJECT LEAD sustainably facilitated through intervention and innovation? How do Pictured The project investigates which factors are Lukas Zenk (f. l. t. r. & top down) transitions and transformations function and how can they be successfully important for the ability to improvise and PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Andrea Höltl how these skills can be fostered by means guided? Nicole Hynek Lukas Zenk of individual training or basic organizational Gerald Steiner Günther Schreder Günther Schreder conditions. One outcome of the project will Gerald Steiner Liliya Satalkina be a framework which sets out significant Nikolai Neumayer factors for improvisational ability on the basis COORDINATION Roland Scholz University for Continuing Education Krems Georg Neubauer of scientific studies and empirical research. It Tanja Lumetsberger PARTNERS Nils Haneklaus Kay Mühlmann Beratergruppe Neuwaldegg GmbH Ilja Steffelbauer Roland Gareis Consulting GmbH Nicole Hynek

Not Pictured www.improvisation.science Heike Köckler Michael Obersteiner

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 46 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Innovative and Sustainable Solutions in Complex Systems Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Innovative and Sustainable Solutions in Complex Systems 47

Understanding Mineral Transatlantic Cooperation Fertilizer as a System Platform

The Transdisciplinary Laboratory (TdLab) A further aim is, conversely, to communicate The engagement of the University for cooperation platform going by the name of Sustainable Mineral Resources is one of transdisciplinary approaches in the framework Continuing Education Krems in the the “Transatlantic Research Lab on Complex the longest-established TdLabs of the Fac- of the forthcoming TISE Erasmus Mundus Complexity Science Hub Vienna forms Challenges”. ulty of Business and Globalization at the Master program in the form of innovative, the starting point of a new transatlantic University for Continuing Education Krems. interactive learning spaces. platform for scientific cooperation. An The object of the laboratory is to jointly test As at the other TdLabs, the objective here approach based on systems science is and further develop the interdisciplinary, is to create a space in which scientists and The TdLab additionally forms part of ENRUE currently in use with the aim of contrib- systems-scientific approach towards complex practitioners can work with one another on (Enhanced Nutrient and Resource Use Effi- uting to solving complex social issues of challenges based on the participants’ specific an equal footing to tackle socially relevant ciency), a pan-European research consortium, today. This revolves around questions research and publication projects, and to make challenges: In this case the fact that phos- within the framework of the EU Green Deal. resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. a scientific contribution to overcoming future phorus, a key element of mineral fertilizers, The project focuses on testing a wide range global crises. With this end in mind, coopera- is a limited resource, thus endangering of transdisciplinary approaches and offering In the face of the COVID-19 crisis and the tion with the Decision Theater of Arizona State worldwide food production. scientific support in this regard to optimize the first lockdown in Austria, a transatlantic group University was stepped up and initial joint efficacy and sustainability with which fertil- of researchers came together in spring 2020 publications placed in prominent journals. Building on the global transdisciplinary project izers and pesticides are used. The TdLab has to discuss current societal challenges arising Global TraPs, the TdLab Sustainable Mineral also organized regular virtual round table dis- from the pandemic. The core of the original Resources took up its work with a focus on cussions (Sustainable Td-Mineral Resources “COVID Group” was formed by a network of sustainable and efficient phosphorus manage- Think Tank) with expert practitioners and researchers from the University for Continuing ment in the interest of ensuring global food scientists from Austria, Europe and the USA Education Krems, the Medical University of security. Around half the world's food produc- since fall 2020. Vienna, the University of Arizona in Santa Fe, tion relies on the use of mineral fertilizer con- the World Climate Forum and Harvard Uni- taining phosphate. Phosphate rock is not an versity, who already had an established work unlimited resource, so dealing with this re- basis through cooperations in the Complexity source in a sustainable manner makes a key Science Hub Vienna. Complexity Science Hub contribution to ensuring global food security in the future. Our understanding of this system Contribution to Overcoming Global Crises DURATION has been advanced through previous research In light of the situation at the time, this group since 2018 into a comprehensive phosphorus value chain. of European and North-American researchers www.csh.ac.at The TdLab has since then been engaged in established a contemporary format in which transferring the expertise acquired in value weekly online meetings were held to discuss chain analysis to other critical fields relevant joint publications, research projects, new Transatlantic Research Lab on to the future, concentrating in 2020 on the re- developments in research and current events Complex Challenges covery of uranium as a by-product of phos- and to coordinate shared activities. What phorus extraction. was originally planned as an informal coop- DURATION Transdisciplinary Laboratory since 2021 (TdLab) sustainable mineral eration platform for joint work on important The Issue of Phosphorus as a Game resources – SMR TdLab issues then became a permanent institution. PROJECT LEAD Ongoing projects include the development The original group was extended to include Gerald Steiner of a Phosphorus-Game modeled on Harvard SCIENTIFIC CO-LEADERS experts from the fields of Transdisciplinarity, Lukas Zenk University's Mercury Game to address the Gerald Steiner Mineral Resources and Social Evolution, global political dimension to phosphorus use. Roland Scholz re-establishing itself in 2021 as a permanent COORDINATION Michael Obersteiner University for Continuing Education Krems Prof Friedrich-W. Wellmer Nils Haneklaus PARTNERS Harvard University (USA) CO-LEADER PRACTICE Medical University of Vienna Michael C. Mew University of Arizona in Santa Fe (USA) Ludwig Hermann World Climate Forum (Germany)

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 48 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Innovative and Sustainable Solutions in Complex Systems Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Innovative and Sustainable Solutions in Complex Systems 49

Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination

 Virtual presentation of the study “Trust in Dig-  Series of pre-meetings of the Global Transdis- italization & Governments in Times of COVID-19” ciplinarity Conference to discuss the further devel- at Tufts University in January 2021; with a panel dis- opment of science-society collaboration with interna- cussion and approx. 150 international participants. tional groups of experts and partners from practice and research, each attended by approx. 40 partici-  Virtual presentation and handover of the DiDaT pants. White Paper jointly with IASS Potsdam, Fraunhofer FOKUS, etc. with approx. 140 participants (Germany,  In the framework of the research project “Orga- Austria, ). (www.didat.eu) nizational Improvisation”, creation of the website www.improvisation.science and organization of inter-  Biodiversity conferences: views with experts. Third Austrian biodiversity forum “Tage der Biodi- versität #FlattenTheCurve der Biodiversitätskrise”,  “Transition, Innovation and Sustainability 4 December 2020 (online), with a one-week lead-in Environments (TISE)”: including online workshops and presentations with Students on the new Erasmus Mundus Joint Master approx. 300 registered participants. of Science program gain an insight into findings from research into transformation processes. Core topics:  Transatlantic workshops: Shaping social transformation processes, relevant Series of weekly online transatlantic workshops couplings between human-nature-technology sys- on complex challenges arising from the COVID-19 tems, their mechanisms and rebound effects, in addi- pandemic with participants from the USA, Austria, tion to options for intervention. Switzerland and Germany. TdLab sustainable mineral resources: in parallel a monthly online jour fixe.

Selected Publications

 Caniglia G, Zenk L, Schernhammer E, Bertau M, Steiner G, Kainz M, Jaeger C, Schlosser P, Laubichler M (2021). Scientists' Responsibility for Global Futures. Science & Diplomacy, 1: online, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington D.C.  Höltl A, Steiner G, Lumetsberger T, Weinhäupl H, Greilhuber I, et.al. Ein Netzwerk für die Biodiversität in Österreich. GAIA, 2020; GAIAEA 29/2 73 – 136: 126-128.  Shang D, Geissler B, Mew M, Satalkina L, Zenk L, et.al. Unconventional uranium in China's phosphate rock: Review and outlook. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2021; 140: 2021.110740.  Satalkina L, Steiner G. Digital Entrepreneurship and its Role in Innovation Systems: A Systematic Literature Review as a Basis for Future Research Avenues for Sustainable Transitions. Sustainability 2020; 12(7):2764.  Steiner G, Risopoulos-Pichler F, Daghofer F. Competences for Solving Complex Problems: A Cross-Sectional Survey on Higher Education for Transformative Learning and Transdisciplinarity. Sustainability 2020; 12(15): 6016.  Zenk L, Steiner G, Cunha MP, Laubichler M, Bertau M, Kainz M, Jäger C, Schernhammer E. Fast Response to Superspreading: Uncertainty and Complexity in the Context of COVID-19. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020; 17: 7884.

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 50 Study of Democracy, Law and Europe Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Study of Democracy, Law and Europe 51

First-Time Voters in the Digital Age

The project Digitalizing Youth Politics The project at the interface of political analyzes the political participation of first- science, e-governance, media and digital time voters. It examines the link between sociology, and social work, seeks to con- social media communication, mass media tribute to a better understanding of the and civic participation, focusing on the relationship between young people and the potential of digitalization to expand the political establishment in the digital age. democratic space for young voters.

Today’s first-time voters are digital natives, i. e., they grew up in the digital world. For this generation, social media use is something they take for granted which also influences their political socialization. The project exam- ines how first-time voters participate in dem- ocratic processes, how they appropriate the public sphere and what potential social media has to widen the public participation. These questions are explored by focusing on three Research activities of the departments for Legal Studies and International research areas: The digital lifeworlds and polit- Relations, European Policy and the Study of Democracy, and the Research ical participation of first-time voters; the online Digitalizing Youth Politics – Oppor- Lab Democracy and Society in Transition revolve around the two communication of political party actors with tunities and Obstacles to Digitaliza- interdependent spheres of law and democracy. The topics covered include a focus on Twitter; and the communication of tion for Local Democratic Processes local mass media. the globalization of business law, the private insurance industry and its and Political Participation of Young People in Lower Austria – DYP Pictured dynamic development, intellectual property rights and laws pertaining Starting Point for Research and Practice (f. l. t. r. & top down) to cultural heritage, law and the data economy, the institutional state of These insights are of more than just regional FUNDING Gabriel M. Lentner relevance. They also provide an impetus Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Susanne Fraczek Europe, the role of the EU, the future of European democracy and the Niederösterreich m.b.H. Clemens Appl for the use of digital media and e-platforms Philipp Homar question of participation and representation of citizens in Europe as well as to enhance political participation by young DURATION Lisa Jost the current challenges posed by technical innovations, digitalization and people both at the local level and throughout 2019–2021 Johannes Kerschbaumer Austria as a whole. The development of a Stefan Knotzer social change. Arlinda Berisha. digital brochure, for example, should awaken DEPARTMENT Siegfried Fina young citizens’ interest in democratic pro- European Policy and the Study of Democracy Thomas Ratka cesses and increase their willingness to Henning Deters engage with it. Decision-makers too, learn PROJECT LEAD Katharina Fritsch Edma Ajanovic Michael Heber how digital infrastructure, e-participation and Sarah Meyer e-government can be made more inclusive. Ulrike Guérot PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Elisabeth Donat Katharina Fritsch Michael Hunklinger Ulrike Guérot Edma Ajanovic Thomas Lampoltshammer Simon Lenhart Lörinc Thurnay Peter Filzmaier Katrin Praprotnik COORDINATION Ernst Fürlinger University for Continuing Education Krems Christina Hainzl Daniela Ingruber Marc Grimm PARTNER St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences Not Pictured Patricia Oberluggauer

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 52 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Study of Democracy, Law and Europe Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Study of Democracy, Law and Europe 53

Digitization in The Role of Regional Healthcare Parliaments in the EU

The Telemed Monitor Austria is an annual telemedicine services by physicians and also The research project REGIOPARL explores not just on, but also in interaction with rele- study conducted by the Research Lab the challenges they face, while shedding EU related activities of regional parlia- vant regional political actors. The third aspect Society in Transition. It attempts to trace light on the effect of the current framework ments and their role in the EU system of aims at fostering the dialogue on Europe more the development of telemedicine services, conditions. This provides a basis from which multi-level governance from the perspec- broadly. Extensive science2public activities to generate comparable data by repeating recommendations for action can be made. tive of democratic theory. The project should be used to establish dialog between the study each year and to address cur- thus contributes to the current debate academia and politics, academia and art, and rent issues. Each year, a different the- on the future of the EU. Workshops with between academia and society, and to stimu- matic focus is chosen. parliamentarians and a participatory art late participation in the ongoing debate on the project are used to initiate a dialog on the future of the EU. Parallel to this, the artwork The Telemed Monitor seeks to examine the present and future of the EU. Outer Space Transmitter invites people to relationship between health and society, approach Europe and life in the European with a special emphasis on digitization. The The European integration process is transfer- Union from a personal perspective. Monitor also endeavors to point out perspec- ring more and more competences to the EU. tives for further development and areas in The fact that this has reduced the legislative which specific (political) action is needed. competence and policy space of national In the first phase, Telemed Monitor Austria parliaments within the EU is a topic of regular focuses on the perspective of the physicians; discussion, yet its impact on the regional level subsequently, the positions of the patients is barely mentioned. Although the latter has will also be taken into account. Health policy only little involvement in decision-making pro- and the provision of health care to society are cesses at the European level, it plays a medi- REGIOPARL | Regional Parliaments cross-sectional issues and require interdisci- ating role in the implementation and applica- Lab plinary and transdisciplinary approaches. This tion of European legal acts “on the ground”. study therefore combines knowledge from Due to their proximity to citizens, regional FUNDING Forum Morgen the disciplines of political communication, parliaments play an important role in respect sociology and medicine. of the acceptance and democratic legitimacy DURATION Telemed Monitor Austria of European governance. The changing role 2018–2022 Identifying Current Challenges of these parliaments in the context of the EU Technological innovation and social change FUNDING integration process is at the core of the proj- DEPARTMENT Self-funded are closely related. How we communicate, ect’s research interest. European Policy and the Study of Democracy treat and deal with illness and disease is DURATION PROJECT LEAD changing constantly. With advancing digita- From 2020 Research, Participation and Dialog Sarah Meyer lization, the question in many areas of life is The project pursues three interrelated goals: not whether digital health services should be DEPARTMENT The study makes an empirical-analytical PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS expanded but how they should be expanded Research Lab Democracy and Society in Transition contribution on the activities of regional parlia- Henning Deters and applied. The guidelines, standards and ments in European affairs from a comparative Elisabeth Donat PROJECT LEAD Simon Lenhart competencies this requires are still being Christina Hainzl perspective and assesses the role of regional developed and a social discourse on the limits parliaments in the EU multi-level governance COORDINATION of digital forms of care has yet to take place. PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER system from the perspective of democratic University for Continuing Education Krems The quantitative survey provides an up-to- Isabella Juen theory. The second goal focuses on the date overview of the acceptance and use of project's participatory element, i. e. research PARTNERS COORDINATION European School of Governance (EUSG) gGmbH University for Continuing Education Krems (Germany) in Kraków () PARTNER University of Tübingen (Germany) Austrian Medical Chamber WZB Center Berlin (Germany)

www.telemedmonitor.at regioparl.com

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 54 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Study of Democracy, Law and Europe Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Study of Democracy, Law and Europe 55

Copyright from a Citizen’s Perspective

In the INTER!ACT project, legal experts approach, in which citizens are integrated Further Projects Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination and social scientists collaborated with in the interdisciplinary research process at Department for Legal Studies and school pupils to set up a digital inter- multiple levels. Project outcomes include  Political Seismograph International Relations The Austrian Democracy Lab studies democracy action platform. This was then used specialist publications and lectures as well and attitudes to democracy in Austria. The main by representatives of all stakeholder as a series of outreach activities, including  Organization of academic conferences: focus of the team’s work is on democracy and 5th Annual Conference on business and corporate groups – content creators, users, inter- presentations and workshops targeting a constitution, direct democracy and participation, law, 10 / 11 September 2020 mediaries – to discuss copyright and new non-specialist audience. However, the main homo politicus, federalism and electoral law. The model regulatory proposals. The com- outcome is the interaction platform developed centerpiece of the project is the Democracy Radar,  6th Krems Insurance Forum 2020: prehensive analysis of this discussion for the project, which forms the infrastructure a large-scale representative survey that is carried 10 November 10 2020 out every six months. As political education is a process produced valuable insights for for citizen participation, and which enables a key concern, a new political science textbook on  the further development of approaches to comprehensive scientific analysis of the data IP-DAY 2020: democracy in Austria is being developed. 22 September 2020 copyright. obtained from the discussion. Austrian Democracy Lab (ADL) Funding:  Museum + Recht 2020 – Online Symposium As digitalization made it easier for citizens to Forum Morgen on “Original, Reproduction & Ownership” create their own content and access content Project lead: 12 November 2020 Christina Hainzl, Katrin Praprotnik from others, the practical importance of copy- Participating researchers:  right has grown. Whereas in the past, it was IT-Rechtstag 2020: Marc Grimm, Daniela Ingruber, Patricia 15 October 2020 a special-interest topic for publishing houses Oberluggauer and media companies, it now affects citizens Partner:  Forum Wettbewerbsrecht 2020: in all manner of ways. Yet despite this, their INTER!ACT – Interactive Consen- 29 November 2020 voice remains largely unheard in the legislative sus-Based Development of a Copy-  Improved Resolution of Legal Disputes in process. Nor do they have any opportunity right Model Act  Science-to-Public: Austria and Ukraine Cooperation between the Center for Intellectual to constructively contribute their own expe- FUNDING The aim of the project is to identify the main dif- Property, Media and Innovation Law and the Aus- riences and needs in the political and legisla- Federal Ministry of Education, Science and ferences between the two legal systems and to trian Patent Office within the IP-Academy: Regular tive consultation and negotiation processes. Research (OeAD), Top Citizen Science compare their advantages and disadvantages by seminars on copyright Evidence and feedback from members of the comparing the relevant provisions of Ukrainian and public provide valuable contributions that can DURATION Austrian law, engaging in reciprocal exchange and  Additional lectures are held for start-ups by analyzing the practical realities in both coun- be used to strengthen the acceptance of legis- 2017–2021 within the framework of “AWS First” as are tries on the basis of interviews with experts. The courses for pupils in cooperation with various lation by society as a whole. DEPARTMENT project will run from 2021 to 2023 and should pro- schools (e. g. HTL Krems, TGM Wien) Legal Studies and International Relations duce recommendations for action or proposals for Academically Supervised Exchange improvement in the fields of procedural, arbitration  Interview with Gabriel M. Lentner on the The Top Citizen Science research project PROJECT LEAD and mediation law to ensure efficient and accessi- Ö1 radio program Radiokolleg on the “Roaring takes this citizens’ perspective and examines Clemens Appl ble dispute resolution. Twenties”, broadcast on 28 + 29 December 2020, Funding: which topics and challenges determine how legal- reflections on the Austrian Federal OeAD, Agency for Education and Internationali- Constitution and on the League of Nations Loans. citizens deal with copyright in their everyday PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Philipp Homar sation personal and professional lives. The project Stefan Knotzer Project lead: also explores which aspects of copyright law Gabriel M. Lentner, Department for Legal Studies have entered the public discourse and how COORDINATION and International Relations they are evaluated. To do this, the transdis- University for Continuing Education Krems Coordination: University for Continuing Education Krems ciplinary project pursues a citizen science PARTNERS Partner: HTL Krems Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv MM Webconsulting TGM – Die Schule der Technik, HTBLuVA Vienna Vienna University of Economics and Business

www.inter-act.at

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 56 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Study of Democracy, Law and Europe Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Study of Democracy, Law and Europe 57

Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination Selected Publications Department for European Policy and Research Lab Democracy and Society in Department for Legal Studies and International Relations the Study of Democracy Transition  Appl C (2020). Mashups, Remixes, Sampling und Co: Abhängiges Werkschaffen in der Tonkunst aus urheberrechtlicher Sicht. ipCompetence, 24: 12-23.  Participation in numerous academic confer-  Participation in discussion events, e. g. the  Appl C (2020). Revision harmonisierter Normen – Grenzen der Herabsetzung von Sicherheitsstandards. Zeitschrift für Energie und Technikrecht (ZTR), 3: 141-148. ences and public discussion events as well as panel discussion “Jugend und Politik”, 2 March  Berisha A, Reisinger W (2020). Verträge des Versicherungsrechts, Verlag Linde, Wien. lectures by Ulrike Guérot, e. g., in Davos (Switzer- 2020, Linz land), in the Euronews Debates (24 January 2020)  Homar P (2020). Die Anwendung der Speichermedienvergütung auf Cloud Storages. ÖBl – Österreichische Blätter für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht, 2: 52.  Online Media Summit 2020, Tel Aviv:  Lentner G M. Bridgestone v Panama: When Are Trademarks Covered Investments? ICSID Review, 2020; 34(3): 569-576.  Event to mark 25 years of Austrian EU mem- “Generation Media Bridges - When the discourse  Lentner G M (2020). Investor-State Dispute Settlement and the Relationship between IP and Investment Chapters in Free Trade Agreements. Stanford Transatlantic Technol- bership held in the Austrian Parliament: gets nasty” (Anti-Semitism, Hate-Speech, Fake- ogy Law Forum Working Paper, 50: 1. 10 February 2020 News – Discussing the Official Definition of Anti-Semitism: Agreeing to Disagree?) on 9 Sep-  Ratka T (2020). Kommentierung der Einführung (Co-Autor Straube M) § 5, § 15 (Co-Autoren Straube M, Stöger K, Völkl C), § 15a, § 16 (Co-Autor Straube M), § 16a. Straube M, Ratka T, Rauter R (eds.) Wiener Kommentar zum GmbHG, Verlag Manz, Wien.  “Die Post-Corona-Demokratie in Europa”: tember 2020, online Wiener Vorlesungen, 2 April 2020  Ratka T (2020). Gesellschaftsrechtlicher Missbrauch. Kalss S, Bergmann S (eds.): Handbuch Rechtsformwahl: 133-168, Verlag Österreich, Wien.  Politik Café of the University of Graz:  “Grenzen überwinden”: Sport und Politik in Coronazeiten, 13 October 2020, Panel Discussion organized by the Graz Department for European Policy and the Study of Democracy Institut and the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (11 September 2020, Vienna)  Participation in the Dürnstein Symposion:  Mayer S, Ajanovic E, Sauer B (2020). Man, Woman, Family. Gender and the Limited Modernization of Right-Wing Extremism in Austria. In: Dietze G, Roth J (ed.) Right-Wing “Familie ist alles? Politische Sozialisation junger Populism and Gender: 101-116, Transcript, Bielefeld.  Conference: Menschen“, 6 March 2020, Dürnstein  Donat E, Meyer S, Abels G (2020). European Regions Perspectives, Trends and Developments in the 21st Century. Transcript, Bielefeld. “Europäisch Sein” from the series »Hamburger  Guérot U (2020). Nichts wird so bleiben wie es war? Europa nach der Krise. Molden, Wien. Horizonte«, Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study  Participation in the Danube Conference (HIAS) and the Körber-Stiftung (20 November 2020) “Post-Corona in the Danube Region: Possible Chal-  Guérot U (2020). Perspektiven für Europa und seine Demokratie(n) nach Corona. In: Volkmer M, Werner K (Hrsg.) Die Corona-Gesellschaft Analysen zur Lage und Perspektiven für die Zukunft: 289-300, transcript, Bielefeld. lenges and Chances for Youth, Culture, Media and Civil Society”, 11 November 2020  Guérot U (2020). Lackmustest für die Europäische Solidarität. In: Wiener Vorlesungen, Protokolle der Krise - Wie Corona unser Leben verändert: 17-45, Picus Verlag Wien, Wien.  Guérot U, Hunklinger M. European Democracy after Covid-19. Journal Democratic Theorie, 2020; 7/2: 160-165, Berghahn.  Participation in the fall conference of the  Hunklinger M, Ferch N. Trans* voting – Demand and Supply Side of Trans* Politics in Germany. European Journal of Politics and Gender, 2020; 3/3: 389-408 Deutsche Vereinigung für Politische Bildung e. V.: “Affekte als vernachlässigte Kategorie der Politischen Bildung gegen Antisemitismus“, Research Lab Democracy and Society in Transition 13 November 2020, online  Filzmaier P (2020). Strategische Kommunikation in der Politik. In: Fähnrich B, Holenweger M (eds.) Anwendungsgebiete und Grundlagen von Strategischer Kommunikation, 175-196, Nomos, Baden-Baden  Filzmaier P (2020). Sichtweisen von Sicherheit in Österreich. Eine Einführung. In: Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung (ed.) Sicher. Und morgen? Sicherheitspolitische Vorschau 2020, 8-24, Amtliche Publikation der Republik Österreich, Wien  Fürlinger E (2020). Schwierige Ankunft. Ein historischer Abriss des Moscheebaus in Österreich. In: Kunst und Kirche. Magazin für Kritik, Ästhetik und Religion 83 (3), 20-27.  Hermann A, Ingruber D, Perlot F, Praprotnik K, Hainzl C (eds.) (2020). regional.national.föderal. Zur Beziehung Politischer Ebenen in Österreich. Facultas, Wien.  Grimm M (2020). Philosemitismus als Kampfbegriff. In: Dachs G (ed.) Jüdischer Almanach Freundschaften Feindschaften – Essays, 143-153, Suhrkamp, Frankfurt a.M.  Perlot F, Hermann A, Praprotnik K, Ingruber D, Hainzl C (2020). Democracy Radar Wave 1 (SUF edition).  Praprotnik K, Perlot F. Discontent as Motivation. Why People Engage with the Democratic Process. Human Affairs, 2020; 30 (3), 449-467.

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 58 Sensor Technology and Energy Efficiency Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Sensor Technology and Energy Efficiency 59

Christian Doppler Laboratory for Magnet Design

High-performance magnets play a cru- cesses based on the smallest magnetic units, cial role in green technologies such as the core-shell grains, is made possible. Their sustainable energy generation and clean properties are extrapolated to the level of the transportation. As such, climate policy entire magnet by machine learning. Research- has an impact on the demand for critical ers use these micromagnetic simulations to materials. Addressing the risk of rare calculate the opposing field strength required earth supply, magnets are being devel- for demagnetization, the coercivity. These oped that dispense with heavy rare earth data are fed into a regression model. This links elements such as terbium and dysprosium the coercive field of a grain with its size and and have a reduced neodymium content. shape as well as with the rare earth content.

Permanent magnets are a key technology in modern society. They have become an indispensable part of everyday life in sound transducers, air conditioners, electric bicy- cles, wind turbines, hybrid and electric cars, and hard disk drives. Furthermore, green Research technology applications, for example in the Laboratory for Magnet Design The global environmental challenges of today are the motivation behind fields of energy generation and mobility, are Through Informed Machine the highly international research performed at the Department for Inte- driving demand for permanent magnets even Learning – MagLearn grated Sensor Systems. The key issues here are energy / resource efficiency, higher. To meet this increase, the project aims FUNDING and the economical use of raw materials and water as a vital resource. to develop low-cost magnets without critical elements. Christian Doppler Research Association, Federal Programs such as the European Union's Green Deal rely on sensor solu- Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs

tions to save energy in the mobility, manufacturing and housing sectors; In the field of materials development and DURATION Pictured design, the newly founded CD Laboratory 2020–2027 (f. l. t. r. & top down) likewise, substitution for scarce and rare magnetic materials or a reduction focuses on artificial intelligence and related Thomas Bigler in their use—catchword: rare earths in e-mobility—as well as sensor topics such as machine learning, neural DEPARTMENT Albert Treytl Integrated Sensor Systems Gerald Franzl technology for clean water. Important ongoing research topics thus include networks and big data, topics of high Almir Talic sensor / sensor network developments, artificial intelligence in materials relevance for the European research area. PROJECT LEAD Hubert Brückl Here, fresh knowledge is generated and Thilo Sauter development, building automation and production monitoring, as well as to Thomas Schrefl Wilfried Hortschitz young researchers have the benefit to learn Leoni Breth water analysis methods. how to use these technologies. Alongside PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Andreas Kainz the development of new magnet designs, Johann Fischbacher Matthias Kahr machine learning methods are likewise under Markus Gusenbauer Martin Brandl Markus Hovorka Sylvia Schneider development. Alexander Kovacs Karlheinz Kellner Lakshmi Devi Chakkarapani Thomas Posnicek Simulation of the magnetic fields COORDINATION Markus Gusenbauer Computer-aided magnet design is to be University for Continuing Education Krems Johann Fischbacher supported with machine learning methods by Markus Hovorka integrating physical models across all relevant PARTNERS Thomas Schrefl National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science Harald Özelt length scales. The Department for Integrated and Technology – AIST (Japan) Alexander Kovacs Sensor Systems has developed a software Toyota Motor Corporation (Japan) package for this purpose. By using the com- University of Tokyo, Institute for Solid State Not Pictured putational power of many computers working Physics (Japan) Roman Beigelbeck at the same time, studying magnetization pro- Wolfgang Pauli Institute Vienna (Austria) Samir Cerimovic Anja Knecht

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 60 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Sensor Technology and Energy Efficiency Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Sensor Technology and Energy Efficiency 61

Qualification for the Urban Computer-Aided Planning of Tomorrow Maintenance Strategies

To be sustainable, a city needs solutions agement processes of PEQs. The orientation Predicting the remaining service life of bearings in use, the application of syntheti- to face up to the challenges of climate to users is noticeable here in the focus on rolling bearings in different production cally acquired data would greatly simplify the change and social justice. With this in sustainable cooperation / business models machines using artificial intelligence process. Rolling bearings are simulated here mind, the universities, architects, plan- and in the innovative digital technologies for (AI) improves the scheduling of costly according to a specific numerical method in ners and developers contributing to this integrated energy systems. stoppages for bearing replacement finite element models, defects incorporated project are developing joint qualification and permits a reduction in stock levels. systematically and the frequency-dependent measures that will allow entire parts of a The new content is incorporated in selected This project generates synthetic data emission of acoustic waves in the bearing city to be designed as sustainable digital Master’s study programs. Tailoring them to for failure scenarios of machinery by then recorded during rotation. “PlusEnergy” quarters with high living the relevant target groups results in a major means of a specific numerical method, quality. improvement in applicability and practical namely from finite element simulations. suitability. The resulting data is combined with the In the EU, buildings account for some two learning algorithms of the artificial intelli- fifths of energy consumption and 36 percent gence models.

of CO2 emissions. This shows that it is pos- sible to provide major impetus for the cli- In an age of tightly timed production chains, mate by stepping up energy efficiency and a just short breakdowns can incur major costs. sparing use of resources, both in new building For this reason, plants mainly rely on "pre- and through the renovation and revitalization ventive maintenance", i. e. replacing rolling of old building stock. One approach here bearings that are still intact in advance to involves PlusEnergy Quarters (PEQs), which Build-up of skills for sustainable avoid unplanned failures and stoppages in are designed with a positive annual energy development and realization production. Predicting the service life of com- of congenial digital PlusEnergy balance and rely on renewable energy with ponents using AI makes it possible to pre-plan Quarters – DigiPEQ a high degree of efficiency. A PEQ consists maintenance activities. The optimized use of of multiple buildings which create synergies FUNDING wear parts is easy on both resources and the through mixed use. PEQs are to also offer FFG – Austrian Research Promotion Agency environment while boosting productivity. affordable housing through their high levels of economic efficiency, so making an important DURATION Synthetic Instead of Experimental Data 2020–2022 contribution to social cohesion. To be able to determine the remaining service Artificial Intelligence for Ultrasonic life of rolling bearings, the damaged compo- DEPARTMENTS Measurements to Predict Rolling PEQs in Theory and Practice Integrated Sensor Systems nent of the bearing needs to be identified by Bearing Failures The DigiPEQ project is devoted to the inter- Building and Environment artificial intelligence. While damage to the disciplinary transfer of research findings and outer ring generally causes a slowly wors- FUNDING practical knowledge between universities and PROJECT LEAD ening defect, damage to the bearing cage will FFG – Austrian Research Promotion Agency partners from business through research-led Albert Treytl bring about failure far sooner. An extensive teaching and the inclusion of practical data set is required for AI learning. The project DURATION PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS 2020–2022 know-how. It aims to develop qualification Helmut Floegl therefore also investigates whether synthetic measures with a focus on fundamentals, Christina Ipser simulation data can be used for this purpose. DEPARTMENT system boundaries and framework conditions Gregor Radinger As the generation of such data by purely Integrated Sensor Systems for digital PEQs worth living in, in addition Thilo Sauter experimental means presents an immense to establishing replicable planning and man- Wolfgang Stumpf challenge due to the large number of rolling PROJECT LEAD Daniela Trauninger Hubert Brückl

COORDINATION PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien Matthias Kahr

PARTNERS COORDINATION 29 partner institutions from science and practice Senzoro GmbH

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 62 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Sensor Technology and Energy Efficiency Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Sensor Technology and Energy Efficiency 63

Energy Communities as Regional Partners

The aim of the project is to tap unused The Department for Integrated Sensor Sys- Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination flexibilities in energy communities tems contributes expertise in distributed with a cellular organization to enable control systems. The main tasks here are the  59 publications in peer-reviewed journals, in 32  The contribution “The Future of Industrial conference papers and in 21 invited lectures: Communication – Automation Networks in the an increased use of renewable energy development of use cases, the definition of The Department for Integrated Sensor Systems has Era of the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0” (M. sources in the distribution network. By interfaces and implementation of control con- presented its research results from 2019 / 2020 to the Wollschlaeger, T. Sauter, and J. Jasperneite, IEEE using data-driven analysis and neural cepts to optimize the energy flow in energy scientific community in 59 publications in peer-re- Industrial Electronics Magazine, vol. 11, no. 1, 2017) forecasting models, balancing mecha- communities for the benefit of participants viewed journals, in 32 conference papers and in 21 was listed as a Hot Paper in the Web of Science. nisms are to be automatically activated at while supporting the power network to avoid invited lectures. different network levels, so coordinating supply bottlenecks at a local level.  The Department acted as (co-)organizer of  Special tributes were paid to this research in ETFA 2020 (Conference on Emerging Technologies production, storage and consumption. the form of several awards, incl. nomination of the and Factory Automation) and of WFCS 2019 (IEEE project “Unconventional Spin Topology for Magnetic International Conference on Factory Communication As photovoltaic systems become increasingly Field Sensors in the Automobile”, Hubert Brückl, Systems).Systems). widespread, and ever more surplus electricity for the Houska Prize in the category “University is fed into the power grid, there is a growing Research” (See also Facts & Figures / Science Prizes, risk that transformers and lines connecting a page 129) group of consumers to a higher network level then become overloaded. The existing power grid was not originally designed for the major fluctuations in renewable energy production. One solution is to bring consumers together into energy communities in which energy cFlex – Community Flexibility in generation and consumption are internally Regional and Local Energy Systems balanced and optimized. By applying adap- tive algorithms for the operation of energy FUNDING communities and increasing the domestic FFG Austrian Research Promotion Agency consumption rate, the project makes a key contribution to achieving the objectives of the DURATION EU’s Green Deal and planned decarbonization 2019–2022 of the energy sector. DEPARTMENT Integrated Sensor Systems Modeling with Real Data One of the questions explored by the project PROJECT LEAD is how great the optimization potential of such Thilo Sauter Selected Publications communities is. This involves the creation of energy community models with real data and PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Gerald Franzl  Ahmad I, Shahabuddin S, Malik H, Harjula E, Leppänen T, Lovén L, Anttonen A, Sodhro A H, Alam M, Juntti M, Yla-Jaaski A, Sauter T, Gurtov A, Ylianttila M, Riekki J (2000). Machine Learning Meets Communication Networks: Current Trends and Future Challenges. IEEE Access, 8, 223418 structures. Different scenarios are simulated Albert Treytl with these models and algorithms for control  Gusenbauer G, Oezelt H, Fischbacher J, Kovacs A, Zhao P, Woodcock T G, Schrefl T (2020). Extracting local switching fields in permanent magnets using machine evaluated with the partial inclusion of real data. COORDINATION learning. npj Computational Materials, 6, 89 Technical University of Vienna  Kovacs A, Fischbacher J, Gusenbauer M, Oezelt H, Herper H C, Vekilova O Y, Nieves P, Arapan S, Schrefl T (2020). Computational design of rare-earth reduced permanent magnets. Engineering, 6, 148 PARTNERS  Jasperneite J, Sauter T, Wollschlaeger M (2020). Why We Need Automation Models: Handling Complexity in Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things. IEEE Industrial Nymea GmbH Electronics Magazine, 14(1), 29-40 PowerSolution Energieberatung GmbH  Schrittwieser S, Haslinger M J, Mitteramskogler T, Mühlberger M, Shoshi A, Brückl H, Bauch M, Dimopoulos T, Schmid B, Schotter J (2019). Multifunctional SOLAVOLTA Energie- und Umwelttechnik GmbH nanostructures and nanopocket particles fabricated by nanoimprint lithography. Nanomaterials, 9, 1790 Sonnenplatz Großschönau GmbH Spotty Smart Energy Partner GmbH  Treytl A, Huber E, Sauter T, Kieseberg P (2020). Securing Home Automation Systems against Sensor Manipulation. ERCIM News, 122, 57-58 Associated partner: E-Control  Wurft T, Raberg W, Prügl K, Satz A, Reiss G, Brueckl H (2019). Evolution of magnetic vortex formation in micron-sized disks. Applied Physics Letters, 115, 132407

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 64 Migration and Globalization Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Migration and Globalization 65

Future Scenarios of European Migration

Migration is a phenomenon characterized by numerous uncertainties. Policy must Quantifying Migration Scenarios for take account of this in order to control Better Policy – QuantMig the complex processes and interactions FUNDING between the different types of migratory EU – Horizon 2020 flows, whether voluntary or forced. A comprehensive quantitative method set DURATION allows migration processes to be ana- 2020–2023 lyzed and explanations developed for cur- rent migration, and estimates produced DEPARTMENT Migration and Globalization for future levels. PROJECT LEAD Dealing with migration has now become a Mathias Czaika key issue of European policy. If we are to find appropriate responses, it is first necessary to PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS arrive at a better understanding of the starting Heidrun Bohnet Simona Schreier position. The QuantMig project investigates Lucas Skrabal what migration drivers will play a significant Societies are shaped by migration in multiple ways: not only Akira Soto-Nishimura role in 21st century Europe. When generating Federica Zardo demographically, economically, socially and politically, but also in terms scenarios, the aim is to reflect the complexity of culture and religion. Conversely, migration itself is influenced by of these drivers and the associated uncertain- COORDINATION University of Southampton (UK) broader social processes such as globalization, aging, climate change or ties. At a practical level, the project deals with the question of how to improve and harmo- digitalization. Migration is thus at once a driving force and an expression of PARTNERS nize migration data in Europe. International Institute for Applied Systems wider transformation processes in society. The research carried out by the Analysis – IIASA department investigates these relationships, focusing on three interlinked Managing Uncertainties Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der The QuantMig project is unique for its inte- Wissenschaften e. V. topics: firstly, the integration of migrants and impact of migration grated approach to analyzing the uncertainties Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute – KNAW (Netherlands) on social cohesion and inequality, the job market, health, education, of migration, as it incorporates both the con- Peace Research Institute Oslo () diaspora and youth; secondly, causes of migration and transnational ceptual and theoretical levels and uses statis- (Norway) processes with a substantive focus on dynamic interdependencies tical modeling for scenarios and simulations. The project examines migratory processes at of migration, globalization, development and conflicts; and thirdly, multiple analytical levels, from the individual migration policy and governance of migration and integration, focusing – the decisions taken by the individual – to on immigration / integration policy, policy on asylum-seekers and refugees processes at macro level, which are then brought together in the resulting simulations and measures for their return. and forecasts.

The results will supply tools for dealing with the uncertainties of future migration, from Pictured short-term operational responses to long-term (f. l. t. r. & top down) strategic planning. Anna Faustmann Heidrun Bohnet Lydia Theresia Rössl Mathias Czaika Friedrich Altenburg Federica Zardo Albert Kraler

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 66 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Migration and Globalization Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Migration and Globalization 67

Bundled Integration Knowledge Access Services to Rights for Practice for Migrants

The SPRING project takes stock of knowl- integration policy procedures for newly arrived Through the development and use of and communication skills and to improve edge on integration policies, collects migrants is likewise planned, as well as an intelligent technologies, the project aims their understanding of the framework and systematic information on integration evaluation toolkit which enables the impact of to make it easier for migrants to access procedures involved in the relevant bureau- practices, and promotes new approaches integration efforts to be measured. services to which they are entitled and to cratic systems. This approach is focused on to evaluation and learning, engaging both extend their understanding of their rights. the users and their individual capabilities and with academic experts on integration and easyRights is under development and in characteristics. communities of practice on integration, use in Birmingham, Larissa, Palermo and including policy makers. Málaga. The intention is for migrants to become more autonomous, so not only The arrival of large numbers of refugees and saving themselves and public service-pro- other migrants in 2015 and the politicization viders time, but also cutting costs and of migration as a consequence thereof repre- effort for administrative agencies. sented a turning point, the effects of which on Enabling Immigrants to Easily different social spheres are still making them- State administration procedures present even Know and Exercise their Rights – selves felt today. One consequence of the many citizens with challenges due to the easyRights events in 2015 is investment in both practical Sustainable PRactices of INteGration legal terminology and complex processes measures for the integration of newly arrived involved. For migrants, who neither speak FUNDING – SPRING EU – Horizon 2020 migrants and in the study of their integra- the language, nor are sufficiently familiar tion and the impact of the measures taken. FUNDING with the practices of their host country it is DURATION The sheer volume of practical and scientific EU – Horizon 2020 generally even more difficult to exercise their 2020–2022 knowledge calls for synthesis of the acquired rights. In consequence, the majority of social findings and structures to make accessible DURATION services, from social housing through public DEPARTMENT relevant, often highly localized knowledge, 2021–2023 healthcare to language courses, then prove to Migration and Globalization and to promote the exchange of knowledge be inaccessible. The easyRights project sees DEPARTMENT PROJECT LEAD and learning beyond different political levels, Migration and Globalization such services as interfaces to these rights Lydia Rössl countries and languages. and thus, subsequently, as a key factor for the PROJECT LEAD social participation of immigrants. PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Best Practices and Evaluation Albert Kraler Christina Khoury The project will provide the various stake- Better Procedures and Digital Support Federica Zardo PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS holder groups with relevant knowledge. The Fundamental barriers confronting immigrants Hakan Kilic COORDINATION aim is to improve the competencies of the Lydia Theresia Rössl seeking to access social services and the Politecnico di Milano – POLIMI (Italy) stakeholders regarding the integration of Isabella Skrivanek complex procedures they face in the process migrants, as well as the ability of stakeholders Manfred Zentner are analyzed with the targeted employment of PARTNERS to reflect on and evaluate their own proce- all relevant actors and stakeholders involved 21c Consultancy Limited (UK) dures themselves. To this end, Best Practices COORDINATION in the development and dissemination of the Aalborg University () ISMU Foundation – Foundation for Initiatives and BIC Euronova SA (Spain) are collected and presented on an online Studies on Multi-Ethnicity (Italy) easyRights services, e. g., service-providers, Birmingham City Council (UK) portal and practitioners provided with tools public administrative agencies, their staff and Capeesh (Norway) to show how such practices from specific PARTNERS migrants. Digital solutions and add-ons for Christar International Inc (USA) national, regional or local contexts might be Erasmus University Rotterdam (Netherlands) services offered by the pilot cities are devel- Institute of Entrepreneurship Development – iED translated to their own sphere. A manual of Migration Policy Institute Europe (Belgium) oped in a continuous co-creation / co-design (Greece) International Catholic Migration Commission process, with the aim of supporting imple- Larissa (Greece) Europe VZW (Belgium) LINKS Foundation – Leading Innovation & Knowl- International Centre for Migration Policy Develop- mentation of, and access to, services and edge for Society (Italy) ment – ICMPD (Austria) helping migrants to exercise their rights. In Norwegian University of Science and Technology – Migration Policy Group – MPG (Belgium) addition, further work is underway on devel- NTNU (Norway) SOLIDAR (Belgium) oping a web-based platform and mobile apps Palermo (Italy) YOUNGMINDS SRL (Romania) to assist migrants with acquiring language University of Thessaly (Greece)

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 68 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Migration and Globalization Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Migration and Globalization 69

Further Projects Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination

 How Migration Policy Works at Local Level  Aligning Migration Management and the Science-to-public: Science-to-science: Whole-COMM analyzes the integration of post- Migration-Development Nexus 2014 migrants in small to medium-sized towns and The management of migration and the interactions  Dialogforum Migration and Integration:  Hosting the Faculty Talk of the University for rural areas. This project examines communities between migration and development are the subject In 2020 and 2021 the Department for Migration and Continuing Education Krems, topic “Arab Spring, from a holistic perspective and by means of a sys- of the ongoing research under the MIGNEX project. Globalization is once again holding the Dialogforum 10 Years On”, June 29, 2020 tematic comparative study across different coun- MIGNEX is driven by one overarching objective: Migration and Integration, set up in 2010, as an tries and localities. The aim is to acquire scientific Contribute to more effective and coherent migration important platform for the dissemination of knowl-  International Research seminars: findings on the dynamics and mechanisms involved management through evidence-based understanding edge and exchanges between scientists, politicians “Emigration in South-Eastern Europe – Is the region in the interaction between integration policy and of the linkages between development and migration. and practitioners. losing its future?” (November 20, 2020); “Internally social cohesion and fragmentation at local level, so Fieldwork is underway in ten home and transit coun- Displaced Persons and International Refugee Law” making a contribution to political debate. tries as the foundation for in-depth analyses, for ex-  Events in the framework of Dialogforum for ex- (February 12, 2021) Funding: ample to better identify the role of the EU in migration changes with practitioners (virtual and in person): EU – Horizon 2020 and the effectiveness of its approach in collaborating “Between School and Family – Offers for Female Project lead: with third countries. Through an evidence-based un- Adolescents” (September 29, 2020, Graz), Discussion Albert Kraler derstanding of these interdependencies, it is hoped of Aspects of Migration; “Lifeworld Education – Chal- Coordination: that the management of migration can be made more lenges for Adolescents with a Migrant Background” Collegio Carlo Alberto (Italy) coherent and thus effective. (October 15, 2020, Innsbruck); topic Migrant Entre- Funding: preneurship, Exchanges between Care Facilities and EU – Horizon 2020 Counselors, event in Krems (November 3–4, 2020) Project lead: Mathias Czaika  Symposium Dürnstein: Coordination: The department acts on behalf of the University for Con- Peace Research Institute Oslo – PRIO (Norway) tinuing Education Krems as a cooperation partner for the annual platform concerning issues such as migration.

 OSCE manual: After more than ten years, it was time to update the “Handbook for Labour Migration”, and this task was taken on by the department, which also digitized the manual. It is used by decision-makers as a sound basis for controlling labor migration in countries of origin and destination.

Selected Publications

 Adovor E, Czaika M, Docquier F, Moullan Y. Medical brain drain: How many, where and why? Journal of Health Economics 2021; 76, March 2021, 102409: doi.org/10.1016/j. jhealeco.2020.102409.  Biffl G, Martin Ph (2020). Integrating Low-Skilled Migrants in the Digital Age: European and US Experience, university press “Edition Donau-Universität Krems”, Krems.  Czaika M (2020). National Migration Policy: Nature, Patterns and Effects. In: Bastia T, Skeldon R (Eds.) Routledge Handbook of Migration and Development: 298-309, Routledge, London.  Czaika M, Kraler A (2020). Refugees. In: Stone J, Dennis R, Rizova P, Hou X (Eds.) The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Race, Ethnicity, and Nationalism, pp. 321-348, Wiley Blackwell, Hoboken, NJ.  Natter K, Czaika M, de Haas H. Political party ideology and immigration policy reform: an empirical enquiry. Political Research Exchange, 2020;2 (1): doi.org/10.1080/247473 6X.2020.1735255.  Kraler A, Katsiaficas C, Wagner M (2020). Climate Change and Migration. Legal and policy challenges and responses to environmentally induced migration, EU Parliament, Brussels: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2020/655591/IPOL_STU(2020)655591_EN.pdf  Hynek N, Franczukowska A, Rössl L, Schreder G, Faustmann A, Krczal E, Skrivanek I, Sommer I, Zenk L. A System Model of Post-Migration Risk Factors Affecting the Mental Health of Unaccompanied Minor Refugees in Austria — A Multi-Step Modeling Process Involving Expert Knowledge from Science and Practice. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020;17(14):5058. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17145058

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 70 PhD Migration Studies Cohesive and Innovative Societies > PhD Migration Studies 71

 Afghan Diaspora in Europe: The Agents of  Return and Reintegration Processes: a Focus Peace and Development on Nigeria Name: Safi Ali Ahmad (ongoing) Name: Simona Janine Schreier (ongoing) Title of Dissertation: Afghan Diaspora in Europe: Title of Dissertation: From Returning Back to Reinte- The Agents of Peace and Development gration? A Focus on Nigeria

Description of Project: Afghan migration over the Description of Project: The assisted voluntary return last forty years can be attributed to invasions, civil war of migrants is ever-present in politics, as it is one of and the rule of the hardline Taliban government. This the attempts to reduce irregular migration. To obtain gave rise to a large number of Afghan diaspora com- deeper insights into the concept of return and rein- munities and transnational organizations in many Eu- tegration, this project examines the special national ropean countries. The project examines the manner features and general procedures existing between in which the diaspora organizations and their mem- Austria and Nigeria as the country of origin of migrants bers play a part in the development of their "home in relation to their return and reintegration. country". Funding: Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Nie- Funding: Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Nie- derösterreich m.b.H. derösterreich m.b.H.  Quantifying Migration Scenarios for Better  Measures for a More Successful Social Inte- Policy? gration of Young Syrian Refugees Into Host Soci- The PhD program Migration Studies contributes to ensuring an improved Name: Akira Soto-Nishimura (ongoing) eties: A Comparative Study of the Social Inte- understanding of issues relating to migration. It examines the backgrounds gration and Sense of Belonging of Young Syrian Title of Dissertation: Connecting (anti-)Immigrant and drivers of migration, the challenges facing emigration and immigration Refugees in Austria Attitude to Migration Policy, Internal Migration, and International Migration countries, as well as the significance of integration measures to ensure Name: Christina Khoury (ongoing) Description of Project: This project is devoted to social cohesion and quality of life. In the following ongoing PhD projects Title of Dissertation: Measures of a More Suc- the effect of the attitude (hostile to immigration) on cessful Social Integration of Young Syrian Refugees policy and internal and outward migration. It exam- are presented. in Austria ines the feedback effect between policy and attitude, Description of Project: This project examines the domestic migration as a response to the influx of social integration of young Syrian refugees in Austria. international migrants, and the impact of the attitude Different perspectives of social integration are cov- on the immigration of different categories of migrants. ered in three subprojects, which examine the effects EU – Horizon 2020 of social integration on mental wellbeing and the role Funding: of musical activities to further social integration. In addition, the policy and practices of European govern- ments in influencing the social integration of refugees is also analyzed.

Funding: Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Nie- Pictured derösterreich m.b.H. (f. l. t. r. & top down) Gabriele De Luca Manfred Zentner Dino Pitoski, MSc MBA Margarita Fourer Hakan Kilic Safi Ali Ahmad Akira Soto-Nishimura Simona Janine Schreier

Not Pictured Shaddin Almasri Christina Khoury Isabella Skrivanek Zina Weisner

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 72 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > PhD Migration Studies Cohesive and Innovative Societies > PhD Migration Studies 73

 The Significance of Extra-Curricular Activities  PhD Migration and Social Peace – Interdisci-  Smart Migration and Asylum Governance  Smart Migration and Asylum Governance for the Integration of Adolescents with a Migrant plinary Environmental Research in the Frame- Shaddin Almasri (ongoing) Zina Weisner (ongoing) Background work of the PhD Program “Migration Studies” by Name: Name: selected students Refugee Inclusion — for The Migration-Develop- Name: Manfred Zentner (ongoing) Title of Dissertation: Title of Dissertation: Whom? The of Nationality-Based ment-Security Complex from a Multi-Level Gover- Name: Margarita Fourer (ongoing) Title of Dissertation: The Role and the Impact of the Refugee Aid and Inclusion Policy nance Perspective Third Sector – Especially of Extra-Curricular Youth Title of Dissertation: Effect of Offshore Processing Work – for the Integration of Migrants in the Society Arrangements on Receiving States Description of the Project: This research explores Description of Project: The project aims to con- the recent history behind international cooperation on tribute to a better understanding of the effects of Description of Project: The integration of children Description of the Project: The project contributes the issuance of refugee aid. It critically analyzes how political measures in the area of migration and asylum and adolescents does not just take place in the set- to the understanding of the impact externalisation problems arise for refugees in host countries as these policy. It specifically examines local impacts and ting of school and vocational training, but to a major policies have not only on the asylum seekers and aid structures often determined specific nationalities repercussions of EU external migration governance extent also in the extra-curricular environment. The refugees themselves, but also on the political and of refugees as beneficiaries of support, inclusion and on migrant and refugee protection. Specific case aim of this project is to explore the role of extra-cur- legal development of states hosting, processing and protection policies, leaving unconsidered populations studies include the practices and policies of the Euro- ricular offers in individual integration processes from settling the refugee. Beyond the national, the project excluded from these support mechanisms. This will pean border regime, as well as the implications of EU a retrospective and perspective stance, as well as delves into the effect of these policies on the host look at both historical events and recent cases with a aid (“root cause”) policies for managing migration in the integrative function of relevant organizations and communities. focus on aid compacts in Jordan, Ethiopia and Turkey. third countries. facilities. This project will contribute a new understanding Funding: Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund – of these often critized aid deals by considering the Funding: Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) Funding: Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Nie- Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs (BMI) impacts they have had on populations that were derösterreich m.b.H. excluded from these deals and the policies and prac-  PhD Migration and Social Peace – Interdisci- tices that followed.  Labour market integration of refugees in wel- plinary Environmental Research in the Frame- fare states: Austria in international comparison work of the PhD Program "Migration Studies" by Funding: Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs (BMI) selected students Name: Isabella Skrivanek (ongoing)  Smart Migration and Asylum Governance Title of Dissertation: Refugees and their impact Name: Dino Pitoski (ongoing) on integration and welfare systems. Lessons from Name: Gabriele De Luca (ongoing) Austria. Title of Dissertation: The Complex Network of Human Migration: Inputs for European Migration Pol- Title of Dissertation: Assessing Extraterritorial Inter- Description of Project: While integration policy icies ventions on the Basis of Agent-Based Modelling has evolved as a field of public action and policy in many European states, its features and scope differ Description of Project: The project contributes to Description of the Project: The focus of the between states. The present dissertation project the efficient control of European migratory flows and PhD research is on migration policy interventions considers the integration measures that have evolved the further development of a joint European asylum “upstream” that are measured in or by countries of for refugees in Austria since 2015 as a starting point policy. To this end, teaching and education are com- origin and transit. It also studies how such measures to examine the complex structures and interactions bined with transdisciplinary research in order to impact on migration decisions and what this implies between different levels of governance, policy areas improve the decision-making basis for stakeholders. for the design of effective governance and coopera- and actors. It analyses when, how and why integra- The target groups of this project are the government tion. The methodology through which the research tion policy represents a new distinct policy field in agencies, political decision-makers, scientists, as is implemented is agent-based modeling for social Austria, focuses on the specific role of federal states well as civil society. sciences. in this regard, and discusses implications of these Funding: Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund – Funding: Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) developments for the Austrian welfare state model. Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) Funding: Anniversary Fund of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, 2016–2019

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 74 Evidence-based Medicine Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Evidence-based Medicine 75

Answering Practice-Related Questions from Nursing / Care Professionals

The Evidence-based Information Center nursing professionals to undertake decisions for Nursing Staff based at the University based on the best information available. for Continuing Education Krems was Implementing care decisions based on launched in October 2019. In the form of research results provides a peace of mind to rapid reviews, the center’s team provides healthcare professionals in highly demanding straightforward summaries of scientific jobs and relieves caregivers of resource-inten- studies to answer practice-relevant ques- sive, technically-demanding research tasks tions posed by the nursing staff of Lower which often require access to the most up-to- Austrian hospitals. date databanks as well as specialized analyt- ical skills. Each month hundreds of new studies rel- evant to the nursing sector are published. This service is free of charge and is not com- Processing such large volumes of data with mercially sponsored. In addition to the web- varying levels of quality is virtually impossible site, info packages and presentations on the for healthcare professionals. This is where EbN Information Center are provided to Lower the Evidence-based Information Center for Austria’s community and university hospitals. Nursing Staff platform comes in. The center provides easy-to-access, user-specific evi- One of today’s major challenges is filtering out facts and trustworthy dence-based knowledge. Nursing staff from knowledge from the flood of information available. Sound health decisions, Lower Austria’s community and university for individuals and society, require accurate data. The Department for hospitals can directly submit their questions Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation meticulously analyzes and to the EbN (Evidence-based Nursing) Infor- mation Center using an online form on the independently processes scientific findings for physicians, nursing website. staff / caregivers, patients and decision-makers in the healthcare sector. Top priorities include the creation of systematic evidence syntheses, When a question is submitted, the center first conducts a systematic search of the the evaluation of health-promoting programs, and the dissemination of Nursing Care Information Center – literature, then evaluates relevant studies, and ebninfo scientific findings. In addition, the Department works at finding new ways finally summarizes the research results in the to deliver quality information faster while adhering to the same quality form of a rapid review. The rapid review is FUNDING Pictured standards. then sent to the healthcare professional who Health and Social Fund of Lower Austria (NÖGUS) (f. l. t. r. & top down) originally requested the information and also Gerald Gartlehner published on the center’s website for use by DURATION Barbara Nußbaumer-Streit 2019–2023 Irma Klerings the general public. Angela Kaminski-Hartenthaler DEPARTMENT Andrea Chapman Taking Evidence-based Decisions Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation Anna Glechner The range of topics researched thus far Andreea Dobrescu Viktoria Titscher include questions on preventive measures, PROJECT LEAD Isolde Sommer hospital hygiene, use of complementary care Martin Fangmeyer Lisa Affengruber methods and more. Rapid reviews enable Christina Kien PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Ursula Griebler Andreea Dobrescu Jana Meixner Irma Klerings Gernot Wagner Verena Mayr Patricia Julia Harlfinger Verena Mayr Ana Toromanova Martin Fangmeyer Bernd Kerschner www.ebninfo.at Ana Toromanova Ludwig Grillich

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 76 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Evidence-based Medicine Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Evidence-based Medicine 77

Encouraging Increased Social Activities Treating Depression and Contacts amongst Older People Correctly

Older people often suffer from loneliness, In Austria over six percent of adults will which is associated with an increased Social Isolation and Loneliness suffer from a depressive disorder at some Pharmacological Versus Non- mortality risk of possibly up to 26 %, as among Older People in Lower point in their lives. In America this figure Pharmacological Interventions for well as a greater frequency of physical Austria: Steps towards Evidence-in- exceeds 16 %. To help such people, the the Treatment of Major Depressive formed Health Promotion and Pre- Disorder – ACP Depression and mental disorders. To address loneli- team at Cochrane is comparing the effi- ventive Practice – NÖG_SozIso-EiP ness amongst older people, the research cacy of antidepressants with alternative FUNDING project strives to identify suitable mea- FUNDING pharmacological and non-pharmacolog- American College of Physicians (ACP) sures to encourage older people to in- Health and Social Fund of Lower Austria (NÖGUS) ical treatments. crease their social activities and contacts. DURATION DURATION Depressive disorders are not only associated 2020–2022 In Austria about 37 % of the population live 2020–2022 with increased morbidity and mortality, but DEPARTMENT alone. In persons over age 65, 51 % live alone. also a reduced quality of life. Physical com- DEPARTMENT Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation Retirement and separation from family mem- Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation plaints, an unhealthy lifestyle, and comorbid- bers and friends often comes hand-in-hand ities can negatively affect a sufferer’s gen- PROJECT LEAD with aging and restrictions in mobility and PROJECT LEAD eral state of health even more. People with Gerald Gartlehner perceptive faculties. This in turn often leads Ludwig Grillich depression are also 20 times more likely to to frequent feelings of isolation and loneliness commit suicide. In fact, over 50 % of suicides PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Lisa Affengruber amongst elderly individuals. The risk pre- PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS take place in the context of acute depressive Angela Kaminski-Hartenthaler Andrea Chapman sented by loneliness is on a par with that for Viktoria Titscher disorders. To offer such people appropriate Andreea Dobrescu the consumption of tobacco. Elderly suffering therapy, the team at Cochrane investigates Emma Persad from loneliness are not only subject to an COORDINATION the efficacy of different treatment options. Ana Toromanova increased risk of mortality that can be up to University for Continuing Education Krems Gernot Wagner 26 % higher than those who are not lonely but Investigating Therapy Options are also at greater risk of physical and mental PARTNER Most persons with severe depression are »Tut gut!« Gesundheitsvorsorge GmbH health disorders. In light of increasing levels offered second-generation antidepressants of life expectancy and the growing number of in primary care. Other initial therapy options people over the age of 60, loneliness pres- include psychotherapies or complementary ents a key challenge in terms of public health and alternative treatment methods, such as policy in aging societies worldwide. acupuncture. Following initial treatment how- ever, only about 30 % of patients see remis- Finding and Implementing Interventions sion of their symptoms. In such cases, it is The research project develops and implements recommended changing the antidepressant or suitable measures for encouraging increased adding a second drug. social activities and contacts among older people. The research project identifies poten- The aim here is to produce a systematic tially efficacious interventions based on the review of the efficacy of antidepressants in best knowledge available, selects appropriate comparison with alternative and non-phar- measures in a collaborative decision-making macological interventions. This is designed process founded on the “Evidence to Decision to support the development of clinical guide- Framework”, and assists with their adaptation lines. Furthermore, the systematic review is and implementation at a scientific level. A final meant to show whether alternative pharma- evaluation assess the outcomes. cological and non-pharmacological options are effective in the case of patients for whom antidepressants did not work.

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 78 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Evidence-based Medicine Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Evidence-based Medicine 79

Further Projects Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination

 Effectiveness of Quarantine with COVID-19  Rapid Review Methods in Comparison  Organization of ongoing workshops and sem- At the request of the World Health Organization, the Swift decisions are often essential, particularly in inars on methods of evidence-based medicine team at Cochrane Austria assessed the effectiveness healthcare. Yet systematic reviews, due to their meth- (e. g.: critical evaluation of studies, systematic litera- of quarantine measures to control the COVID-19 pan- odology, can often take up to two years to conduct. ture search, statistics) at the University for Continuing demic. The results of the rapid review demonstrate Rapid reviews, however, can be completed in a matter Education Krems and with external organizations the importance of quarantining individuals who have of weeks or months by streamlining methodological and universities (e. g. Karl Landsteiner University of come into contact with an infected person in order steps. This research investigates various methods in Health Sciences). to reduce the number of infections and deaths. Also, an effort to determine which methods improve the results show that quarantine was most effective, and efficiency and quality of the review process and can  Dissemination of scientific findings to the cost less, when it started earlier. Combining quaran- thus contribute to the development of minimum stan- scientific community and science-to-public by tine measures with other prevention and control initia- dards for rapid reviews. means of: tives had an even greater impact. Funding: Scientific publications (2020: 35 publications in SCI, Funding: Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung SSCI, A&HCI journals), presentations at scientific World Health Organization (WHO) Niederösterreich m.b.H. congresses and via self-generated project web pages Project lead: Project lead: (www.medizin-transparent.at, www.ebminfo.at, Gerald Gartlehner, Lisa Affengruber, Department for Evidence-based www.ebninfo.at, www.cochrane.at, Barbara Nußbaumer-Streit, Department for Medicine and Evaluation www.wissenwaswirkt.org, Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation www.gemeinsam-gut-entscheiden.at), and via news- letters and social media (Twitter, Facebook).  Depression in Children and Adolescents Worldwide, around three in a hundred children  Regular appearances in the media: and adolescents are affected by depression. Many In 2020 staff from the department made 344 appear- of those affected will experience a recurrence of ances in the media. depressive episodes in just a few years. This Health Technology Assessment compares psychotherapy to other treatments in regards to effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness for depression in children and adolescents. It also examines the legal, ethical, social and organizational challenges of treatment choices. Funding: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) Project lead: Barbara Nußbaumer-Streit, Department for Selected Publications Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation  Chevance A, Ravaud P, Tomlinson A, Le Berre C, Teufer B, Touboul S, Fried EI, Gartlehner G,et al. Identifying outcomes for depression that matter to patients, informal caregivers, and health-care professionals: qualitative content analysis of a large international online survey. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(8):692-702.  Gartlehner G, Affengruber L, Titscher V, et al. Single-reviewer abstract screening missed 13 percent of relevant studies: a crowd-based, randomized controlled trial. J Clin Epidemiol. 2020;121:20-28.  Gartlehner G, Vander Schaaf EB, Orr C, Kennedy SM, Clark R, Viswanathan M. Screening for Hypertension in Children and Adolescents: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA. 2020;324(18):1884-1895.  Nussbaumer-Streit B, Klerings I, Dobrescu AI, Persad E, Stevens A, Garritty C, Kamel C, Affengruber L, King VJ, Gartlehner G. Excluding non-English publications from evidence-syntheses did not change conclusions: a meta-epidemiological study. J Clin Epidemiol. 2020;118:42-54.  Nussbaumer-Streit B, Mayr V, Dobrescu AI, Chapman A, Persad E, Klerings I, Wagner G, Siebert U, Christof C, Zachariah C, Gartlehner G. Quarantine alone or in combination with other public health measures to control COVID-19: a rapid review. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;4:CD013574.  Sommer I, Teufer B, Szelag M, Nussbaumer-Streit B, Titscher V, Klerings I, Gartlehner G. The performance of anthropometric tools to determine obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):12699.  Viswanathan M, Kahwati L, Jahn B, Giger K, Dobrescu AI, Hill C, Klerings I, Meixner J, Persad E, Teufer B, Gartlehner G. Universal screening for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection: a rapid review. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2020(9).

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 80 Sustainable Habitats Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Sustainable Habitats 81

Future-proof Passive Cooling of Buildings

The focus of the project is experimental lation approaches for the revised version of thermal management of brick masses ÖNORM B 8110-6. Furthermore, solar heat via systematic charging and discharging inputs via opaque building components are to during the day and night. Natural night be included with greater precision in the stan- ventilation as the core function of dis- dard for calculation the heating and cooling charge in combination with optimized demand, for both, residential and non-residen- control strategies is evaluated in situ. To tial buildings. this end, two identical brick simulation rooms are examined by means of com- prehensive monitoring under identical framework conditions.

One effect of climate change, that is directly noticeable in the building sector, is the over- heating of indoor spaces, which must be coun- tered accordingly in new construction and ren- CoolBRICK – Development of ovation. To guarantee thermal interior comfort Normative Calculation Approaches the whole year, it is necessary to find or utilize for Passive Ventilative Night Cooling The research performed by the Department for Building and Environment resource-conserving systems that are as resil- Strategies – Utilization of Brick revolves around developing solutions to practical questions relating to con- ient as possible in terms of passive cooling Storage Masses struction and real estate. The environmental challenges facing this sector, strategies. By dispensing with active cooling FUNDING above all climate change, but also those of rapid growth in land use and the technology, the plan is to keep the environ- mental footprint over the life cycle as low as FFG Austrian Research Promotion Agency, Collective Research program line effects this has on settlement structures, provide the framework for this possible, which has a positive impact on the research. Factors that need to be considered include economic, ecological creation of affordable housing. The CoolBRICK DURATION and social sustainability in construction, secondly, building climate adap- project determines the cooling potential of 2020–2022 natural night ventilation with different control tation and utilization of existing buildings in the context of climate change, strategies for automated windows. DEPARTMENTS and thirdly, economic and ecological life cycle assessment of historical Building and Environment Integrated Sensor Systems buildings. The research objective is to develop clear statements and recom- Optimizing Heating and Cooling Demand mendations for practical action by applying the principle of sustainability. One result of the project will be a comparison PROJECT LEAD of effectiveness of these different ventila- Markus Winkler tive cooling strategies. These findings will be incorporated into a planning guideline to PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS facilitate the assessment of night ventilation Daniela Trauninger Albert Treytl potential, and subsequently into the adapta- Pictured tion proposals of the ÖNORM B 8110-3 stan- COORDINATION (f. l. t. r. & top down) dard. Results derived from the storage mass Stone / ceramic research association of FV Steine- Helmut Floegl management and relevant to the heating Keramik (trade association of the stone / ceramic Christina Ipser period will be brought in the normative calcu- industry), Austria Alice Rutter-Lehner Christine Rottenbacher PARTNERS Richard Sickinger Fachhochschule Salzburg GmbH Bernhard Kram Kompetenzzentrum Bauforschung GmbH Rudolf Passawa Daniela Trauninger Velux Austria GmbH Klaus Winiwarter Verband Österreichischer Ziegelwerke (Austrian Markus Winkler brickwork association) Gregor Radinger Tania Berger

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 82 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Sustainable Habitats 83

Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination

 Qualification seminar ClimB!:  Third Real-Estate Day of the Future: The construction sector acts as an effective lever With the Day of the Future, held in 2020 as an online for making an important contribution to achieving event, the Department for Building and Environment Austria’s climate objectives. It simultaneously makes regularly puts the spotlight on the real-estate sector it possible to address the effects of climate change, from different professional and scientific perspec- which are already clearly noticeable, and to face up to tives. Taking place on 14 October 2020 under the the associated challenges. With the qualification sem- motto “It could get hot…”, the third Real-Estate Day inar sponsored by the Austrian Research Promotion of the Future, which included presentations, work- Agency (FFG), the Department for Building and Envi- shops and a panel discussion, was devoted to the ronment at the University for Continuing Education effects of climate change on the property sector. Krems made systemic solution knowledge accessible to experts in building / neighborhood planning at the start of 2021. The objective: climate-resilient housing.

 Building Resilient Urban Communities (BreUCom): In India, marginalized urban settlements are often severely affected by natural disasters. Traditional approaches of land-use planning do not fulfill the demands made on fast-changing cities in the context of climate change. The Erasmus+ project BReUCom supports collaboration between Indian schools of architecture and develops short programs geared to urban problems aimed at professionals, practitioners and staff of NGOs.

Selected Publications

 Braunisch K, Fuhrmann K, Ledl R (2021). Handbuch Immobilienbewirtschaftung, Linde Verlag, Vienna  Höltl A, Berger T, Bates R, Desta M K, Lewis A, Semunugus D, Indorewala H (2020). The Nexus of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and their Link to Quality of Life: A Case of Urbanization in Ethiopia and India. In: Martinez J, Mikkelsen C A, Phillips R (eds.) Handbook of Quality of Life and Sustainability, pp. 113-138, Springer Verlag, Cham  Höltl A, Brandtweiner R, Bates R, Berger T (2020). The Interactions of Sustainable Development Goals: The Case of Urban Informal Settlements in Ethiopia.International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning 15 (3), 287-294.  Neuhold E (Eds.) (2020). 2nd Immobilien-Zukunftstag. Lebenswerte Stadtquartiere, Edition Donau-Universität Krems  Rottenbacher C (2020). Assessment to Negotiate Cultural Ecosystem Services of Places. In: Roque A Ch, Brito C, Veracini C (Eds.) Peoples, Nature and Environments: Learning to Live Together, pp. 220-235, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK  Reisinger K, Hitthaler F, Kopeinig G, Plas C, Platzdasch V, Reiter-Benisch M, Schöfmann P, Stumpf W, Wolf B, Ziegler M (2020). Klimaneutrale Gebäude – Posi- tionspapier der IG Lebenszyklus Bau. Vienna

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 84 Food Chains and Ecotoxicology Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Food Chains and Ecotoxicology 85

Climate Change Influences Fish Development

Food quality and water temperatures Sustainable Food Production have an influence on fishes’ development. The results not only provide insight into the A lack of omega-3 long-chain polyunsat- development and impact of climate change urated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), as well as on salmonids, but will also have a significant changing temperatures, can have a bio- influence on fish farms. Among other things, chemical impact on brain and eye tissues. it is hoped that they will contribute to devel- oping an ecologically sustainable approach to In periods of climate change, fishes are often food production for aquaculture fishes. exposed to temperature fluctuations or vari- ations in food supply. This research project therefore examines the effects of water temperature and a lack of omega-3 polyun- saturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA). Both factors were seen to affect fishes’ metabolism and the biochemical composition and morphology of fishes’ brains, as well as behavior, learning ability and fitness. Research on aquatic ecosystems is the primary mission of WasserCluster Trout as Model Species Lunz. As part of that mission, its Aquatic Lipid Research and Ecotoxi- To examine the influence on fish develop- cology research group (LIPTOX), established through the University for ment, the project took a closer look at trout. Continuing Education Krems, focuses specifically on aquatic food webs. The fish were raised in various test series with different water temperatures and dif- Aquatic organisms ingest dietary nutrients, but also toxic substances. ferent feed. Standard behavioral studies were LIPTOX investigates the source and composition of the foods found then used to test their ability to learn new Consequences of Dietary Fatty Acids in different bodies of water. Of particular interest are questions as to tasks. In addition, oxygen consumption was and Temperature on Cognitive measured at rest and after movement to Capacity and Fitness of Fish – which foods have the most nutrient-rich and physiologically necessary determine the energy used by metabolic pro- SalmoPUFA compounds, especially lipids and their fatty acids, and which foods cesses. Somatic growth, fish size and condi- FUNDING convey the fewest toxic substances. This is important not only for aquatic tion were also recorded. The lipid composition FWF – Austrian Science Fund – organisms, but also for human beings as end users at the top of the food of liver, muscle tissue and brain were also Program analyzed using gas chromatography, and brain chain. WasserCluster Lunz is a joint research center of the University for morphology was examined via image analysis. DURATION Continuing Education Krems, the University of Vienna, and the University 2019–2021 Pictured (f. l. t. r. & top down) of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. DEPARTMENT Katharina Winter WasserCluster Lunz, Liptox research group Andras Abonyi Libor Závorka PROJECT LEAD Margaux Mathieu-Resuge Martin Kainz Lena Fehlinger Libor Závorka Hannes Hager Martin Kainz COORDINATION Richard Adams Nadine Ebm WasserCluster Lunz / University for Continuing Samuel-Karl Kämmer Education Krems

Not Pictured PARTNER Francine Mathieu Serena Rasconi Lukas Vesely

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 86 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Food Chains and Ecotoxicology Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Food Chains and Ecotoxicology 87

How Plankton Nutrient Flows Across Parasites Interact System Boundaries

Parasite infestation of plankton and its developed, focusing on the transfer of carbon Transport of organic material across In addition, laboratory experiments with effect on diet quality for subsequent by parasites. Direct and indirect effects of ecosystem boundaries can have a deci- spiders investigate whether the spiders have consumers have not been investigated parasites in phytoplankton on plankton biodi- sive influence on the productivity of a preference for aquatic insects, and whether yet. This project examines the effects of versity, the biochemical nutritional quality of neighboring systems. Insects that spend aquatic and terrestrial insects are distin- parasites on plankton biodiversity, on the plankton, and functions of the planktonic their larval stage in the water make a guished in their nutritional quality as food the biochemical nutritional quality of food web are also estimated. substantial contribution to the transport by differences in their PUFA compositions. plankton, and on their function as a food of organic material from inland waters The results of this research will substantially web. The results will provide insight into into neighboring terrestrial systems. This improve our understanding of nutrient flows the interactions between phytoplankton project investigates the quantity and across system boundaries and their signifi- and parasites. quality of nutrient exchange via insects. cance for neighboring habitats.

Parasites in algae, which are located at the Current freshwater ecology research mainly bottom of the aquatic food pyramid, has takes place in rivers or lakes. Little importance received little scientific attention in the past; is accorded to the role of aquatic organisms in to date, most research has focused on their the surrounding terrestrial ecosystems. Trans- impact as pathogens in plants and animals port of organic material across ecosystem such as fishes and mollusks. Molecular anal- boundaries can have a decisive influence yses have revealed a wide range of eukaryotic on the productivity of neighboring systems. parasites in picoplankton (<5 µm), which were Emerging aquatic insects, i. e., insects which Aquatic-Terrestrial Coupling: Export primarily found on chytrid fungi. Alongside spend their larval stage in the water, play an of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from their disease-causing properties, parasites important role in this process. Aquatic Ecosystems via Insects and Possible Consequences for also have various important ecological func- Terrestrial Consumers – AquaTerr tions which have only been described recently. The Significance of Emerging Insects The goal of the project is to quantify the Role of Phytoplankton Fungal FUNDING Understanding the Role of Parasites export of essential biochemical nutrients, FWF – Austrian Science Fund, German Research This research project targets the interactions Parasites in Trophic Transfer and including polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), Foundation (DFG) of phytoplankton parasites in the planktonic Food Web Functioning (Effects of from inland waters via emerging insects. The parasites on plankton communities food web and investigates their role for the significance of these nutrients for terrestrial DURATION – FungUp) ecosystem. Plankton analyses from lakes consumers can then be estimated. To achieve 2019–2022 are combined with laboratory experiments FUNDING this goal, insect traps are installed on various DEPARTMENT involving artificial food webs and with math- FWF – Austrian Science Fund bodies of standing and flowing water. The WasserCluster Lunz ematical models to help researchers under- number of insects can then serve as the basis stand how infestation of phytoplankton by DURATION for a comparative analysis of PUFA exports. PROJECT LEAD parasites influences host co-existence, and 2017–2021 Labeled substrates are also used to estimate Martin Kainz consequently the plankton community. the export, input and distribution of PUFA in DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS WasserCluster Lunz neighboring terrestrial habitats and their con- Lena Fehlinger In addition, the contribution of parasites to tribution to the diet of terrestrial consumers. Dominik Martin-Creuzburg nutritional quality and the spread of infectious PROJECT LEAD Margaux Mathieu-Resuge spores is investigated. Finally, a model of the Martin Kainz Tarn-Preet Parmar food network with phytoplankton parasites is Matthias Pilecky PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Cornelia Twining Andras Abonyi Robert Ptacnik COORDINATION Serena Rasconi Jointly with the University of Konstanz, Germany

COORDINATION PARTNER WasserCluster Lunz University of Konstanz, Germany

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 88 Cohesive and Innovative Societies > Food Chains and Ecotoxicology 89

Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination Further Projects

 Science-to-Science:  Investigating Fishes’ Food Sources Support for PhD studies at the University for Con- The Mitchell River is an unregulated river in northern tinuing Education Krems Australia, known for the riparian forests alongside it. The focus of this research is on nutrient streams  Science-to-Public: in the dry season and in the flood season. For the Participation in the Forschungs-Lern-Labor (FLL) first time worldwide, stable hydrogen isotopes in project [Research Learning Lab] at the Haus der fatty acids are used as biomarkers in fishes to iden- Wildnis in Lunz am See. The Haus der Wildnis is tify which nutrients fishes are eating from which scheduled to open in the spring of 2021. Its exhibi- areas of the river. These findings contribute to bio- tion offers unique insights into the largest ancient diversity and preservation of essential nutrients in woodland in the Alpenbogen region. Experimental ecosystems. research aims to give school-age visitors a closer Funding: look at the ecosystem and the relationships within it Queensland Government, Australia (www.haus-der-wildnis.at). Project lead: Martin Kainz, WasserCluster Lunz, University for  Speaker at the seminar “Water Security for Continuing Education Krems People and Nature – Present to 2050” at the Euro- pean Forum Alpbach 2019. This seminar was part of the Alpbach Learning Missions and continued after the seminar week as an Alpbach Learning Mission (ALM).

Selected Publications

 Guo F, Lee SY, Kainz MJ, Brett MT (2020). Fatty acids as dietary biomarkers in mangrove ecosystems: current status and future perspective. Sci. Total Environ. 735.  Jardine TD, Galloway A, Kainz MJ (2020). Unlocking the power of fatty acids as dietary tracers and metabolic signals in fishes and aquatic invertebrates. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B. 375 : 1804.  Jing M, Lin D, Wu P, Kainz MJ, Bishop K, Yan H, Wang R, Wang Q, Li Q (2020). Effect of aquaculture on mercury and polyunsaturated fatty acids in fishes from reservoirs in Southwest China. Env. Poll.  Kühmayer T, Guo F, Ebm N, Battin TJ, Brett MT, Bunn SE, Fry B, Kainz MJ (2020). Preferential retention of algal carbon in benthic invertebrates – stable isotopes and fatty acids evidence from an outdoor flume experiment. Freshw. Biol., 65; 1200-1209  Parzanini C, Colombo SM, Kainz MJ, Wacker A, Parrish CC, Arts MT (2020). Discrimination between freshwater and marine fish using fatty acids: ecological implica- tions and future perspectives. Environ. Rev.  Tao J, Kennard MJ, Roberts DT, Fry B, Kainz MJ, Chen Y, Bunn SE (2020). Quality and contribution of food sources to Australian lungfish evaluated using fatty acids and stable isotopes. Aquat. Sci. 82:8.  Twining CW, Taipale SJ, Ruess J, Bec A, Martin-Creuzberg D, Kainz MJ (2020). Stable isotopes and fatty acids –current and future perspectives for advancing trophic ecology. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B. 375:20190641.

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 90 Research Report 2020/21 91

Overall university main field of research: Cultural Heritage

Æ Revitalization and Cultural Heritage Æ Collections Management and Image Science

www.donau-uni.ac.at/research 92 Revitalization and Cultural Heritage Cultural Heritage > Revitalization and Cultural Heritage 93

Quantifying Risks to Cultural Heritage

The STRENCH project leverages the has occurred. A WebGIS Tool for the multi- results of several earlier projects on cli- risk assessment of cultural heritage in Central mate change and the conservation of cul- Europe is also being developed that includes tural heritage sites which are at risk from pilot implementation at the local and regional natural disasters, developing ready-to-use levels in the partner countries. These tools climate prediction tools to enable the should provide an easily-accessible overview formulation of customized strategies for of the anticipated risks in the coming decades protecting cultural assets and supporting and facilitate decisions on how cultural assets decision-making by those in positions of can best be prepared for the future. responsibility.

The increasing frequency of extreme weather events and related natural disasters is neg- atively impacting our cultural heritage and STRENgthening resilience of Cultural landscapes. Preserving these presents new Heritage at risk in a changing envi- ronment through proactive transna- challenges that are being addressed by this tional cooperation – STRENCH international research project STRENCH, which aims to improve the ability of the public Climate change is already making its impact felt on historic buildings and FUNDING and private sectors to mitigate the impacts of EU – Interreg Central Europe structures, be it as a result of increasingly frequent natural disasters and climate change and natural hazards on at-risk storm damage or other extreme weather conditions. Another challenge: cultural heritage sites, structures and build- DURATION 2020–2022 Protecting cultural assets and historic centers in the event of earthquakes ings. The project proactively targets the needs and requirements of stakeholders and policy- and from the effects of other disasters. The Department for Building DEPARTMENT makers responsible for disaster preparedness Building and Environment and Environment has centers specializing in the protection of cultural and the protection of cultural assets. It also assets and the preservation of cultural heritage. Their work focuses on seeks to actively involve citizens and local PROJECT LEAD communities in decision-making processes. Anna Kaiser studying the impacts of climate change, increasing the resilience of historic As well as raising awareness for preventive buildings, and protecting and reconstructing historic areas of human protective measures, the project explores PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Christian Hanus Pictured settlement and cultural assets. The Department’s research consistently the optimal design of online decision-support Thomas Horak-Thurwachter (f. l. t. r. & top down) involves solving practical questions in cooperation with experts from the tools and sustainable, transnationally appli- Klaus Winiwarter Petra Hammer cable risk management strategies for cultural Florian Kerschbaumer field. This ensures a high level of knowledge transfer. heritage and landscapes. COORDINATION Elisabetta Meneghini Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Anna Maria Kaiser – National Research Council of Italy (Alessandra Patricia Engel WebGIS Tool for Multi-Risk Assessment Bonazza) Marko Jelusic The project’s objectives cover a wide range, Raffaela Woller Christian Hanus encompassing topics such as sustainable PARTNERS Peter Strasser risk management strategies for safeguarding Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Elisabeth Resch cultural heritage and the related training mea- Czech Academy of Sciences, Darya Haroshka sures, hazard maps of extreme weather events Villa Ghigi Foundation, Italy Renate Prünster-Deschauer SISTEMA GmbH, Austria Peter Morgenstein in Central Europe to support decision-making Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency, Manfred Sonnleithner in disaster preparedness, and a manual of Hungary Not Pictured guidelines for the vulnerability assessment of Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Roberto Pirzio-Biroli at-risk cultural heritage categories. The latter , Slovenia Bernhard Schneider will contain information on preventive protec- of Forchheim, Germany Thomas Horak-Thurwachter tion and appropriate responses to damage that Municipality of Dugopolje, Croatia Fikriye Pelin Kurtul Vacek Valeriano Vallesi

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 94 Cultural Heritage > Revitalization and Cultural Heritage Cultural Heritage > Revitalization and Cultural Heritage 95

Use of Protected Buildings Linking and Visualizing for Housing Europe’s Cultural Heritage

The increased use of protected buildings municipal energy subsidies for historic mon- In recent years, many digitization initia- – thus opening up new ways of knowledge for residential purposes is one of several uments and decision-making support for the tives and cultural heritage databases have acquisition and transfer. possibilities to curb the consumption improved and possibly stronger residential strongly enhanced access to cultural and of land and resources. At the same use of protected buildings. historical data across Europe. However, The transdisciplinary InTaVia consortium time, using protected buildings can also missing links and the lack of standardiza- builds on successful collaborations. The team contribute to preserving our architectural tion or machine readability still prevent brings together computer scientists special- heritage, improving housing culture and the optimal use of the existing data. The ized in visualization, computational linguistics, sustainably revitalizing local and city EU project InTaVia, which is coordinated and artificial intelligence with digital human- centers. by the University for Continuing Educa- ists, HCI researchers, historians and cultural monumentum ad usum – Utilization experts. An extensive network of prominent Potential of Monuments for Non- tion Krems, aims to create such data links Open spaces are increasingly being used for Profit Property Developers and to develop intuitive, visual interfaces European museums and cultural heritage insti- urban development. According to the Envi- to open up new cultural heritage insights. tutions is associated with the project. 2 ronment Agency Austria, 5,800 km of land FUNDING or 18 percent of the area of permanent settle- Province of Lower Austria, Office of the Tangible cultural assets from European ment in Austria had been used by 2019. What Government of Lower Austria museums, archives and libraries have been In / Tangible European Heritage – analytical tools can be developed to motivate made widely accessible on transnational Visual Analysis, Curation and Com- developers to exploit the potential of protected DURATION platforms such as Europeana.eu. At the same 2018–2022 munication – InTaVia buildings for residential use, even though time, intangible assets – such as narrative the related planning costs and uncertainties DEPARTMENT accounts of the lives of artists and other FUNDING are usually higher than for construction on Building and Environment individuals – have been documented and EU – Horizon 2020 greenfield sites? What strategy can be used shared as biographical databases on a national to assess the potential of protected buildings? PROJECT LEAD level. What is lacking are links between these DURATION Taking these research questions as a basis, Christian Hanus databases to facilitate scholarly analysis and 2020–2023 Manfred Sonnleithner the project “monumentum ad usum” aims promote a better understanding of cultural DEPARTMENT to convince non-profit developers in Lower PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS historic topics among the interested public. Arts and Cultural Studies Austria to utilize unused or little-used pro- Rainer Altmann The H2020 project InTaVia therefore seeks tected monuments. Other important effects Helmut Floegl to develop an innovative information portal PROJECT LEAD include the revitalization of historic urban Christina Ipser for the visual analysis and communication of Eva Mayr spaces and a contribution to sustainability. Elisabetta Meneghini tangible and intangible cultural assets in coop- Florian Windhager Rudolf Passawa eration with European partners. Gregor Radinger PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Promising Climate and Energy Balance Elisabeth Resch Anja Grebe The methodological tools consist of case Bernhard Schneider Visual Analysis and Communication of Nicole High-Steskal studies in the form of individual property Richard Sickinger Cultural Heritage Johannes Liem analyses, basic research on energy balances Peter Strasser The information portal developed by the Go Sugimoto and building physics, lifecycle and ecological Klaus Winiwarter project will offer new techniques of interactive COORDINATION auditing as well as impact analyses for the visualization and narrative communication for COORDINATION University for Continuing Education Krems settlement area. The interim results suggest University for Continuing Education Krems researchers and practitioners in the cultural that the climate and energy balance for the sector. In the spirit of the Linked Open Data PARTNERS creation and use of residential space in pro- PARTNERS initiative, the machine readability of national Free University Amsterdam VU, Amsterdam tected buildings is significantly better than Federal Monuments Authority, Department for biographical data is first optimized and the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts ZRC previously assumed. The qualitative evaluation Lower Austria links between such data and tangible cultural SAZU, Ljubljana Österr. Verband der gemeinnützigen Aalto University, Helsinki model developed in the project can be used Bauvereinigungen, Landesgruppe NÖ assets are strengthened. Interactive visual- University of Southern Denmark, Odense to determine an economically and environ- Office of the Government of Lower Austria, izations of these linked databases will enable Austrian Academy of Sciences (OEAW), Vienna mentally fair balance in terms of the quality of Department General Building Service (BD1) new insights – from close-up views of indi- University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart funding for new construction and renovation. Office of the Government of Lower Austria, vidual objects and linked biographies to com- Fluxguide Ausstellungssysteme GmbH, Vienna Further impacts include the adjustment of Department Science and Research (K3) plete panoramas of Europe’s cultural heritage , Helsinki

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 96 Cultural Heritage > Revitalization and Cultural Heritage Cultural Heritage > Revitalization and Cultural Heritage 97

Further Projects Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination

 Bringing Rural Monuments out of the Sidelines  Shared Heritage Danube Limes  Scuola di Ricostruzione di Accumoli (School  Conference series COL, most recently: #4Restau- The South Bohemia-Vysocina--Mühl- Archeology, knowledge transfer and preserving the for Reconstruction in Accumoli, Italy): rierung und Handwerk, 11. September 2020, viertel region boasts countless architectural and cultural heritage along the Danube are three key The University for Continuing Education Krems man- (https://de.col-conference.eu) natural monuments, most of which are completely areas of the Living Danube Limes project which has ages and coordinates the activities of the project neglected by visitors who flock to a small number 19 partners. Taking the Roman heritage along the partners from Italy, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and  Closing conference of the EU research project of well-known castles, palaces, monasteries and old Danube as its starting point, the project emphasizes Hungary, who – in consultation with the responsible proteCHt2save: historical towns. A holistic, cross-border strategy, the common bonds of the region, strengthens an authorities, local planners and the population – dis- International web conference in June 2020. Focus on: including cultural trails, aims to provide a basis for awareness of the shared Roman heritage, networks cuss issues related to the reconstruction of Accumoli Risk assessment and protection of cultural and nat- sustainable regional development based on the museums and – in parallel with the UNESCO World following the destruction caused by the earthquake in ural heritage, impacts of climate change, emergency potential of “rural monuments” for soft cultural and Heritage Nomination of the entire Danube Limes – 2016 / 17. (www.sdr.accumoli.eu) plans and collaborations educational tourism. This offers targeted support for develops measures for sustainable local and regional economically weak regions in particular and facilitates value creation from tourism as well as suitable strate-  Scola Telcz:  Brochure: an understanding of historical contexts. gies for the protection and preservation of the Roman International, interdisciplinary one-week summer and Industrial and Engineering Heritage in Europe / Das Funding: archeological heritage. winter school for students and doctoral candidates in industrielle und technische Erbe in Europa / Le patri- EU Interreg Austria-Czech Republic Funding: the Czech World Heritage City of Telcz moine industriel et technique en Europe – 50 Winners Project lead: EU Interreg Danube Transnational Programme (www.scola-telcz.net) of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Christian Hanus, Department for Building and Envi- Project lead: Awards, Brochure ronment Anna Kaiser, Department for Building and  Interreg Danube Transnational Programme Participating researchers: Environment Project Living Danube Limes Scientific Confer- Darya Haroshka Quality management: ence in Memory of Gyula Hajnóczi. Conference of Gregor Radinger Christian Hanus Architectural Historians and Monument Researchers Manfred Sonnleither Participating researchers: III, 12.11.2020. Coordination: Raffaela Woller (www.donau-uni.ac.at/de/universitaet/ Euregio Silva Nortica Marko Jelusic fakultaeten/bildung-kunst-architektur/ Thomas Horak-Thurwachter departments/bauen-umwelt/forschung/projekte/ Coordination: living-danube-limes.html) University for Continuing Education Krems

Selected Publications

 Boudalis G, Engel P, Mousakova E, Pinazari F, Schirò J, Tomazic J V, (eds.) (2021). Ink Corrosion – the Missing Links, Verlag Berger, Horn  Cacciotti R, Kaiser A, Sardella A, De Nuntiis P, Drdácký M, Hanus C, Bonazza A: Climate change-induced disasters and cultural heritage: Optimizing management strategies in Central Europe. Climate Risk Management 2021; 32: 1-13  Hanus C, Strasser P (2020). From Legislation to Implementation - Paradigm-Changes in Cultural Property Protection Through the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage. In: Protecting Civilians – A Humanitarian Obligation (Essay Series), pp. 45-48, NATO, Brussels  Kaiser A (2021). Militärischer Kulturgüterschutz im 21. Jahrhundert. In: Langbrandtner H.-W., Heyer E. R., de Peyronnet-Dryden F (eds.) Kulturgutschutz in Europa und im Rheinland. Franziskus Graf Wolff Metternich und der Kunstschutz im Zweiten Weltkrieg, pp. 477-494, Böhlau, Vienna, Cologne, Weimar  Radinger G (2020). Lernen vom Vernakulären. In: Bornberg R, Herbig U (Eds.) Vergleichende Architektur- und Bauforschung. Ein Forschungs- und Lehrmotto. Festschrift für Erich Lehner, pp. 302-312, IVA-Verlag, Vienna  Sonnleithner M (2021). New Opportunities for Increasing the Renovation Rate of Buildings. In: ALFA STU 1/2021, pp. 2-9, STU Bratislava  Windhager F, Salisu S, Leite R A, Filipov V, Miksch S, Schreder G, Mayr E (2020). Many Views Are Not Enough: Designing for Synoptic Insights in Cultural Collections. IEEE Computer Graphics & Applications, 40(3), Special Issue on Art and Cultural Heritage, 58-71.

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 98 Collections Management and Image Science Cultural Heritage > Collections Management and Image Science 99

Digitizing the Wachtberg Find

In 2005 during excavations at a site in scans and reconstructions offer an extraordi- Krems-Wachtberg, archeologists recov- nary opportunity to investigate more closely ered a rare double burial of two infants central archeological and anthropological dating back more than 30,000 years. questions, concerning, for example, the When such finds are made, digitization anatomy of newborns and the burial practices using high-resolution microcomputer without having to handle the fragile finds. tomography is the preferred method for There is also new potential for structuring their analysis, reconstruction and picto- the data and making it accessible via an rial representation. To ensure up-to-date open-source database and for presenting this documentation and archiving of the data globally outstanding part of Austria’s cultural as the basis for future research, the pilot heritage within the context of a museum. project is compiling a catalog of criteria for a long-term open-source data archive.

The digitization of the individually preserved parts of the skeletons ( Museum Vienna) from the double infant burial dating back more than 30,000 years using Research at the Department for Arts and Cultural Studies focuses on the a micro-CT and the virtual reconstruction influence of digitalization on the arts and culture, in particular on the of the entire burial are essential steps for preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage and digital art, researching this unique find. At the same Digital Reconstruction of new technologies and the digital world in museums and collections, as time, this presents huge challenges, as the Archeological Finds – A Pilot Study fragile skeletons have to be scanned three-di- well as on the visualization and management of cultural (research) data. of a 30,000-Year-Old Infant Double mensionally and the data then modeled for a Burial from Krems-Wachtberg Other key research areas are participation in cultural processes and virtual reconstruction of the finds. By the time

Pictured opportunities for democratizing cultural constructions of meaning. In this the data from the find has been amalgam- FUNDING (f. l. t. r. & top down) ated with the archeological and museological Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung context, questions concerning the documentation and archiving of digital Eva Bauer documentation, and the 3D representations Niederösterreich m.b.H., FTI Digitalisierung Gottfried Zawichowski arts for research and teaching present a special challenge in the realm of placed in a web-based database at the end of Günter Stummvoll DURATION Miguel Kertsman image science. In its work with the historical and contemporary inventories the project, the interdisciplinary research team 2018–2022 Eva Maria Stöckler of the Lower Austrian State Collections as well as its own music, literature, will have made an important contribution to Edith Blaschitz digitizing sensitive archeological finds in an DEPARTMENT Nicole High-Steskal architecture and film collections, the department seeks to integrate theory open-source data archive. Arts and Cultural Studies Anja Grebe Eva Mayr and practice. PROJECT LEAD Florian Windhager Preventive Conservation Anja Grebe Hanna Brinkmann In future, these digital images and the dig- Johannes Liem Natalie Denk ital reconstruction will make an important PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER Alexander Pfeiffer contribution to preventive conservation and Martin Reitschmied Thomas Wernbacher thus to the long-term preservation of the Nikolaus König 30,000-year-old skeletons. The micro-CT COORDINATION Simon Wimmer Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences Carl Philipp Hoffmann (Dieter Pahr) Rachel Müller Renato Rocha Souza Viola Rühse PARTNERS Oliver Grau Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences Wendy Coones Museum of Natural History Vienna Austrian Academy of Sciences Not Pictured Carla Milena Zamora Campos

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 100 Cultural Heritage > Collections Management and Image Science Cultural Heritage > Collections Management and Image Science 101

Mobility through Making the Digital Arts Accessible the Ages for Research and Teaching

Mobility, whether forced or voluntary, is a more detailed insights into the living envi- Every day, a huge volume of digital im- Test Case Archive of Digital Art fundamental constant of human existence. ronment and mobility of people living more ages is produced, uploaded and shared via The Archive of Digital Art (ADA), founded The project “Mobile Things, People and than 7,000 years ago. Central locations like database systems, information visualiza- in 1998 by Prof Grau and further developed Ideas – An Ever-Moving History of Lower Asparn / Schletz are well suited to provide tions and social media platforms. In fact, since 2013 with support of FWF at the Uni- Austria” investigates the importance of answers to the archeological research ques- databases are establishing themselves versity for Continuing Education Krems is mobility in connection with objects in six tions described above, as they are regarded as some of the most important teaching now the largest in its field. ADA is now to thematic areas covering periods spanning as manifestations of long-term sedentarism tools for works of art at universities and be expanded into a co-creative open science more than 7,500 years. The subproject although because of the large number of non- other educational establishments. To of- data infrastructure to provide the necessary “Mobility of Neolithic Farmers” sets out local artefacts, they are also seen as “mobility fer students, teachers and researchers the knowledge base for students, teachers and to expose the narrative of the sedentary drivers”. The unexpectedly large quantity of necessary knowledge base, the LeFo re- researchers at universities and art academies. society to a critical analysis. imported ceramics suggests extensive trade search project aims to develop and expand In addition, the expanded documentation of links and also, arguably, social contacts with an innovative teaching and research infra- digital art forms will create innovative access Nowadays, migration and escape very often other culture groups. structure. This is based on the existing Ar- points and lay the information foundations have negative connotations. In the public chive of Digital Art (ADA) at the University for the future-oriented integration of media discourse, the “regional culture that has for Continuing Education Krems. art into museums. Virtual walkability options Mobile Things, People and Ideas – evolved down the centuries” is frequently An Ever-Moving History of Lower and immersive experiential spaces in digital compared with the culture of migration. By Austria The digital world is highly visual and has archives using augmented reality and interac- studying the archeological findings and fea- become a part of cultural heritage. The image, tive 360-degree fulldome environments are tures of the Linear Pottery Culture settlement FUNDING or visual media, are the most important online being developed as part of the project. in Asparn / Schletz, the sedentary narrative that Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung mediators of information in this context. is closely linked with the “Neolithic Revolu- Niederösterreich m.b.H., FTI-Programm However, correctly documenting and archiving tion“ can be questioned and the importance these large amounts of data in and outside of mobility in a sedentary society investigated. DURATION the confines of academic art disciplines, art 2019–2022 The research team also wants to clarify who academies and cultural enterprises presents a Teaching and Research was mobile over the centuries and why certain DEPARTMENT challenge. In addition to expanding the data- Infrastructure for Digital Arts at things were transported and others were not. Arts and Cultural Studies base, the research project within the frame- Universities – LeFO work of the Digital and Social Transformation Insight into the Living Environment of the PROJECT LEAD Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education, FUNDING Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Neolithic Period Sandra Sam Science and Research thus aims to develop Research, Innovative Digital Transformation in Researchers from the various disciplines, new interactive interfaces and displays as an PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Higher Education from Anthropology and Ethnology, to Jewish Julia Längauer innovative teaching and research infrastruc- Studies, History and Geology expect the Daniela Fehlmann ture to enable multimodal access to data- DURATION subproject “Mobility of Neolithic Farmers” bases and a multi-sensory engagement with 2020–2024 will give them new insights into migration COORDINATION the archived artworks. The project focuses on and mobility in the Early Neolithic period and Institute for Jewish History in Austria (Martha Keil) building up an archive, establishing an inter- DEPARTMENT Arts and Cultural Studies, Center for Image in particular, answers concerning the nar- national network of media art archives and PARTNERS Sciences rative of sedentarism versus mobility. The Institute for Medieval and Early Modern Material on developing prototypes of future-oriented research project expects to close gaps in Culture of the ; Ilse Arlt forms of documenting digital art. PROJECT LEAD our knowledge: Although the first sedentary Institute for Social Inclusion Research at the Oliver Grau farmers in Central Europe belonging to the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten; Institute Linear Pottery Culture appear to have been of Rural History; Ludwig-Boltzmann Institut für PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Kriegsfolgen-Forschung, Raabs an der ; Philipp Hoffmann highly mobile, notwithstanding the establish- Museumsmanagement Niederösterreich; State Renato Rocha Souza ment of permanent settlements, it remains Collections of Lower Austria; Department of Carla Milena Zamora Campos unclear who exactly was mobile, for what Social and Cultural Anthropology at Goethe purpose and to what extent. At the end of University Frankfurt; Institute of Social and Cultural COORDINATION the project, researchers will have gained Anthropology, University of Göttingen University for Continuing Education Krems

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 102 Cultural Heritage > Collections Management and Image Science 103

Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination

The project’s results are communicated and trans-  Co-Organization and hosting of the 31st Aus- ferred within the scientific community, Science to trian Museum Day in Krems in cooperation with Public and at the interface of academic-cultural prac- Kunstmeile Krems, the Lower Austrian State Collec- tice in the form of lectures, publications, conferences tions, the Museumsbund Österreich and the Interna- or archives, e. g.: tional Council of Museums (ICOM).

 Conferences and workshops:  Archive of Digital Art (ADA) as a free, open Such as “Museen in Quarantäne”; “Kurt Schwertsik access archive for documenting media art: ADA Artist und der Begriff der Moderne im Wandel”. Features, ADA exhibitions, international lectures / archive presentations, presentations at media art fes-  Websites, app development and science blogs: tivals such as the Ars Electronica. e. g. “MuseumsMenschen”

 Participative Projects: The orchestral academy in Accumoli, Italy; The Strauss Dynasty as Musical Ambassadors for Austria

Pictured (f. l. t. r. & top down) Brigitta Potz, Marco Hoffmann, Christine Rigler, Hanna Prandstätter, Gundula Maria Wilscher, Martina Kalser-Gruber, Barbara Pictured (f. l. t. r. & top down) Pernkopf, Elisabeth Nowotny, Jakob Maurer, Helmut Neundlinger, Jutta Maria Pichler, Sandra Sam, Armin Laussegger, Franziska Elisabeth Rammer, Eleonora Weixelbaumer, Norbert Ruckenbauer, Nils Unger, Susanne Watzenboeck, Michael Resch, Dirk Schuster, Butze-Rios, Jasmine Cencic, Andreas Liska-Birk, Theresia Hauenfels, Nikolaus Kratzer, Theresa Feilacher, Wolfgang Breibert, Alexandra Rauchenwald, Fermin Suter, Marlies Surtmann Fritz Egermann, Daniela Fehlmann, Isabella Frick, Kathrin Kratzer Not Pictured: Clara Simak, Julia Längauer

Selected Publications

 Grau O, Hinterwaldner I (ed.) (2021). Retracing Political Dimensions: Strategies in Contemporary New Media, DeGruyter, New York.  Grau O, Coones W (2020). Museum Network for Digital Arts: A Concerted collection, documentation, and conservation strategy. In: ISEA 2020, pp. 689-694, ISEA, Montreal.  Grebe A (2020). Authenticity in Context. Historic Displays and Modern Museum Practice. In: Kimmel D, Brüggerhoff S (eds.) Museen – Orte des Authentischen?, pp. 225-236, Verlag des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums, Mainz.  Bläsi C, Blaschitz E (2020). Kulinarische Transfers aus anderen Regionen und Kulturräumen: der Niederschlag in westdeutschen und österreichischen Kochbüchern 1950– 1980. In: Ernst, M, Hinkelmanns P, Zangerl L M, Zeppezauer-Wachauer K, empowering researchers, digital austria 2018, pp. 154-159, Austrian Academy of Sciences Press, Vienna.  Stöckler E, Brandtner A (eds.) (2020). „... dauert ewig schön und unveraltet ...“ Johann Michael Haydn – kein vergessener Meister! Hollitzer Wissenschaftsverlag, Vienna  Rigler C (2019). Diese Komödie ist eine Tragödie – Werk und Leben des Schriftstellers Peter Turrini. Biografie. Haymon, Innsbruck-Vienna.  Straub W (ed.) (2020). Alpensagas und Modelldörfer. Heimatbesichtigungen in Musik und Film. Studienverlag, Innsbruck-Vienna.  Mayr E, Windhager F. (2020). Vor welchem Hintergrund und mit Bezug auf was? Zur polykontexturalen Visualisierung kultureller Sammlungen. In: Andraschke U, Wagner S (eds.) Objekte im Netz. Wissenschaftliche Sammlungen im digitalen Wandel, pp. 235-245, transcript, Bielefeld  Sam S (2020). Was bleibt? Zur Frage des musealen Sammelns und Bewahrens archäologischer Funde. In: Griesser-Stermscheg M, Sternfeld N, Ziaja L (eds.) Sich mit Sammlungen anlegen. Gemeinsame Dinge und alternative Archive. Schriftenreihe curating. ausstellungstheorie & praxis, Vol 5, pp. 227-236, Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien, Vienna.  König N, Pfeiffer A, Wernbacher T, Denk N (2020). Game-Based Learning Research at the Danube-University Krems' Center for Applied Game Studies. In: Seychell D, Dingli A (eds.) Rediscovering Heritage Through Technology: p. 123, Springer, Cham.

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Overall university main field of research: Continuing Education Research

Æ Higher Education Management Æ Higher Education Research Æ Interfaculty Research Groups

www.donau-uni.ac.at/research 106 Higher Education Management Continuing Education Research > Higher Education Management 107

Digital Know-How at Universities

In the 21st century, digital skills are an Through this approach, the project enables indispensable component. DigiFit4All the creation of personalized learning activities teaches these skills to different target that are independent of any specific time or groups at universities, including students, place, thereby facilitating access to key digital teaching and administrative staff. Needs- skills for the target groups mentioned before. based learning requires a personalized, The digital learning resources are augmented skill-oriented approach to knowledge with metadata and placed in a digital archive transfer, which is implemented in this for long-term storage, where they are avail- project at both the content and technical able as a basis for future development and a levels. broader range of use cases.

The ongoing process of digitalization is making noticeable changes in the ways we live, learn and work. As such, this technolog- ical transformation also calls for changes in our qualifications. This shift affects universi- ties as well, both in their educational mission and in operational terms as the basic condi- Digital transformation fundamentally impacts the discourse on tions underlying teaching and administrative educational and learning processes. New educational technologies enable work continue to evolve. As a result, there are innovative forms of learning and acquiring knowledge. The Department for three target groups at universities with very different learning needs: students, teaching Continuing Education Research and Educational Technologies therefore DigiFit4All staff and administrative staff. One of this puts one focus of research on user-centered design of digital support tools project’s research questions what the needs FUNDING for teaching and learning. The department also focuses on supporting of these three groups are in detail. Federal Ministry of Education, Science and the development of skills based on the needs of target groups outside Research The Right Learning Material for Each the formal education system, and validation of those skills. Research Target Group DURATION 2020–2023 topics range from didactical designs for individual and collaborative Starting with a needs assessment, the proj- Pictured learning, over support of personal and organizational competence, to the ect’s goal is to establish a basis for teaching DEPARTMENT (f. l. t. r. & top down) possibilities for technology support in learning and innovation processes. and learning to support the development of Continuing Education Research and Educational Sonja Brachtl digital skills for diverse target groups at uni- Technologies Martin Dobiasch versities. The project also aims to develop Ulrike Kastler PROJECT LEAD Thomas Pfeffer skills-oriented and needs-targeted methods Stefan Oppl Elke Lantschik of delivering learning content through person- Klausjürgen Heinrich alized learning paths. To achieve these goals, Nicola Oudejans PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Gregor Pirker qualitative interviews and content analyses Sandra Lattner Stephanie Nestawal are used to determine the content. This is Edmund Panzenböck Nilay Aral followed by iterative, prototype-based devel- Andrea Schlager opment of teaching and learning materials. COORDINATION Filiz Keser Aschenberger Monika Petermandl Florian Mühlburger Isabell Grundschober PARTNERS Monika Kyselová University of Linz Stefan Oppl Vienna University of Technology

Not Pictured www.digifit4all.at Lucie Procházková Sandra Lattner

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Bringing Digitalization Math Help, to SMEs Made to Order

Digital transformation is also bringing keeping SMEs competitive in the digital world. The project develops instruments for knowledge in a school setting as well. To major changes to the economy. Small The logical last step is then to provide learning adaptive measurement of math skills, obtain the tasks needed for adaptive testing, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are resources. A virtual library offers Open Edu- with the goal of providing more precise the project also examines how these tasks especially affected by these upheavals. cational Resources (OER) that promote the diagnoses and feedback. These skills can can be generated and validated, with help What challenges, opportunities and risks development of digital skills within SMEs. then be supported in an individualized from communities of practitioners. do they face? The EU’s DigiCulTS project and differentiated way with additional is developing tools to support SMEs in in-depth teaching and learning options the digitalization process, which will be based on the popular and widely available accessible through the digicults.eu plat- GeoGebra platform. form starting in May 2022. Degrees in science, technology, engineering Many SMEs do not have the necessary and , or MINT for short, continue resources to implement new business models to be in high demand on the job market. One arising from digitalization in an optimal way. aspect of these fields that potential students To allow these businesses to benefit from often find intimidating is the relatively high the opportunities created by digitalization, an level of math skills they require. The project online platform is being developed as part of targets this issue with its goal of facilitating the DigiCulTS project to promote digital skills access to the MINT disciplines. Potential for employees of SMEs in Spain, Poland, students in these fields are offered in-depth Greece and Austria. There is a great need for teaching and learning options to increase their such resources: Currently, only 57 percent of chances of successfully completing a program Europeans have the digital skills they need. of study. The goal is to increase the public DigiCulTS – Digital Culture for SMEs While nine out of ten jobs now require basic perception of the attractiveness of MINT digital skills, 35 percent of employees do not FUNDING subjects. have them. EU – Erasmus+ Users Identify their own Learning Needs Identifying and Closing Knowledge Gaps DURATION The practical dimension of the project involves Math-Skill-Testing for Promoting The project offers four services for employees, 2019–2022 providing (self-)assessment tools for the MINT-Studies employers and job seekers based on findings popular GeoGebra software toolkit, accessed DEPARTMENT FUNDING from economics and business IT, education Continuing Education Research and Educational by users around the world through the plat- Federal Ministry of Education, Science and science and the sociology of education. The Technologies form at geogebra.org. These assessment Research first service raises awareness of why SMEs tools will allow users to quickly and reliably require digital skills. To identify the need PROJECT LEAD diagnose their skill level in different areas of DURATION for additional training, an assessment tool Isabell Grundschober mathematics, and to receive individual tips 2020–2022 analyzes existing knowledge. Based on the about their specific learning needs based on PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER DEPARTMENT results, individualized training measures are Gregor Pirker the results of the assessment. The tools use Continuing Education Research and Educational recommended. The next service expands adaptive testing procedures that identify the Technologies knowledge of digital skills and digital culture COORDINATION user’s levels of math skills, and can also be in SMEs. An online course determines which SMC Studien und Management Center used for assessment in class. This will make it PROJECT LEAD skills and abilities are particularly relevant for Saalfelden gGmbH possible to use GeoGebra to check students’ Stefan Oppl

PARTNERS PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Danmar Computers (Poland) Nilay Aral Militos Consulting (Greece) Florian Mühlburger Sea Teach S.L. (Spain) COORDINATION www.facebook.com/digicultsforSME University of Linz

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 110 Continuing Education Research > Higher Education Management Continuing Education Research > Higher Education Management 111

Programming Basics for Universities

Basic programming knowledge is rele- In addition to students’ acquisition of new Knowledge transfer and dissemination vant in an increasing number of fields, skills, discussions among teaching staff will including at universities. How can these be supported and reinforced as well. Offering  Results-oriented design and choice of media for blended learning formats in higher education, digital skills be taught to an ever-growing networking, training and continuing education e-lecture in the “digiPH3 University College of Virtual number of students, with their widely for programming teachers will ensure a high Teacher Education” series varying levels of prior knowledge? Code- level of teaching quality and initiate a process Ability answers this question and creates of innovation in how programming is taught.  Cross-Border Activities in Career Counseling a platform that takes the wide range of for VET Students, TEAVET Final International Con- learning objectives and technologies into ference account, and provides individual support  Cooperation with the School of Education at to both teachers and students. JKU Linz on joint development of a test and self-as- sessment module on the GeoGebra platform used The need for programming skills is growing throughout the world (as part of the MathSkillTest at Austrian universities as more and more project funded by the Austrian Ministry of Education)

disciplines, even those without an IT focus,  Implementation of Study “Status Quo and Poten- begin to develop computer-assisted research tials of Corporate Continuing Education at Wiener approaches. To adapt to this changed situ- Linien“ ation, new concepts are needed to provide high-quality training in basic programming for CodeAbility Austria – Digitally  Public Outreach: Founding member of the IFDP platform (Institute for the full range of university communities. It will Supported Programming Education at Austrian Universities Digital Participation), together with other Austrian be essential to take students’ widely varying universities and institutional education providers. The levels of prior knowledge, the lack of teaching goal: a sustainable digital transformation in which FUNDING staff, and the broad range of learning objec- everyone can participate (www.ifdp.at) Federal Ministry of Education, Science and tives and technologies into account. Research

Focus on Self-Directed Learning DURATION CodeAbility examines how self-directed 2020–2023 practice aimed at acquiring programming skills can be supported through automated DEPARTMENT Continuing Education Research and Educational formative feedback. For example, it looks at Technologies the question of how ongoing feedback can improve the likelihood that a student will PROJECT LEAD reach their learning objective. The second Stefan Oppl Selected Publications research question focuses on didactics to  Aral N, Oppl S (2020). Towards comprehensive technology-supported formative assessment in math education – A literature review. Proc. of the 10th Annual ERME Topic develop ideas for integrating individualized PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS Martin Dobiasch Conference on Mathematics Education in the Digital Age (MEDA 2020), pp. 411–412, Linz. learning paths into basic programming training  Dobiasch M, Oppl S. Modellabstraktionen und deren Wirkung im Sport – Ein Ausbildungsproblem? Wirtschaftsinformatik & Management. 2020; 12: 362–368, https://doi. for non-IT-oriented disciplines. By bundling COORDINATION org/10.1365/s35764-020-00282-y skills, a learning platform for programming  Fleischmann A, Oppl S, Schmidt W, Stary C (2020). Contextual Process Digitalization: Changing Perspectives – Design Thinking – Value-Led Design, Springer International skills that is available throughout Austria will Publishing, Cham. be created for teaching staff and students. PARTNERS  Oppl S (2020). Erstellung und Evolution offener Bildungsressourcen mit Versionsverwaltungssystemen. In: Brandhofer G, Buchner J, Freisleben-Teutscher C, Tengler K, (eds.) TU Graz Proceedings der Inverted Classroom and beyond 2020, Graz. University of Klagenfurt University of Linz  Keser Aschenberger F, Kil M (2020). Welche „Benefits“ für die Lernenden hat Erwachsenenbildung nach der Teilnahme am Kursangebot von Volkshochschulen? Die Öster- reichische Volkshochschule. Magazin für Erwachsenenbildung., Heft 270/71. Jg. University of Salzburg Vienna University of Technology  Leitner K H, Pausits A, Giesecke S, Schartinger D, Kalcik R, Keser-Aschenberger F (2020). Prospective Report on the Future of Non-Formal and Informal Learning: Towards Lifelong and Life-wide Learning Ecosystems. Publications Office of the European Union, Publications office of the European Union, Luxemburg codeability.uibk.ac.at

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Connecting Universities and Society

The project Steering Higher Education by academics. At the regional level, the for Community Engagement (SHEFCE) resources for societal interactions are being explores how universities can improve improved at least five at universities and their their community engagement within the communities through institutional self-evalu- framework of the Third Mission. With ation and action planning. this goal in mind, robust methods for developing action plans are developed, policy-making options are considered, and new information resources and comparative resources are made available in a European context.

Universities today are far more than mere teaching and research centers; on many levels they are interwoven with society and interact with it. This extra-university engagement encompasses different communities in the public, business and civic sectors. However, As a fundamental part of the educational system, the higher education Steering Higher Education for the players often lack specific instruments to Community Engagement – SHEFCE system in Austria is, like many others in Europe, affected by social bridge the gap between the academic world developments and trends of the day. In addition to their core activities of and the concerns of society. FUNDING EU – Erasmus+ research and teaching, universities must fulfill a wide range of other tasks. Concrete Approaches on Three Levels The Department for Higher Education Research focuses on leadership and DURATION The SHEFCE project seeks to achieve 2020–2023 management at higher education institutions, with a special emphasis four intellectual outputs: First, the univer- on personnel and organizational development; on higher education sities develop action-plans for successful DEPARTMENT community engagement at the regional level. Higher Education Research governance and policy reforms, especially in the context of the Third Second, development of national recom- Mission and the social responsibility of the institutions; and on continuing mendations for political decision-makers PROJECT LEAD Attila Pausits education and the role of higher education for lifelong learning. The calling for system-level support of higher department pursues a practice-led research approach geared to the transfer education and content-wise aimed at PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER supporting engagement with society. The Magdalena Fellner of knowledge. third sub-aspect targets the European level by establishing a European online platform for COORDINATION community engagement in higher education. Institute for the Development of Education (Croatia) Finally, the last aspect involves developing a “heatmap”, a type of activity barometer, PARTNERS to engage the European university-com- Association of Catalan Public Universities (Spain) munity. The theoretical considerations will Brodoto (Croatia) be subjected to practical testing monitored Free University of Brussels (Belgium) (Belgium) National University of Ireland Galway (Ireland) Pictured Technological University Dublin (Ireland) (f. l. t. r. & top down) University of Girona (Spain) Filiz Keser Aschenberger University of Rijeka (Croatia) David Friedrich James Campbell as well as an international team of advisors, Magdalena Fellner dissemination partners and local partners Florian Reisky Attila Pausits

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Trends in Non-Formal Knowledge Acquisition

The Bologna Process brought about far- access to education. Finally, it will provide Further Projects Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination reaching changes in European higher edu- some approaches and recommendations for cation. In this context, the validation of different stakeholders.  International Study on Working Conditions in  Online conference “Service Learning in Higher Science Education – What does it mean to be(come) an informal or non-formally acquired compe- As part of an international comparative study, the engaged university?” (13–15 July 2020) tencies is of great importance. The project Methodologically, the project works with project “The Academic Profession in the Knowl- investigates potential development Horizon Scanning, an instrument for the edge-Based Society (APIKS Austria)” examines  Online conference “Teaching and Learning Indi- perspectives for informal and non-formal strategic early detection of societal change, working conditions in science and the attitudes of cators” (30 November 2020) learning and will draw up a number of expert reviews, consistency analyses and scientific and artistic staff in the fields of research,  Annual Conference of the Austrian Network scenarios and recommendations for the scenario workshops. Morphological analyses, teaching, learning, knowledge and technology transfer, and university governance at Austrian for Higher Education Research (22–23 May 2019, different stakeholders by 2030. a creativity technique for exploring all possible higher education institutions. organized by the department) solutions to complex problems are also used. Project lead: When people talk about education, they Attila Pausits  Compilation of a comprehensive dataset and usually mean formal learning as it is organized, Coordination: indicators for the analysis, evaluation and further development of higher education teaching within led and assessed in schools and universities. Department for Higher Education Research the framework of the Erasmus+ project Sustainable Yet, alongside this institutionalized acquisition Quality Enhancement in Higher Education Learning of knowledge, other forms of learning are also and Teaching – SQELT (2017–2020) playing an increasing role. Informal learning happens at the workplace, during leisure time  Recommendations for action and training or while performing daily activities (learning material for developing and implementing service learning in higher education, prepared as part of the by doing), where competencies are acquired Erasmus+ project Service Learning in Higher Edu- but with no official proof for the individuals cation – Fostering the Third Mission of Universities concerned. Non-formal learning typically and Civic Engagement of Students (SLIHE) (2017– takes place, for example, in evening classes 2020). or seminars that do not lead to a qualification with formal recognition in the educational  Development of education policy and an institutional framework for dual study programs system. What both types of learning have in South Africa and Mozambique as well as pro- in common is that they can be validated, The Future of Non-Formal and viding academic support for the first pilot programs certified and thus taken into account in formal Informal Learning: Towards in the Erasmus+ capacity building project Learning learning settings. Lifelong and Life-Wide Learning and Teaching Tools Fuelling University Relations with the Economy in Mozambique and South Africa Ecosystems (LATFURE) (2017–2020) Recommendations for Stakeholders The project examines the development FUNDING perspectives of informal and non-formal EU learning. Against this backdrop, a detailed view emerges of the influencing factors DURATION 2018–2020 and drivers of developments in education Selected Publications science, technology, the economy and DEPARTMENT society. This project considers the role of Higher Education Research  Campbell D, Pausits A, Fellner M (2020). Universität und Innovationen: Beispiele aus der österreichischen Hochschullandschaft. Zeitschrift für Hochschulrecht, Hochschul- informal and non-formal learning in the future management und Hochschulpolitik, 2020 (19)1: 5-24. and factors for social development such as PROJECT LEAD  Campbell D F J (2019). Global Quality of Democracy as Innovation Enabler. Measuring Democracy for Success, Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, New York, NY. Attila Pausits  Janger J, Campbell D F J, Strauss A. Attractiveness of Jobs in Academia: A Cross-Country Perspective. Higher Education 2019; 78(6), 991-1010.  PARTICIPATING RESEARCHER Pausits A (2020). University mergers in Austria. Experiences and future scenarios for organisational development in tertiary education. In: Broucker B, Borden V, Kallenberg T, Milsom C (eds.) Responsibility of Higher Education Systems. What? How? Why? pp. 111-126, Brill, Leiden. Filiz Keser Aschenberger  Pausits A, Aichinger R, Unger, M (eds.) (2019). Quo vadis, Hochschule? - Beiträge zur evidenzbasierten Hochschulentwicklung. Waxmann, Münster. COORDINATION  Pausits A (2019) Hochschulfusionen im internationalen Trend und mögliche Szenarien in Österreich. Explorative Betrachtung zwischen Mode, Ausdifferenzierung und Ratio- Austrian Institute of Technology nalität in der Organisationsentwicklung, Zeitschrift für Hochschulrecht Hochschulmanagement und Hochschulpolitik zfhr, 18(1):14, 14-24.

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 116 Interfaculty Research Groups Continuing Education Research > Interfaculty Research Groups 117

The Ideal Space for Learning

What spatial and environmental factors in the spring of 2020. For example, the study influence learning and innovation pro- investigated what influence different spatial cesses in academic continuing education? situations and environments had on students’ And how do design requirements for the well-being and learning experience in the learning environment change as a result of context of online learning. The results, some societal and technological developments? of which were formulated as future sce- The interfaculty research project Learning narios, will encourage further interdisciplinary and Innovation Spaces for Continuing research. Education has developed a deeper under- standing of these issues. Online teaching and learning imposed by the pandemic led to additional findings about private Learning and Innovation Spaces for learning environments. Continuing Education – [LIS]

For this project, a multidisciplinary scientific DURATION basis was established for optimizing existing 2019–2021 education spaces and designing future spaces COORDINATION for lifelong learning supported by technology Developing solutions to the grand challenges of our day requires Department for Building and Environment in a socially inclusive society. This was made research that crosses traditional boundaries between disciplines. This possible by cross-departmental and interfac- PROJECT LEAD interdisciplinary approach is characteristic of the interfaculty research ulty collaboration in areas ranging from archi- Christina Ipser (project manager) Gregor Radinger (Co-project manager) groups at the University for Continuing Education Krems. In keeping tectural and building research, to research in continuing education and innovation, to PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS with its core identity as a public university for continuing education, all information and communication sciences. these interfaculty research groups have a clear connection to aspects of Researchers on the project looked at demo- BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT continuing education research in terms of the content of their work. The graphic and digital transformation, the drive Christina Ipser toward integrative and innovative societies, Cornelia Rabl-Winter questions addressed by their projects all pertain to the main research fields and aspects of health and well-being in the Gregor Radinger of the University for Continuing Education Krems as a whole. The thematic design of learning spaces. HIGHER EDUCATION RESEARCH cross-links arising from this work therefore cover a wide spectrum, Attila Pausits ranging from questions of how different age groups learn and the impact Learning under Lockdown This project has not only improved our current CONTINUING EDUCATION RESEARCH AND of digitalization on continuing education and educational technologies, to state of knowledge about the impact of spa- EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES medical aspects of learning and those relating to societal cohesion, and the tial conditions on adult learners but has also Sonja Brachtl Filiz Keser Aschenberger effects of space and architectural conditions on learning performance. led to a deeper understanding of the specific needs of students in the academic field of KNOWLEDGE AND COMMUNICATION continuing education. As part of a transdisci- MANAGEMENT Pictured plinary case study, researchers also examined Nicole Hynek (f. l. t. r. & top down) how students at Campus Krems perceive the Günther Schreder Arleta Franczukowska indoor and outdoor spaces on campus, and Gerald Steiner Christina Ipser Lukas Zenk Bernd Kerschner how they actually use the available spaces. Lukas Zenk Other experts and expert groups from the Depart- Gregor Radinger The study on Home Learning Environments ments of Economy and Health, Integrated Sensor Barbara Brenner Birgit Feldhusen shed light on the differing physical and spatial Systems, E-Governance and Administration, the Benedikt Lutz conditions experienced by continuing educa- Digital Transformation Team and the Service Cen- Cornelia Rabl-Winter tion students during the COVID-19 lockdown ter for Digital Teaching and Learning. Eva Krczal Doris Behrens

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Stress-Free in the Digital New Interfaculty Research World of Work Groups (2021–2023)

The digital revolution is having a for overcoming the challenges arising from  Meta-Skills for Dealing with Complexity  Help Assessing the Quality of Health Information profound impact on the world of work. the digital revolution. Differences in digital Dealing with today’s highly complex real-world chal- More than fifty percent of Austrians have difficulty For older workers in particular, the shift skill levels among colleagues are not generally lenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, requires determining whether health information published in new skills for dealing with uncertainty in complex envi- the media is reliable and objective. The World Health to digital working processes implies huge perceived as a problem but rather strengthen ronments and for addressing complexity productively Organization has already raised concerns of an “info- challenges. What do older employees mutual learning and cooperation among and effectively. As individuals can only handle a limited demic” in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. expect from the digital revolution? And colleagues. Employees favour a sensible amount of complexity, an expanded range of skills is This research group’s objective is to support the which learning formats are most effective combination of online and classroom teaching. needed: So-called meta-skills, which include systemic public in learning to assess the reliability of health in helping them acquire knowledge The preferred learning format depends on the and creative abilities such as the ability to improvise. information more effectively, especially information about digital tools. In light of an aging course content, previous knowledge and the The research group’s objective is to investigate these found online, and thus to increase the public’s critical meta-skills and to develop innovative teaching designs thinking skills with regard to health issues. To this end, population, the interfaculty research learner’s experience with the subject matter as a university for continuing education. it plans to develop a continuing education measure in project Age-Sensitive Learning set out and the skills to be acquired. The loss of the the form of an online training course. to find solutions that would enable older interpersonal component and lack of interac- workers to have a stress-free learning tion is viewed as the biggest disadvantage of environment. pure online teaching.

As Europe’s population ages people are remaining in the workforce for longer. As a Meta-Skills for Unpredictable consequence, pressure on employees to keep Situations in Complex Environments Critical Health Literacy for up with the rapid evolution of digital work Age-Sensitive Learning – Stress-Free Empowerment in the Era of Digital tools is growing. This trend is accompanied by Learning with Digital Media for the COORDINATION Transformation political demands for greater employability of Older Workforce Department for Knowledge and Communication older employees in the EU and for support for Management COORDINATION mental health at the workplace. This requires DURATION Department for Evidence-based Medicine and 2019–2021 PROJECT LEAD Evaluation continuing education and lifelong learning Lukas Zenk also for older members of the workforce. An COORDINATION PROJECT LEAD interdisciplinary team of researchers from the Department for Economy and Health PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS Bernd Kerschner University for Continuing Education Krems initially surveyed attitudes to the digitalization PROJECT LEAD KNOWLEDGE AND COMMUNICATION PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS of the working world. In a second step, the Eva Krczal MANAGEMENT Gerald Steiner EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE AND team then explored which learning formats PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS Lukas Zenk EVALUATION are most suitable for helping older employees Ursula Griebler stay abreast with digital work process without EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE AND MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS Bernd Kerschner learning stress. EVALUATION Barbara Brenner Christina Kien Christina Kien Birgit Feldhusen Isolde Sommer Positive Attitude if Work is Made Easier Isolde Sommer Viktoria Titscher HIGHER EDUCATION RESEARCH The results of many interviews and focus MIGRATION AND GLOBALIZATION Attila Pausits CONTINUING EDUCATION RESEARCH AND groups shed light on the actual attitudes of Lydia Theresia Rössl EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES older employees. In principle, they view the Isabella Skrivanek CONTINUING EDUCATION RESEARCH AND Filiz Keser Aschenberger digital transformation positively provided it EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Sandra Lattner facilitates working processes, although it CONTINUING EDUCATION RESEARCH AND Sandra Lattner Stefan Oppl should be said that the attitudes of those EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Stefan Oppl Klausjürgen Heinrich KNOWLEDGE AND COMMUNICATION surveyed are on the whole ambivalent and in Filiz Keser Aschenberger ARTS AND CULTURAL STUDIES MANAGEMENT most cases, people are undecided about the Eva Maria Stöckler Benedikt Lutz benefits and disadvantages of digitalization. ECONOMY AND HEALTH Peer learning, i. e., mutual support among Arleta Franczukowska ECONOMY AND HEALTH ECONOMY AND HEALTH colleagues emerged as an important strategy Eva Krczal Doris Behrens Eva Krczal

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 120 Research Report 2020/21 121

Figures, Data, Facts

Æ Facts & Figures Æ Research in Figures Æ Recently Appointed Professors and Assistant Professors Æ Science & Society Æ Outlook

www.donau-uni.ac.at/research 122 Facts & Figures 123

Through seamless cooperation the Research Services and Grant Acquisition Office for Grant Acquisition Office for Research Services offices are able to deliver a comprehensive information and support service The Office for Grant Acquisition advises and The Office for Research Services is the con- to assist researchers obtain third-party funding at the regional, national supports researchers who wish to obtain tact point for questions concerning national funding (in European projects or other large and international funding calls, the implemen- and European levels. In particular, the service provides information and national or international projects) and guides tation and management of research projects advice on funding programs and support with application processes, them through the application process. and for the commercialization of research project planning and management. results. It oversees the university’s internal Team: research documentation system and orga- Katrin Kaineder, Head of Office nizes continuing education and information Miriam Peinhaupt, Grant Acquisition Specialist events for researchers.

Team: Edith Huber, Head of Office Sabina Ertl, Advisor Silvia Hofbauer, Advisor David Krych, Advisor Claudia Paulhart, Administrative Project Manager Karin Elisabeth Siebenhandl, Advisor

Pictured (f. l. t. r. & top down) Silvia Hofbauer David Krych Sabina Ertl Karin Elisabeth Siebenhandl Claudia Paulhart Edith Huber Katrin Kaineder Miriam Peinhaupt

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 124 Research in Figures 125

Research at the University for Continuing Education Krems is characterized by a high degree of transdisciplinarity and lively exchange between disciplines, and also between Academic Staff Third-party research funding in 2020 Total: 348 Total: 8.3 million euros research, teaching and society. This ensures innovation and an intensive transfer of knowledge. Women: 199 By funding organization: Men: 149 Business Other Federal Government Foundations

50 % Public entities EU

In its research work the University for Con- Research is conducted at the three faculties, tinuing Education Krems is guided by a desire their departments and research labs: to find answers to the major challenges facing

society today. It combines basic and applied Æ Faculty of Health and Medicine Women Men research across disciplines and integrates Æ Faculty of Business and Globalization Regional Government FFG knowledge from outside the academic sphere. Æ Faculty of Education, Arts and Architecture Source: University for Continuing Education Krems (as per: 31 Dec 2020, actual persons) FWF Research is based upon a clearly defined Research within the departments is comple- International Organizations profile with university-wide fields of research: mented by the PhD programs and interfaculty research groups. Æ Regenerative Medicine Æ Cohesive and Innovative Societies Development third-party funding and cost of research Æ Cultural Heritage Æ Continuing Education Research 14.152 Reporting period 2020/21 14.000

13.000 12.644

12.000 11.405 11.000

Facts & Figures 10.000 9.362

Data collected 2020 9.000 8.712

8.000

7.000 8.276 Publications total: 382 8.003

Number of scientific / art publications 6.000 7.322

f: 1 h: 4 5.000 a: 22 b: 142 c: 71 d: 104 e: 37 g: 1 5.397

4.000 5.149

Mio. Eur 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

a  First edition reference books and textbooks: 22 Third-party research funding Research spending b  Articles first published in SCI, SSCI and A&HCI journals: 142 including international co-publications: 73 c  Articles first published in other scientific journals: 71 d  Articles first published in compilations: 104 e  Other scientific publications: 37 Projects by funding organization total: 222 f  Artistic sound, image, data carriers: 1 Federal Intl. Org.: 7 Public entities: 15 Business: 15 g  Art catalogs and other art publications: 1 Government: 13 EU: 48 FFG: 37 FWF: 6 Regional Government: 72 Foundations: 7 Other: 2 h  Articles in art catalogs and other art publications: 4

Source: Intellectual Capital Report 2020

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 126 Recently Appointed Professors and Assistant Professors 127

Æ Stefan Oppl Æ Assistant Professors Stefan Oppl joined the University for Continuing Education Krems on 1 September 2019 Tenure track positions were offered to seven academic staff members by the beginning of 2021: following his appointment as professor of Technology-Supported Learning at the Department for Continuing Education Research and Educational Technologies at the Faculty of Education, Edith Blaschitz, Assistant Professor for Transdisciplinary Art and Cultural Research Arts and Architecture in accordance with § 98 Universities Act. Oppl gained his in Albert Kraler, Assistant Professor for Migration Studies Business Informatics at the University of Linz. Gabriela Viale Pereira, Assistant Professor for Information Systems Elke Humer, Assistant Professor for Biopsychosocial Health Research Heidrun Bohnet, Assistant Professor for Quantitative Migration and Globalization Research Daniela Trauninger, Assistant Professor for Building Climatology and Building Technology Anna Maria Kaiser, Assistant Professor for Applied Cultural Property Protection Æ Attila Pausits Attila Pausits was appointed university professor of Continuing Education Research and Educational Development on 1 October 2020 in accordance with § 98 Universities Act. Pausits, who heads the Department for Higher Education Research received his habilitation in Economic and Management Studies at the University of West Hungary, Sopron.

Æ Stefanie Auer Stefanie Auer heads the Center for Dementia Studies at the University for Continuing University Krems. Folllowing her initial appointment in 2015, she was again appointed professor for Dementia Research on 1 November 2020 in accordance with § 99 Universities Act. Auer is Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medicine, and Deputy Head of the Department for Clinical Neurosciences and Preventive Medicine.

Æ Doris Behrens Doris Behrens moved from the National Health Service (NHS) Wales to the University for Continuing Education Krems in January 2021. She took up her position as university pro- fessor for Management in Healthcare on 1 January 2021 following her appointment in accor- dance with § 98 Universities Act and also became Head of the Department for Economy and Health. Behrens habilitated in Operations Research at Vienna University of Technology.

Æ Thomas Klestil Thomas Klestil was appointed professor for Clinical Research in Orthopedics and Trauma- tology on 1 January 2021 in accordance with § 98 Universities Act. The specialist for Ortho- pedics and Trauma Surgery had been appointed university professor for Traumatology at the University for Continuing Education Krems in 2016 in accordance with § 99 Universities Act. Klestil works at the Department for Health Sciences, Medicine and Research.

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 128 Science & Society 129

The University for Continuing Education Krems is committed to disseminating Scientific Awards academic working methods, research and research processes to an interested public. Even under the difficult circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, the University and Prizes participated in the digital version of the Long Night of Research 2020, the Austria-wide science communication format.

Researchers at the University for Continu- Lower Austrian Science Award 2020 ing Education Krems received numerous Appreciation Awards for extraordinary scien- awards for their work between October tific achievements to: 2019 and February 2021: Æ Markus Gusenbauer, Department for Inte- grated Sensor Systems for his research on B&C Private Foundation Houska Prize 2019 Computational Materials Design. Æ Nomination for the project “Unkonven- Æ Barbara Nußbaumer-Streit, head of the tionelle Spin-Topologie für Magnetfeld- Cochrane Austria center, Department for Æ Long Night of Research 2020 in Digital sensoren im Auto” led by Hubert Brückl, Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation, Format Professor for Sensor Technology and Head for her research work on COVID-19 The University for Continuing Education of the Department for Integrated Sensor quarantine measures. Krems took part in the Long Night of Research Systems. Æ Gabriel M. Lentner, deputy head of between 9 October and 31 December 2020 Department for Legal Studies and Inter- with several virtual stations and videos espe- Krems Cooperation Research Award 2019 national Relations for a monograph on cially created for the digital edition of the Æ to René Weiss, for the publication “Differ- international law. nationwide event. The topics covered, for ential Interaction of Platelet-Derived example, biodiversity, sepsis, cellular commu- Extracellular Vesicles with Leukocyte Science Prize 2019 of the Austrian Society nication, 3D visualizations, the effects of Subsets in Human Whole Blood“, Scien- for Trauma Surgery climate change on fish or the future of Europe. tific Reports 8: 6598 (2018). Æ to Thomas Klestil, professor for Clinical The video clips presented the researcher’s Research in Orthopedics and Traumatology work in a way that was easy to understand. Early Career Award of the Austrian Public at the Department for Health Sciences, Health Association (ÖGPH) Medicine and Research, for his study on Æ third place to Alexander Braun, Depart- the optimal timing of hip fracture surgery. ment for Clinical Neurosciences and Preventive Medicine, for his studies on the The Wissenschaf[f]t Zukunft prize 2019 costs of dementia care. awarded by Lower Austria Æ first prize in the category Dissertation/PhD tecnet accent Innovation Award 2019 for the dissertation on Flow Sensors on presented by tecnet equity and PCB Technology by Thomas Glatzl, Depart- accent-Gründerservice ment for Integrated Sensor Systems. Æ First prize went to a research project led by Matthias Pilecky from the University for Continuing Education Krems on sepsis pathogens.

Lower Austrian Science Award 2019, Appreciation Award Æ to Oliver Grau, professor for Image Sci- ence, Department for Arts and Cultural Studies, Center for Image Sciences, in rec- ognition of his services to Image Sciences and the field of Media Arts research.

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 130 Outlook 131

Research at the University for Continuing Education Krems focuses on current and future societal challenges. The dynamic nature of global changes requires continuous progress in research. In spring 2021, the University for Continuing Education Krems broadened and modified its main fields of research.

Our main areas of research: Stronger Focus on Europe New PhD Programs Increasing Support for Researchers: Æ Digital Transformation, Health and Tackling major societal challenges requires In the period covered by the current and By setting up the Office for Grant Acquisition, Innovation in Cohesive and Sustainable a transdisciplinary approach. The University forthcoming performance agreements, the the University for Continuing Education Krems European Societies for Continuing Education Krems aims to University for Continuing Education Krems is supporting the goal of increasing research Æ Evidence-based Health Research expand its participation in EU-funded research is establishing additional PhD programs activities at the European level (see also Æ Cultural Heritage projects and to make the most of the oppor- in the university’s main research fields to page 122). Æ Preventive and Regenerative Medicine tunities offered by the new EU Framework complement the two existing PhD programs. Æ Continuing Education Research Program Horizon Europe and other funding The PhD program Technology, Innovation Furthermore, the University for Continuing schemes in order to deepen existing research and Cohesive Society is currently undergoing Education Krems supports the publishing networks and develop new ones. accreditation. activities of its researchers in open access journals and is continuously expanding its In the years to come, additional PhD programs range of electronic resources (e-journals and will be established in the following fields: databases). Æ Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning Æ Cultural Heritage Æ Evidence-based Medicine Æ Health Management Æ Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Research Æ Sensor Systems and Sensor Networks

University for Continuing Education Krems, Research Report 2020/21 132

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