FSP Fellowship ‘Constructed Spaces – Spatial Constructs’
In October 2025, the Research Area "Cultural Encounters – Cultural Conflicts" again offered a Fellowship for three international young researchers to work at the university of Innsbruck, this year's topic was 'Constructed Spaces - Spatial Constructs'.
Francesca Ferlaino is Austria’s Scientist of the Year
The Austrian Association of Science and Education Journalists named quantum physicist Francesca Ferlaino Scientist of the Year. Born in Italy, she has been conducting research at the Department of Experimental Physics at the University of Innsbruck since 2006 and has been Scientific Director at IQOQI Innsbruck since 2014.
University of Innsbruck expands its micro-credential portfolio
The University of Innsbruck is expanding its range of micro-credentials and further strengthening its position within the Aurora European Universities Alliance. Alongside established offerings such as “Reading Austria in European and Global Context” and “Climate Action & Sustainability Communication”, the new micro-credential “Sport, Tourism & Sustainable Event Management” has recently been introduced.
Why the 2011 Tsunami in Japan was so intense
According to a study published in the journal Science, researchers can now explain why the earthquake off the Japanese coast in 2011 triggered an exceptionally strong tsunami. The cause likely lies in a special structure of the sediment deposits in that region. This conclusion is based on analyses of drill cores from the Japan Trench collected during Expedition 405 as part of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). Charlotte Pizer from the Department of Geology at the University of Innsbruck was involved.
A Simple Spin Swap Reveals Exotic Anyons
Researchers from the University of Innsbruck, the Collège de France, and the Université Libre de Bruxelles have developed a simple yet powerful method to reveal anyons—exotic quantum particles that are neither bosons nor fermions—in one-dimensional systems.
FWF funding for research in surface chemistry
Laerte Patera from the Department of Physical Chemistry was recently awarded funding from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). As part of the consortium "Pushing Oxide Catalysis: Atomic-Scale View at Photocharges", Patera's research group aims to investigate photocatalytic processes using state-of-the-art atomic force microscopy.
580,000 Years of Climate History Revealed
An international research team led by Christoph Spötl from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, has compiled an extraordinary climate reconstruction based on data from a cave in Nevada, USA. The study provides unique insights into the climate history of one of the driest regions in North America – and shows how closely temperature, water availability, and vegetation are linked in arid regions.
Bio-inspired chemistry for innovative plant protection products
Thomas Magauer's research group has achieved a major breakthrough in natural product chemistry. Using a bio-inspired synthesis approach, the researchers have developed a new, efficient method for accessing highly effective natural lignans – molecules with great potential for plant protection and sustainable pest control.