Our Stories

For a long time, the oceans were regarded as virtually inexhaustible. Today, climate change, acidification, deep-sea mining and the loss of marine biodiversity show that even the oceans’ resilience has its limits. How can conservation, utilisation and economic interests be reconciled? Experts from research and practice discussed this at the 15th edition of “Environmental Dialogue", organised by the Environment and Climate Research Hub (ECH) at the Natural History Museum Vienna.

In the 2026 QS World University Rankings, the University of Vienna is ranked 140th, moving up 12 places from 2025 (152). It remains Austria’s highest-ranked university. Gains in Employer Reputation and Academic Reputation contributed to the rise. The result continues an upward trend; in October 2025, the university entered the THE top 100 for the first time.

In April, the Environment and Climate Research Hub (ECH) of the University of Vienna once again demonstrated what sets it apart as an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research network: climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution are not merely studied here, but are consistently brought to the forefront in various social spheres.

The oceans are under pressure from all sides. In a conversation with ECHO, political scientist Alice Vadrot and marine biologist Frank Melzner, ECH members at the University of Vienna, discuss how climate change is spoiling our vacations, why marine protected areas do not necessarily protect against deep-sea mining, and why every effort counts toward making marine ecosystems more resilient - and institutions for marine conservation stronger.

High interest greeted the event “Understanding Microplastics - What we know today and why panic is not the answer” organized by ECH, AGES and BfR, with many following via live stream. The discussions highlighted the complexity of the topic – spanning environmental, health and risk perception issues, with many questions still open. Experts agreed: only inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration can provide a thorough understanding of microplastics.

Alice Vadrot, political scientist at the University of Vienna and member of the ECH, has been elected as a domestic corresponding member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) – a recognition of her outstanding academic achievements. Domestic corresponding members are recognised researchers from Austria who are appointed to the Academy on the basis of their excellent expertise and who contribute to academic work and interdisciplinary exchange within the Academy.