Our Stories

Countries compete for many things: the FIFA World Cup trophy, access to markets and availability of minerals. And increasingly for people. Skilled workers turn out to be one of the most valuable resources for the energy transition. Preliminary research suggests that Asia and the Americas could have an edge on other regions in this race.

We are changing the climate - and with it, the risk for landslides. Extreme weather and land use are increasing their number and severity. Particularly in urban areas, landslides have become the cause of many avoidable deaths. Now, researchers ranging from geologists to psychologists have united to rethink the issue holistically. The resulting research group wants to reduce landslide fatalities in the long run - despite urbanization and climate change.

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.

Invasive alien species are among the most underestimated drivers of biodiversity loss. What happens when this complex challenge becomes a board game? Developed by biodiversity researcher Bernd Lenzner and colleagues, Raccoon Rampage turns research into a playable experience, showing how ecological change, political decisions and public perception interact, and why invasive alien species require attention before their impacts become irreversible.

The Alps are warming rapidly, and winter as we know it is fading. Why are plants, people and the ski industry struggling to adapt? Can artificial snow buy enough time, and what is needed to maintain quality of life in the mountains? Research by ECH members Valentina Ausserladscheider and Stefan Dullinger offers some answers. A story of snowmaking, climate pressures, and cultural lethargy.