Canadian scientist Len Wassenaar of the Liptox working group has started a new 2 year FWF project titled "non-EX-HYDRO: HydroEco" at WasserCluster Lunz as of November 22. This worldwide project involves scientific partners from Germany, Belgium, Canada, Italy and the USA to find out if the generated H-isotope data from new organic hydrogen isotope reference materials such as wood, keratin, hair, cotton, flour, honey, amino acids, collagen etc. are traceable and comparable between international laboratories. In doing so, hydrogen isotope biogeochemistry will be advanced to further the science of aquatic and terrestrial ecology, paleoecology, environmental crime, and food traceability.
Augustinus Liechtenstein successfully defended his Master thesis "Phosphorus adsorption capacities of stream sediments in Lower Austria with relation to land use and riparian vegetation" under the supervision of Gabriele Weigelhofer at BOKU on Nov 16, 2022. His work was conducted at WasserCluster Lunz and studied the effects of riparian forests on the phosphorus uptake potential of stream sediments. We congratulate warmly.
Anna-Lisa Dittrich was awarded the prize for the "Best Master Student of BOKU 2022" on Nov 15. Her Master thesis took place at WasserCluster Lunz and dealt with the use of bioreactors made of wood chips or activated carbon for the removal of dissolved phosphorus and nitrogen from agriculturally polluted waters. We congratulate her warmly.
Gabriele Weigelhofer, head of the working group BIGER, represented the WasserCluster Lunz at the annual general meeting of the Austrian Alpine Club, section Waidhofen/Ybbs, on 22. 10. 22 with a lecture on sustainable water protection. She informed about the many services streams provide (including biodiversity, water self-purification, recreation/tourism, flood protection). According to the motto: water protection is human protection. More information can be found here.
In 2022, we collected 27 kg of used PE and PP laboratory disposables at WasserCluster. The proceeds from the recycling will benefit children with special needs. We would also like to make special mention of the great care that was taken in collecting. There were virtually no misplaced items!
The picture shows the handover to Peter Machek from the association "Helping instead of throwing away”
You can find more details about the initiative here News - Helfen statt wegwerfen
For the project RESTORE4Cs (Modelling Restoration of wetlands for carbon pathways, climate change mitigation and adaptation, ecosystem services, and biodiversity co-benefits) a postdoc position is available at WasserCluster Lunz starting February 23. Please send applications to the working group leader
We celebrate our 1 year sustainability initiative at WasserCluster Lunz with a self-made film about our sustainable initiatives at the institute so far. We value colorful ideas for a fulfilling, respectful and environmentally conscious interaction in research and among each other likewise. Be inspired by our three sustainability initiatives. You already know the film from our open day? Even better. Here's the link to stream it at home.
At this year's meeting of the Association of Limnologists in Austria (SIL-Austria) at the Biological Station Neusiedlersee in Illmitz, limnologists, geologists and hydrologists discussed the critical situation of Lake Neusiedl, which has lost a lot of its water this year. From 28 - 30 September 2022, participants of a panel discussion and of the scientific meeting explored the current lake situation and discussed "Steppe lakes under climatic change - past, present and future of Lake Neusiedl".