Research awards granted by the State of Styria – ARF – Ausseer Regional Fernsehen

Today, State Councilor for Science and Research Barbara Eibinger-Miedl presented the State of Styria research awards for 2024 in the White Hall of Graz Castle with the Archduke Johann Research Award, the Research Award and the Promotion Award for Science and Research 12,000 euros awarded given annually for outstanding achievements in the field of science and research.

“Styria is the leading research country in Austria. The researchers at our local universities and research centers are recognized in a wide range of fields and far beyond the borders. Seen in this way, the winners of the 2024 research awards also represent the strength and diversity of the Styrian research landscape. “With the awards we also want to raise awareness of the importance of science and research and thus contribute to a wider understanding of science,” said State Councilor Eibinger-Miedl.

The Erzherzog Johann Research Award was awarded to Martin Gross from the Universalmuseum Joanneum, Department of Natural History (Collection of Geology and Paleontology). Leonhard Grill from the Institute of Chemistry (Department of Physical Chemistry) at the University of Graz received the research award. The sponsorship award went to Jana Lasser from the IDea_Lab at the University of Graz.

Erzherzog Johann Research Award 2024 (for achievements that promote the socio-political, humanistic and technological development of Styria):

Martin Gross from the Universalmuseum Joanneum, Department of Natural History (Geology & Paleontology Collection) for the work:

“Lithostratigraphic units of Austria: Cenozoic (Them) – Styrian Basin”

Rocks archives events of a certain period. But it is only through the spatial-temporal (strategic) order of many rock units that the reconstruction of the earth’s history becomes possible. The main requirement is a clear definition of lithostratigraphic units based on rock properties. In the Styrian Basin, several rock groups have been identified, but are generally poorly defined. With this work, the lithostratigraphic units of this basin are historically illuminated, defined, spatially and temporally related to each other and geographically located as precisely as possible. The basis for this is our own scientific work and field trips over the past three decades as well as intensive research into the specialist literature over two centuries of research history. This provides a comprehensive reference work that is expected to be a solid basis for future geological mapping and analyzes of basin development outside the borders of Styria. In addition to the academic side (eg changes in the landscape, the climate, the living environment over millions of years), knowledge of the underground structure is also of great socio-economic importance. Just think about the interests of the raw materials industry, construction, energy and water and conflict in an area that covers about a quarter of Styria and where almost two thirds of Styria live.

Styria State Research Award 2024 (for outstanding achievements by recognized scientists in all fields of scientific research):

Leonard Grill from the Institute of Chemistry (Department of Physical Chemistry) at the University of Graz for the work:

“Adsorbate motors for unidirectional translation and transport”

Movements on very small scales in the nanometer range are completely different than what we are used to in the macroscopic world, for example, Newtonian mechanics does not play a role. Objects on the atomic scale usually move in all directions in a statistically distributed manner. This means that when you stimulate an atom or molecule, you cannot predict whether the particle will move forward, backward or sideways. In a groundbreaking experiment, the team led by Leonhard Grill has now discovered a completely new molecular motor that moves by itself in one direction only and with 100 percent efficiency. These new molecular machines do not need a built-in motor, but get their driving function together with the surface. This means that they have a much simpler chemical structure and are therefore easier to make. The atomic structure of the “road surface”, ie the surface, plays an important role. It has also been shown that these nanomachines can do a real job of transporting individual molecules as “cargo” from one place to another, always in a completely unidirectional way, which unfolds completely new applications.

Styria State Funding Award 2024 (for scientists under 40 years of age):

Jana Lasser from the IDea_Lab at the University of Graz for the work:

“From Alternative Concepts of Honesty to Alternative Realities in Communication with US Politicians”

What are the reasons and social changes that contribute to people sharing unreliable information? With the study “From alternative perceptions of honesty to alternative realities in communication with US politicians,” Jana Lasser’s team was able to show for the first time the connection between a fundamental change in the perception of “honesty” and the dissemination of information wrong Is it possible that not only people who base their statements with reliable information can be considered “honest”, but also those who represent their views truthfully – even if they are not very careful with the truth? To test this idea, the researchers analyzed 3.8 million tweets from members of Congress in the US. It turns out that representatives of both political camps have expressed their views and convictions via Twitter since Donald Trump won the election in late 2016 – we call this form of communication “credibility”. this. Especially among Republicans, talk of credibility is increasingly associated with references to unreliable news sites. When it comes to “speaking facts”, however, ie communicating with a focus on objectively verifiable facts, both Democrats and Republicans cited sources of high quality and reliability.