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REMASS: Understanding our society's metabolism
The visionary REMASS project investigates the effects of crises on society's metabolism - and has been awarded funding of 7.1 million Euros by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) for the next five years.
Shrinking the economy to protect the environment: The search for a Degrowth theory of money
Countries can fund important environmental and social programmes while also reducing overall economic activity if they follow certain steps, new research from WU Vienna has revealed.
WU researcher Jürgen Braunstein wins ERC Starting Grant
The European Research Council awards Jürgen Braunstein an ERC Starting Grant, one of the most prestigious European science awards. The award is endowed with €1.5 million. Braunstein conducts research at the WU Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience. He was granted starting capital for his research project on Energy Transitions and the Rise and Fall of Great Financial Centers (GFCs).
Long-term care: Mixed reality applications help people in need of care and caregivers
The provision of care for people in need of long-term care is facing major challenges. Measures must be taken at many levels to make jobs in this sector more attractive and to ensure the care of those affected. WU researcher Birgit Trukeschitz and her team at the WU Research Institute for Economics of Aging are evaluating the practicality and impact of new technologies developed for older people and long-term care in national and European projects. Now Birgit Trukeschitz has been honored as Researcher of the Month for her work.
Mining poses danger to the climate and biodiversity
For the first time, Earth observation satellite images allow researchers to make a comprehensive assessment of the global impact of mining activities. Victor Maus from WU’s Institute for Ecological Economics led the mapping of 100,000 km² of mining areas around the world. The result: Land of high value for biodiversity conservation and climate stability is most impacted by mining: This applies to 29% (29,171 km²) of the global mining area. The researchers also found that tropical and subtropical forests correspond to 60% (8,533 km²) of the area of forest removed for mining between 2000 to 2019.
Refugees in Austria are healthier than refugees in Germany
June 20 is World Refugee Day. A new study published in the journal PLOS ONE looks at the health situation of asylum seekers and refugees in Germany and Austria. Together with coauthors from Germany, researchers from WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business) and the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) compared the self-reported health status of refugees in the two countries. One of their key findings: Unrestricted access to the health care system from day one, as provided in Austria, leads to better health.
UN SDGs: The pandemic as a huge setback
The fifth edition of the Eurostat monitoring report outlines the first effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the progress the EU and its member states are making towards achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Despite measures like short-time working, the European job market was hit hard in 2020 as a consequence of the dramatic economic downturn. With regard to climate protection and energy consumption, however, the data indicates that 2020 brought about significant, albeit short-lived, improvements. The monitoring report was prepared by WU Vienna’s Institute for Managing Sustainability. EU Commissioner for the Economy Paolo Gentiloni will present the report on June 15.