Three questions for Antonia:
Where did you work before moving to the University of Graz?
Shortly before taking up my position at the professorship, I attended a summer school in Japan on the topic of “Natural Resource Management - Positive Peace and the SDGs.” That was shortly after I moved from Norway to Austria. I lived in Trondheim, Norway, for the last two years, as I did an Erasmus exchange program there during the second year of my master's degree in Environmental Systems Sciences / Climate Change and Transformation Science. After submitting my master's thesis, I did a three-month internship at a Norwegian start-up that promotes sustainable food systems. This job led to further positions as a project coordinator at a vegan café, a project position as a research assistant at the Trondheim Faculty of Medicine, and a position in regenerative agriculture.
What will your responsibilities at the professorship be?
I will mainly be working on the Circular Bioengineering project, using qualitative methods to research the social aspects of biorefineries. Two to three case studies are planned in a regional context, either in Austria or internationally. The project is very technical in nature, so my task is to consider the social sustainability of the innovations. This is important in order to avoid negative impacts and identify the positive aspects of biorefineries.
What is your favorite place in Graz?
My favorite place near the university is the botanical garden because it offers me peace and relaxation. After a busy day, it's a great place to unwind and take your mind off things.