Advancing freshwater restoration

EcoAdvance is very proud of partner Helmut Habersack, winner of the 2023 Austrian of the Year in Research. Helmut's contributions to Austria are epitomized by the new University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) river research Laboratory that enables full scale studies of rivers and their dynamics using the Danube River – just the kinds of research we need to drive improvements in navigation and ecological restoration of the world's critical freshwater ecosystems.

The award process starts with nominations and public voting to narrow the field to three finalists; a jury of experts selects the winner. Helmut, who chaired the Vienna Water Conferences this past summer, said he was surprised to win.  Colleagues Marcel Liedermann and Martin Glas share champaign with Helmut, students and lab staff as they celebrate the award. Austrian Television ORF will broadcast the highlights of the gala, which was accompanied by “Im Zentrum” presenter Claudia Reiterer, on ORF2 on the October 26th, an Austrian national holiday, at 11 p.m.