Hans P. Schönlaub,
Secretary General, ANCGThis brochure briefly summarizes Earth Science-related
activities in Austria carried out by government supported institutions,
the academia, and different scientific organisations and societies.
Since the days of Celtic and Roman settlements the Eastern Alps have been
extensively mined in particular for iron, copper and salt. Although mining
activities significantly diminished in the 20th century due to exhausted
ores, research for hydrocarbon and other economic resources has still
continued in various regions of the Alps and their foreland basins. Based
on these early pre-scientific activities and new investigations started
during the pioneering geologic phase in the early 19th century, knowledge
on the spatial and temporal relationships of the highly diverse suite
of rocks of the Alps has greatly expanded during the past decades. In
fact, the introduction of sophisticated new methods and ideas has not
only provided a whole set of additional basic data but also revolutionary
new concepts for reconstructing the geologic history of the whole Alps.
Presently, geoscientific research in Austria is being primarily undertaken
by the Geological Survey of Austria and by several Earth Science-related
institutes at the universities of Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and
Leoben. In addition, research institutions such as the Natural History
Museum in Vienna, museums in other cities, and the Austrian Academy of
Science provide essential data of both scientific and social-economic
interest and value.
According to the "Forschungsbericht 1997" of the Ministry of
Science and Transport in Austria the total federal government spending
for R&TD including the contributions for international organisations
were calculated at 15.5 Billion ATS for the year 1997. The expenses for
Earth sciences including research into the oceans, the atmosphere and
space are estimated at 5% of the total amount, i. e. 775 Million ATS or
56 MECU .
The Austrian National Committee for Geosciences invites those who are interested
to obtain further informations about Earth Science related topics to contact
one of the organizations and institutions listed in this brochure. The
data included here have been compiled by representatives of the Austrian
National Committee for Geosciences and from other persons and sources listed
under the headings. Their contributions are gratefully acknowledged.
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