Communication follows specific patterns which originate from social structures. These rules and patterns also apply to the field of technology and engineering. In traditionally male-dominated fields the risk of communicating stereotypes or under-representing women tends to be high. Images and texts as means of communication deliver more messages – conscious and unconscious – than one supposes.
The project “Gender Module – mobility patterns of care-giving people” was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology in addition to the recent Austrian-wide representative quantitative travel survey (2013-14). Within this research, five regions with quite different (public) transportation and geographic pre-conditions in Austria were defined and over 140 face-to-face in-depth interviews were carried out with individuals responsible for (unpaid) day-to-day care of their (own) children, parents, in-laws etc.
The way of planning and designing
the living
environment of people has an immediate effect on the quality of living. Involving citizens and stakeholders in planning processes has become increasingly more common and appreciated. How can we therefore facilitate more fruitful communication and thereby initiate effective participation?
The topic of the project “MicroSCHOOLclimate” is future-oriented and deals with the microclimate of learning spaces in urban and in rural areas. The term microclimate describes climatic conditions which effect humans directly.
Nowadays it is difficult to motivate and inspire children and adolescents for applied research. Within the project “Environmental Professions” kindergartners and pupils of all school levels are introduced into study programs and possible occupational profiles of the University of Life Sciences Vienna in order to raise their interest in research, technologies and innovation.
Currently, criteria for open space planning in regard to supported high-volume residential buildings is just partly embedded in Lower Austria: A concept for open spaces within the advisory committee for design and the section process for architecture and planning is requested. Also, criteria for green roofs and gardens are fed into the housing subsidy.
Approaches for semi-public or public green spaces were developed within “nature in the garden”: Communities, nursery schools, schools, institutions with therapy gardens and initiatives which aim to implement community gardens have been consulted.
The present project connects high-volume residential buildings with content of „nature in the garden“.