Bacteria vs. Plastic – JKU Macke Award Goes to Laura Wolfthaler

This year's JKU Wilhelm Macke Award goes to Laura Wolfthaler.

Her presentation titled "PETasen auf Umweltmission - Enzyme fressen unseren Müll" won over the audience, which also formed the jury.

Every year, the JKU recognizes outstanding physics Master's theses. To win, the candidates have to impress the audience, keeping their presentations short, easy to understand, and entertaining. This year's event once again had an audience of over than 200 students. The audience enjoyed an entertaining afternoon of presentations that offered insights into various areas of physics.

Laura Wolfthaler from the Institute of Experimental Physics won the award with her entry "PETasen auf Umweltmission - Enzyme fressen unseren Müll". Her topic couldn't be more timely: She is researching the biological decomposition of PET, the type of plastic that bottles, packaging, and textiles are made of - and which is harming our environment through plastic pollution, microplastics, and forever waste.

Profile
Laura Wolfthaler is 25 years old. Born in Steyr, she now lives in Linz. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, sewing, singing, and keeping fit with workouts.

The other finalists:

Gabriel Häusler (Department of Theoretical Biophysics at the Institute of Theoretical Physics)
Rechnen mit Lichtgeschwindigkeit - Wie Glühbirne und Kinoprojektor zum schnellsten Messgerät der Welt werden

Häusler has developed a novel analytical device that recognizes chemical compositions in fractions of a second thanks to intelligent light sensors and tiny mirrors.

Anna Moosleitner (work completed at the Institute of Theoretical Physics)
Physik des Herzens - Wie das EKG die biophysikalischen Grundbausteine des Lebens entschlüsselt

Moosleitner's work combines medicine, physics, and didactics, making physics tangible for teenage high school students. She has prepared teaching materials that introduce students to the topic of electrocardiograms (ECGs), which measure electric heart signals, as a modular carousel activity.