LIQUIFER Systems Group (LSG) is a trans-disciplinary platform engaged in designing our future on Earth and in Outer Space.
We specialize in architecture, industrial design, human factors, systems engineering, robotics and satellite technologies for terrestrial and space applications.
http://www.liquifer.com
http://www.biornametics.com

The photos show how we collaborate within our trans-disciplinary team in the office. We meet on a regular basis to discuss the projects, for example designs for deployable systems or habitats in extreme environments. We also discuss latest developments in space technology and exchange ideas in the respective fields.

On the top picture Barbara Imhof (left) and Waltraut Hoheneder, architects and managing directors of the interdisciplinary platform LIQUIFER Systems Group, brainstorm about new projects.

The middle image below depicts a discussion in front of a 3D model of a habitat with the architect René Waclavicek (middle) and the medical doctor Kaspar Vogel (right). In the background the physicist and space technology expert Norbert Frischauf (left) and Barbara Imhof immerse into a specific detail of the design.

On the bottom picture, the systems engineer Stephen Ransom (middle) and Waltraut Hoheneder discuss possible mission scenarios for a habitat on the moon and third managing director and satellite expert Valentin Eder (left) joins in.

Photos © Manfred Burger

I am a researcher at the AIT (Austrian Institute of Technology) in Vienna. My field of work is "computer vision", whose general goal is to make computer "see" or, in other words, interpreting content of images or videos in a way similar as human do.

In my research group, we develop algorithms for camera network, that will help automatically detect hazardous events for a more secure environment. The two images show myself presenting one of our algorithms to detect humans in video sequences and mounting one of the network cameras.

The physicist Prof. Ille C. Gebeshuber from TU Vienna and UKM Malaysia, the biologist Dr. R. Fazly (from UKM Malaysia) and two park rangers in the rainforest of Lata Jarum in Malaysia. The two rangers assisted the scientists in their investigation of the eyes of night-active spiders. Their reflective properties provide interesting input for the development of new, sustainable reflectors in clothing, in paint for the median strip of streets, etc.

The inflorescence of Rafflesia belongs to the largest flowers in the world. Currently, Prof. Ille C. Gebeshuber from the Vienna University of Technology and from UKM Malaysia is heading a major research project that investigates microelectromechanical systems to assist, enhance and expand human sensory capabilities. They are working on steering wheels that vibrate when gasoline is coming to an end, and glasses that allow to see fruits in UV light - which would make it easy to pick ripe fruits only for harvesting. And they also work on the possibility to transfer the magnetic sense of fish and birds to humans. Rafflesia with her large smelly inflorescences that look like fat meat and that therefore attract flies is inspiring the group to think around corners and to be even more innovative in their approaches.

Prof. Ille C. Gebeshuber from the Vienna University of Technology, Department of Applied Physics, and the National University of Malaysia (UKM) with pupils from an Indian and a Chinese School in Malacca, Malaysia. The group is about to leave civilisation, and to enter the rainforest. For the kids it is the first rainforest walk in their lives. In the following two hours, they look at nature with the eyes of a physicist. Energy storage systems, novel adhesives and attachment devices, mechanical optimization of machine parts and antireflection coatings - all this already exists in plants, animals and microorganisms in the rainforest. And we can learn a lot from it for science and engineering. The young lady with the red hat liked this tour a lot, and indeed now considers to study engineering and to collaborate with Prof. Gebeshuber in the future!

Photo 03 > © 2011, Ilyas Sapiyan, reproduced with permission of the photographer

The pictures were taken on a journey to Venezuela. As part of my work, I'm supporting clients by assessing the feasibility of Joint Ventures in the field of solid biomass fuels. This task comprises on site visits, sampling, analysis of raw materials and performing of necessary technical development. "At home" I'm mainly occupied with Project management of all kind of research projects.
http://www.ofi.at/

Treating children is challenging and rewarding to the same extent. My research into resorbable implants for the treatment of fractures in children will make a second operation unnecessary to remove the implant. This, I hope, will reduce the number of operations carried out on children.

Even as a little girl I was fascinated by powerful natural phenomena, such as lightning with its incredible energy and heavy rockets that could fly into space. Through my studies in theoretical and experimental physics at the University of Innsbruck and various research stays I was able to figure so many secrets out. And yet there is still so much to explore – these days also on an “interdisciplinary” level – in close collaboration with chemists, biologists and medical people.
Both as a manager of my small company rho-BeSt coating and as a scientific director of the Laura Bassi Centre of Expertise DiaLife, I enjoy the diverse spectra of my work. I am particularly happy about having attracted the interest of my children in my work – the balanced mix of work and leisure – and to never have lost my curiosity.

I am heading the research group Molecular Plant Biotechnology at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna. I am most interested in the development of plant-based expression systems that allow the rapid generation of highly efficient recombinant therapeutic proteins.

During my few years of professional training and work, I have had the chance to visit several amazing places in and out of Austria to study. I had the best time in San Diego, California, working at the Department of Cardiology at the University of California School of Medicine. Researching for my PhD, I am currently living in the capital of the Alps, Innsbruck, where I have the chance to work on a tissue engineering and stem cell project. DiaLife involves many inter- national partners from several disciplines, so I am learning a lot as regards interaction, flexibility and different ways of doing research. I am curious where the future will take me. Anyhow, I will be there. With open arms and open eyes.

Trained as marine biologist I was used to work with bacterial symbionts and worms from the deep sea. As part of the OCUVAC research team I work now with bacterial pathogens which are not unlike the symbionts regarding the mechanism of interaction with the host but very different in the outcome. The development of a vaccine preventing trachoma is a challenging task and a very long road, but the goal of reducing avoidable blindness in millions of people – especially in children – is by all means worth the effort. To implement sustainable improvements to eye care systems we cooperate closely with ophthalmologists from developing countries. In doing so, we are currently establishing a research cooperation with Ethiopian scientists, which will soon take us to Ethiopia and the beautiful city of Jimma (from where coffee originates).

As a microbiologist and electron microscopist, I have always been fascinated by intracellular bacteria such as Chla- mydia. Our highly ambitious project goal is to produce a vaccine that relieves the pain for patients suffering from trachoma, which is caused by an infection with these tricky bacteria. Luckily, our team brings multi-skilled talent and experience à la “Oceans Eleven” to the table to get the job done. It’s a worthwhile goal that deserves every effort and we will never give up until we have succeeded.