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Paper Engineering in Austria and Central Europe 2023

Engineering students studied abroad for three weeks in annual PEACE workshop.

By Miami University

March 29^th, 2023

PEACE 2023

Paper Engineering in Austria and Central Europe (PEACE) is a study abroad workshop that takes students in a grand loop around the area, which is rich in pulp and paper science manufacturing facilities and cultural sites.

This is the fifth year that Steven Keller, a professor in the Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering department, has advised the study abroad trip over winter term.

Students in front of the Clock Tower, a symbolic landmark in Graz

First Stop: Vienna, Austria

Students flew into Vienna, capital of Austria, on December 26 and toured the Vienna City Center, explored the Museum of Technology, the MAK (Museum of Applied Arts), and Schönbrunn Palace.

Students standing in front of the Vienna Museum of Natural History.

Close-up of students in front of Schönbrunn Palace.

Students touring around Vienna with Dr. Lonnie Johnson

Graz, Austria

Next, the group took a train to Graz, the capital of Austria, where students worked on their coursework taking classes at TU-Graz. In addition to visiting and touring multiple pulp and paper mills, students also went sightseeing and explored local museums throughout the city.

Students touring SAPPI Gratkorn, a pulp and paper mill specializing in coated wood-free paper.

Students attending class at TU-Graz focusing on paper and board coating technology, taught by Professor Bauer

Students and Keller standing in front of SAPPI Gratkorn.

Students having lunch in a cafe on Schloßberg

Students in front of the Clock Tower landmark in Schloßberg.

Decorations throughout Graz for the Silvester Celebration.

Students touring Andritz mill, which specializes in manufacturing paper machines.

Students at a banquet with TU Graz students and faculty.

More Austria and Slovenia Highlights

Following their time in Graz, students continued to travel throughout Austria while receiving lectures and visiting various paper mills in the area. A few of these destinations included Slovenia, Katschberg, Gummern, and Trieste.

Students touring the Zellstoff Pöls pulp mill.

Students in front of the Papirnica Vevče Mill in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Students were treated to a horse-drawn carriage ride going around a lake in Bled.

Students went to the Omya calcium carbonate mine and sorting facility at Gummern.

Students receive a lecture in Omya, Gummern.

Venice, Italy

The group traveled to Venice for a day and toured the city and its local museums.

The group on a small bridge together in Venice.

Students standing in front of St. Mark's Basilica.

The group at Rialto Bridge in the heart of Venice

Fabriano and Central Italy

Fabriano is one of the first places that made pulp and paper and is the home of Fedrigoni Foundation Fabriano, a paper-making research center and historic archive, as well as Pioraco.

Students visiting the Fabriano Paper Mill in Piaroco.

Students about to visit the Fabriano paper mill.

Assisi, Italy

The group made a quick stop in the beautiful city of Assisi, which is known for its scenery and as the birthplace of St. Francis.

Florence, Lucca and Pisa

Multiple Italian cities were visited by the PEACE group over the next few days, including Florence, Lucca and Pisa. Along with exploring landmarks such as the Tower of Pisa and sightseeing, the group also visited the Sofidel Paper Mill and Fabio Perini, which specializes in machine manufacturing for the paper industry.

Students waving the Miami University flag at the top of the Florence Cathedral dome.

Zoomed out photo of the Florence Cathedral.

The group at the Sofidel Paper mill, where they specialize in tissue paper production.

The group touring the inside of Sofidel Paper mill.

View of Florence from the group's hotel.

The group leaning alongside the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Verona, Italy

Before visiting their next destination, the group visited Verona, which is famous for being an old medieval town, home of Verona Arena, and for being the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Three students standing on the inspiration for Juliet's balcony in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".

Innsbruck, Austria

Wattens, Austria

Right next to Innsbruck, the group visited Papierfabrik Wattens, a mill that manufactures cigarette paper, and Swarovski Crystal World in Wattens.

Students visiting Swarovski Crystal World.

Salzburg and Upper Austria

The group spent some of their final days in Salzburg touring multiple paper mills such as Lenzing, Laakirchen, Smurfit Kappa, and Mondi Neusiedler. In addition, they also visited notable Salzburg landmarks such as the Mauthausen Memorial and explored the Steyrermuhl paper museum and the city center.