Dead fish in the university pond: Researchers warn of secret leaks!

Dead fish in the university pond: Researchers warn of secret leaks!

At the Johannes Kepler University in Linz, an unfortunate encounter caused a stir: a large number of dead fish were discovered in the pond on campus after the ice layer had finally thawed. These non-native fish, which were released into the pond by strangers, apparently could not withstand the freezing temperatures and were frozen to the frozen surface. “The water is tested regularly and so far there have been no defects,” explains Alexander Freischlager, Vice Rector for Campus Development. In the coming days, the dead fish will be collected by the Federal Real Estate Company (BIG) and disposed of properly orf.at reported.

The campus in transition

But that is not the only challenge the university faces. In the background, Freischlager is working on two important projects: the TNF tower, which is in need of renovation, and the new technical center. These developments are part of his broader responsibilities as Operations Manager, where he oversees eight major administrative departments and leads a team of 140 employees. “We have also done a lot of little things to make the campus more livable,” says Freischlager, adding that the campus was equipped with furniture that should enable students and employees to have a pleasant stay, such as diemacher.at reported.

As someone who studied at the JKU and now works there, Freischlager describes the university as a small universe full of positive topics and education. “It is important that both students and professors shape the university together,” he emphasizes. Despite his responsible job, he sees it as his duty to lend an open ear to his employees and to build trusting relationships. This culture could be crucial to how the university deals with challenges such as the current number of dead fish in the future.