Vienna Mayor honors visionary Franz Six in the town hall!

Vienna Mayor honors visionary Franz Six in the town hall!

Wien, Österreich - On April 2, 2025, Mayor Michael Ludwig presented the golden honor to Franz Six, the honorary president of the House of the Sea. The ceremonial ceremony took place in the town hall of Vienna and gathered numerous guests of honor, including the former mayor Michael Häupl and representatives of the Vienna Landtag and municipal council. In his speech, Ludwig paid tribute to Franz Six and described him as a "visionary" who has been committed to the institution since 1965

Franz Six is a formative figure in the history of the House of the Sea, especially in critical times, when the "Society for Sea Biology" was faced with the closure. Under his leadership, significant innovations such as the Atlantic tunnel and the café on the attic were realized. Thanks to its commitment, the house of the sea attracts over 900,000 visitors every year and has established itself as an important educational and research institution.

commitment and professional career

The laudation during the ceremony was held by Professor Jörg Ott, a renowned sea biologist. Franz Six was born in Vienna on April 3, 1945 and has been closely connected to the sea of the sea since 1965. He started his career at the freight forwarding company Schier, Otten & Co and took over the management there. From 1966 he worked in the House of the Sea and quickly became Vice President, followed by the appointment as Honorary President in 1971.

From 1977 to 2013, Franz Six was the managing of the president and also took over the coordination of the management group in 1995. His responsibility grew when he took on personal financial risks from 1997. After moving to the Board of the Sea private foundation in 2013, he remained honorary president and decisively influenced the development of the institution. Under his leadership, the House of the Sea transformed from a small project that once had debt of 77,000 Schilling, to one of the top sights of Vienna.

Sea biology in Vienna

Wien not only made a name for itself through the house of the sea, but also established itself as a center for marine research and studies. Despite its geographical location, the city offers numerous opportunities to deal with ocean ecosystems. The University of Vienna has a wide range of courses in marine biology, including marine ecology, marine chemistry and marine geology. Studies from the University of Natural Research Vienna also cover the area of environmental and organic resource management, with a special focus on marine biology.

A central aspect of training at the Vienna universities is practical experience. Students have the opportunity to take part in research projects and field studies. International collaborations and exchange programs promote the connection to other marine research institutions worldwide, which offers students unique perspectives. Graduates of the courses find numerous career opportunities in research institutes, environmental protection organizations, government agencies and in industry.

Overall, Vienna forms an important place not only through the commitment of personalities such as Franz Six, but also through his academic programs and research institutions for the protection of marine resources and sustainable practices in marine biology.

Franz Six is also the carrier of the silver honor for merits around the state of Vienna, which also underlines its longstanding and outstanding commitment in the scene of marine biology.