Eva Maria Schöll

Eva Maria Schöll is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management within the Department of Ecosystem Management, Climate and Biodiversity at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). Currently serving as Deputy of the Head of her Institute (since 2024), she has progressed through the academic ranks from University Assistant (2021-2022) to Senior Scientist (since 2022). Her work spans multiple interdisciplinary projects connecting wildlife conservation with contemporary challenges like renewable energy development and landscape management.

Dr. Schöll's research interests focus on wildlife ecology and management, with particular expertise in biodiversity monitoring, habitat suitability modeling, and human-wildlife interactions. Her work increasingly addresses the critical interface between renewable energy development (particularly wind power) and wildlife conservation, developing methods for assessing impacts and identifying solutions that balance energy needs with biodiversity protection. She has pioneered the use of acoustic monitoring for bird and bat species in agricultural landscapes and meadow orchards, contributing to innovative approaches in non-invasive wildlife monitoring.

Her publication record shows a strong trend toward interdisciplinary research connecting wildlife ecology with energy planning, climate change adaptation, and landscape management. Recent work emphasizes multi-taxa approaches to conservation planning, with particular focus on birds (including grey partridges and red kites) and mammals (including brown bears and otters). Her research demonstrates a consistent commitment to translating scientific findings into practical conservation applications and policy recommendations.

• Posterpreis auf der 96. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Säugetierkunde (2023)
• Dr. Karl Schleinzer Foundation award from University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (2014)
• Fellowship from Wolfgang Pauli Institute, Vienna (2014)
• Fellowship from Wolfgang Pauli Institute, Vienna (2013)

Dr. Schöll has supervised six Master's theses on topics ranging from field hamster habitat use to golden jackal ecology and red kite conservation. She leads multiple externally funded research projects, including the DivMoSt biodiversity monitoring project and WIMBY (Wind In My Backyard), which focuses on high-resolution ecological niche models for wildlife species. Her community engagement includes serving as a reviewer for major ecology journals and membership in professional organizations including BirdLife Austria and the German Ornithologists' Society.

As an active science communicator, Dr. Schöll has participated in numerous media engagements (38 documented appearances between 2012-2025) discussing wildlife conservation issues, particularly the relationship between wind energy development and biodiversity protection. She has given 32 presentations internationally, with particular emphasis on translating research findings for diverse audiences including policymakers, conservation practitioners, and the general public.