[Development, structure and tasks of the department of physiology in Graz/Austria (author's transl)]

Physiology is concerned with the problems related to the optimal function of biological systems. The field therfore reaches from molecular biology to socio-economic questions. Three basic features have to be considered in science: 1) It is important that the work is being done with enthusiasm, simply because science is interesting and even fun. 2) It is always necessary to consider that the work is a necessary condition of daily life; this is also true for scientific work. 3) Especially in scientific work we have to serve mankind. Science in this sense has to include the idea of serving.--When-ever one of these features or conditions is omitted, the essence of scientific work will suffer, either because the scientist is selfish or because he doesn't take science serious enough. The research in the department of physiology in Graz is concerned with the problem of optimal control in hemodynamics and with research in topics related to biomechanics, exercise physiology and instrumentation. The teaching tasks include teaching of more than thousand second year students and performing laboratory courses and examinations.