Research Up Close: European Researchers’ Night

As one of the biggest research events, the European Researchers‘ Night takes place annually in up to 400 European cities at the same time.

In Austria, the event entails three initiatives in six different locations: With “exploREsearch“ in Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck, “Life is Science“ in St. Pölten and Graz, and the “Forschungsfest Niederösterreich“ in Vienna, visitors of all age groups have the opportunity to take a glimpse behind the scenes of research institutions and experience science actively and up close for a day – free of charge.

“Life is Science“ in St. Pölten and Graz

For the third time in a row, the European Researchers’ Night in St. Pölten and Graz is coordinated by the Graz-based Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (acib) under the motto “Life is Science”. 2022 marks the St. Pölten UAS’ debut as the centre’s new partner.

How much science is there in everyday life?

The visitors can look forward to interactive and playful workshops, discussions, experiments, and live acts that pursue the question of how much science there is in our everyday lives: “At the St. Pölten UAS, more than 40 interactive stations will invite the guests to experiment and gain insights into the latest trends in biotechnology, digitalisation, and social interaction”, explains acib event organiser Katrin Weinhandl. She adds that the workshops in the morning are aimed primarily at school classes who will get to experience research directly in the lab (acib Graz) and on campus (St. Pölten).

Also: platform for exchange with companies and business people

Hannes Raffaseder, Chief Research and Innovation Officer at the St. Pölten UAS, is very pleased with the collaboration: “The European Researchers‘ Night has long been an essential element of our activities in knowledge transfer and for making research transparent for the general public. I am very happy that we, together with our partner acib in Graz, have been chosen to be part of this European research event this year. The accompanying business reception and start-up forum will also provide a platform for exchange with companies and entrepreneurs.”

Entertaining evening program

The evening programme will be an opportunity to for the visitors to test their knowledge in a Science Pub Quiz, while Fritz Treiber from the University of Graz will discuss the medieval period based on selected film clips in his talk “Science & Cinema: Mongolen, Mönche, Minnesang” (Science & Cinema: Mongols, Monks, Minnesang) with medievalist Johannes Giessauf.

• More information about “Life is Science”

“exploREsearch” in Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck

At the University of Applied Arts Vienna, the Science City Itzling in Salzburg, and the University of Innsbruck, more than 100 scientists will present their current research projects in interactive stations, workshops, and a research rally under the motto “exploREsearch”. There will also be an opportunity to follow interesting presentations and a comprehensive entertainment programme on the Internet.

In addition to two Science Pub Quizzes and performances by several bands, special highlights will include the entertaining physics show of renowned physicist and science buster Werner Gruber and the Austrian finale of the Science Slam which will take place on site in Vienna. With charm and wit, the best artists of the spoken word in research will get to the heart of what their discipline is all about.

What can be understood with science

Interactive stations and workshops in the afternoon and additional school workshops in the morning will cover topics ranging from climate change and sustainability through art and technology to citizen science. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn where the mysterious northern lights come from, what coniferous tree can tell us about climate change, or how human motion comes into being. Furthermore, new insights from space research will be presented and visitors can learn how molecular biology and high-tech research make a joint effort to develop stress-tolerant potatoes. It will also be explained how the secrets of gravity can be unveiled with floating magnets, what we can do with light in chemistry, what NFC and radar technologies can be used for, and much more.

“We are extremely pleased to have so many renowned experts working on as many as three initiatives in Austria within the framework of the European Researchers’ Night”, explains Wilfried Lepuschitz, CEO of “bee produced”. “Research and innovation are of great importance to us and this event makes it possible to give many young talents a taste for science and to show the public what’s going on in the research landscape.”

Begeisterung schüren für Forschung und Innovation

“exploREsearch” is organised collaboratively by the Children’s University, the University of Applied Arts Vienna, the University of Salzburg, and the University of Innsbruck, the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Science Communication, and bee produced.

• More information on “exploREsearch”

Gender & Diversity Award of St. Pölten UAS

At the event at St. Pölten UAS, the Gender & Diversity Award of St. Pölten UAS will also be presented for the first time. It honors scientific theses of students and graduates of the St. Pölten UAS with reference to gender & diversity.

Forschungsfest NÖ

To contribute to this pan-European initiative of the European Researchers‘ Night, the province of Lower Austria (Department of Science and Research) will host the “Forschungsfest Niederösterreich” (Lower Austrian research festival) at the Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna. It is aimed at all age groups and its 70 research stations invite the whole family to ask questions, admire fascinating experiments, and try new things themselves.

• More information about the Forschungsfest NÖ

About the European Researchers’ Night

The mega event is financed through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions of the European Union within the framework of Horizon Europe and pursues the goal of giving citizens of all ages insights into the various fields of research and science.