“To boldly go where no one has gone before.”

Other balls adopt a motto every year. The Science Ball has always been reluctant in this regard. Firstly, because we on the organising committee wanted to establish a traditional ball from the very beginning, one that would convince by virtue of its mission. The maxim “Fun with decency, dance with attitude” is as true in 2026 as it was at the beginning in 2015. And besides: Does the Opera Ball have a motto that goes beyond the musical program? The Techniker Cercle? Or the Philharmonic Ball? All right, then. Continue reading Why we are giving ourselves a motto for 2026 →

The death of the great Tom Lehrer at the age of 97 is very sad news. The mathematician and songwriter is best known for his song “Elements.” In 2021, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, we asked chemist and pianist Nuno Maulide (University of Vienna) to accompany Anne Wieben in her performance of Lehrer’s prophetic “I Got It From Agnes,” in which he explains chains of infection with his trademark blend of science and sarcasm. Continue reading On the passing of Tom Lehrer →

The 2025 Ball Magazine is online: 66 pages with background information, reports, interviews and memories of the first 10 years of the Vienna Ball of Sciences. Have fun and enjoy!

The Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen was directly involved in the founding of the Vienna Science Ball. As the University Commissioner of the City of Vienna, he supported the establishment of the event in 2014 together with Mayor Michael Häupl and City Councillor for Science Andreas Maillath-Pokorny. The first ball was held in the City Hall in 2015. Then as now, the motto is: “Fun with decency – dance with attitude”. Here is his ball message (in German) for the 2025 anniversary ball: