When democracies falter, universities and researchers are often the first targets. Those who demand conformity fear those who ask critical questions. Conversely, this means that strong, resilient democracies need science. And also: science needs a democratic environment to flourish. Democracy and science are based on the same fundamental values: evidence, openness, dissent, and the capacity to learn. Continue reading Eva-Maria Holzleitner: Democracy and science
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The impetus comes unspectacularly via email: a university-wide call for submissions for the composition of a fanfare. The short form of two to three minutes convinces Piero Cinosi. “I thought to myself: Okay, maybe I can actually finish this.” It is precisely this limitation that is decisive. “I usually compose a lot of pieces, but I hardly ever finish any of them,” says the 23-year-old, who completed a bachelor’s and master’s degree in piano in his native Italy before moving to Vienna.
Every time I enter the University of Vienna, I am immersed in an aura that has shaped my life. It was not only at the Alma Mater Rudolphina that I received my academic consecration. There, I was able to get to know a scientific community that has been and continues to be shaped by brilliant minds over the centuries. Through the university, I also got to know and appreciate the city of Vienna—and there was no shortage of partying in student life in the Austrian capital. Continue reading Günther Mayr: Let’s dance and do science
To avoid any misunderstanding: this is fan fiction in the best sense of the word, not a strictly scientific publication with peer review. But the study by Ball regular Miya Komori-Glatz is so charming and insightful that we don’t want to keep it from our audience. Enjoy!
Dr. Miya Komori-Glatz is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Business Communication, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business. Having completed her first degree at the University of Cambridge, she continued her studies at the University of Vienna. While her main research interests examine the intersection of language, communication, business and higher education, her broader interests include the intersection of Wien, Wein und Walzer. Continue reading How good is the ball really?
Bring your ball dates, friends, and beloved fellow scientists and take your photo of the evening from inside a cell! Don’t forget to put on the accessories provided, from specially crafted pipette necklaces to test tube tiaras.
Film premiere at the Science Ball: “Encounters in the Milky Way” from the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is a spectacular journey through our galaxy. With Hollywood star Pedro Pascal as narrator.
Parrot tulips captivate with their unique beauty: there are virtually no limits to their colors, and the fringed petals resemble the feathers of this magnificent and talkative bird. So indeed, very befitting as this year’s flower decoration at the Science Ball.
My journey takes me from Paris to Lille to Vienna, from pure mathematics to machine learning and biomedicine. I took a leap into the unknown with three children and have no regrets. The Wolfgang Pauli Institute (WPI) was a tireless catalyst and source of support throughout. Continue reading Alice Barbora Tumpach: Waltzing with Pauli to Vienna
In our increasingly digital society, much of what we do depends on systems we do not see but constantly rely on. These infrastructures shape our everyday decisions: which services we trust, how we exchange goods, how securely our data is handled, and how and which information reaches us. When such systems are reliable and transparent, they empower citizens, strengthen democracy and our trust in our institutions; when they fail, the consequences ripple far beyond technology. Continue reading Georgia Avarikioti: Communication as ethical responsibility