Wiener Ball der Wissenschaften 2025

Vienna Ball of Sciences 2025
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Die Rache von Schrödingers Katze

25. Januar 2025AllgemeinOliver Lehmann

Auch zum Jubiläumsball hat das Team des Vienna Center for Logic and Algorithms der TU Wien ein Logik-Rätsel entwickelt. Wer am Ballabend nicht dazu kommt, das Rätsel zu lösen, kann es hier probieren. Und hier ist Lösung!

 

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SciBall

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25.1.2025 / Rathaus Wien
Spaß mit Anstand – Tanz mit Haltung
Thorsten Schumm is an experimental physicist resea Thorsten Schumm is an experimental physicist researching a new definition of time with the „nuclear clock.“ Together with his team, he has achieved a breakthrough: for the first time, they successfully used a laser to specifically excite the nucleus of the thorium-229 isotope. It is foreseeable that nuclear clocks will replace the currently used atomic clocks. However, Schumm envisions even more: the new quantum physics involving atomic nuclei could also enable revolutionary data storage or high-energy lasers. From theory to breakthrough it takes time. Fifteen years of hard work went into this success. Such achievements were only possible thanks to strong partners like TU Wien and funding programs such as the FWF and ERC, Schumm says. What drives Schumm the most is freedom and time to pursue his ideas. In a world that seeks simple solutions, Schumm embraces complexity. He believes that for real solutions, science must be visible, engage with society, and seek dialogue with policymakers – especially in challenging times. Thorsten Schumm, a native Berliner, earned his doctorate under Nobel Prize winner Alain Aspect and is now one of Austria’s leading experimental physicists. He has served as a department head and dean, a member of the directorate of the Junge Kurie of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), and the board of the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (WPI). His research has earned him numerous awards, including the START Prize and two ERC grants. #SciBall25 #Ballbotschaft #ThorstenSchumm
Laura Koesten asks questions that often hum quietl Laura Koesten asks questions that often hum quietly in the background but shape our view of data: What exactly are data? How do we understand them, and how do they influence our perception of the world? Her research focuses on the emerging field of Human Data Interaction, closely tied to the development of Artificial Intelligence. She explores how people interact with, perceive, and understand data. For Koesten, data are not just numbers and tables but „interfaces“. They are windows into complex systems like climate change or public health. Yet, every window has a frame that determines what we see and what remains hidden. Her goal is to make these stories clearer and accessible to everyone. Through her ‚Talking Charts‘ project, funded by the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF), she ensures that data visualizations „speak“ in a way that everyone can understand. Koesten’s work envisions data as dynamic, transparent, and inclusive processes, where the decisions behind every dataset become visible. As the 2024 recipient of the Hedy Lamarr Prize, she is a PostDoc at the University of Vienna and an affiliated researcher at King’s College London, contributing to the development of digital humanism in the age of technology. #SciBall25 #Ballbotschaft #LauraKoesten
„To convey knowledge means passing on fascinatio „To convey knowledge means passing on fascination and curiosity: across generations and borders.” - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Markus Aspelmeyer Quantum mechanics and relativity – two rivals in physics. One describes a smooth, predictable world, the other a realm of jumps, probabilities, and uncertainties. Both are right. Neither yields. Between them stands Markus Aspelmeyer, striving to reconcile their differences or at least bring them together in an experiment. For him, physics should be coherent – which it currently isn’t. Aspelmeyer sees science as craft, curiosity, and detective work. Fundamental research, is like renovating an old house: somewhere behind the wallpaper lies the truth. His diverse team – spanning 17 nations and ages from teenagers to great-grandparents – fosters constant innovation at quantA (@quantumscience.at ) the leading Austrian quantum research network. Together, they tackle questions few dare to ask: What is the quantum nature of space, time, and gravity? Can new paradigms in quantum information emerge? And then there’s the Vienna Ball of Sciences, where Aspelmeyer insists, „Science and dance are no contradiction.” Perhaps even quantum mechanics and relativity could waltz into harmony. Aspelmeyer’s career spans philosophy and physics in Munich, a doctorate on ferroelectric films, work with Anton Zeilinger, and now professorship in quantum information. His experiments are as ambitious as they are tangible: weighing tiny masses, cooling nanoparticles to near-absolute stillness. If anyone can mediate the duel between quantum mechanics and gravity, it’s him. And if not, he’ll keep for sure dancing or searching, until physics finds a new rhythm. #SciBall25 #Ballbotschaft #MarkusAspelmeyer
The organizing committee believes science communic The organizing committee believes science communication deserves a bigger stage. Always, not just at the ball. That’s why we created the Vienna Lecture on Science Communication together with @oeaw.at , the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖWA). This year’s speaker: Maja Göpel, Germany’s star in science communication and transformation research. On January 24, 2025, she’ll take the stage at the Academy’s grand hall to explain why clear, accessible science is essential in times of crisis. Admission is free, but don’t forget to register: www.wissenschaftsball.at/vienna-lecture-25/. (Link in bio!) Science communication is the ace up our sleeve against anti-science sentiment. But why bother? Because good science communication isn’t just slick marketing – it builds trust. Without credible science, democratic progress doesn’t stand a chance. Göpel fits nowhere but everywhere: she researches and teaches as a political economist, transformation expert, and sustainability scientist, working at the intersection of science, politics, and society. She is a bestselling author, speaker, professor in Lüneburg, member of the Club of Rome, and co-founder of Scientists4Future, and former member of the German government’s Bioeconomy Council. In 2022, she earned the Science Communication Medal from the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences. Photo: Anja Weber
Wang to be bright-eyed and feeling good the mornin Wang to be bright-eyed and feeling good the morning after the ball? Then wash your Face with the @herka_frottier ‘s zero-waste washcloth. It’s a SciBall 2025 gift for our guests. HERKA Frottier is a family-run company from Austria’s Waldviertel has been making towels, bath textiles, and cozy loungewear for nearly 98 years. And: They’re all about sustainability. Leftover yarn from their larger productions is turned into colorful, one-of-a-kind washcloths. So it’s zero waste and 100% unique. These special editions were made just for the ball. Take a look: www.herka-frottier.at (Link in bio!)
Last week, the annual ball gown swap took place at Last week, the annual ball gown swap took place at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), located at the Vienna Bio Center (VBCF). In a twist, guests skipped the usual shopping spree and traded their ball gowns as a sustainable alternative instead of buying new. Usually, researchers push scientific boundaries in molecular biology, genetics, and cell biology at the IMBA. Using gene-editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9, they tackle disease mechanisms and develop innovative therapies. But on Thursday, the scene at the IMBA was a kaleidoscope of unique ball gowns, with no one turning heads quite like @saki.the.artist . Draped in a self-made gown crafted entirely from single-use gloves, she embodied both ingenuity and eco-conscious chic. And about that tradition, there is one important topic to mention: the dress code. It’s strict, with no room for negotiation – floor-length gowns, tuxedos, cocktail dresses, or the ever-dashing black suit. Kilts are also allowed. At the entrance, the Ball Committee ensures that no one turns up underdressed – or overdressed, for that matter. You can show up in a gown made of gloves, feathers, or even recycled receipts, as long as it follows the rules. Creativity is welcome, but chaos not so much. #SciBall25 #Ballkleidertausch #IMBA #ViennaBioCenter
Ball organizer Oliver Lehmann in conversation with Ball organizer Oliver Lehmann in conversation with opera singer @ladoucelette about traditions and this year’s midnight performance. #SciBall25 #KatiaLedoux #Mitternachtseinlage
„To me, science means reaching a rationally just „To me, science means reaching a rationally justified assessment in an increasingly complex world – knowledge-based, balanced, and open to different perspectives.“ Ingeborg Zerbes, professor of criminal law in Vienna, is an ambassador of reason. Science, she says, is the attempt to bring order to the world. Not with dogma, but with facts. Rationality, she believes, is a rare commodity these days, in a time when rumors often outweigh knowledge, and everyone insists they’re right. Zerbes uses her expertise in legal studies as a bridge between theory and practice. Navigating the space between laws and principles, she strives for clarity – whether in guiding her students, mentoring her research team, or contributing to public discourse. Her analytical approach brings a calm, reasoned voice to contentious debates, such as her role in leading the investigation into the 2020 Vienna terror attack. „Research“, she says, „is a form of freedom.“ It’s a freedom she harnesses to challenge populist simplifications with well-founded, factual arguments that outlast fleeting headlines. Photo: Universität Wien/Barbara Mair #SciBall25 #Ballbotschaft #IngeborgZerbes
„Science is both passion and progress for me. Th „Science is both passion and progress for me. Through my communication, I aim to bridge the gap between research and society and stand up against science denial – because it costs lives.“ For Sylvia Kerschbaum-Gruber, science is more than data and formulas; it is a promise to make life better, longer, and perhaps even a bit more beautiful. But Sylvia is also a realist. She knows that beauty alone is not enough, especially in times when facts are confused with opinions and algorithms shape worldviews. That’s why Sylvia started talking about her work. In videos, posts, and interviews, she explains why a certain cell structure is so fascinating, how radiation therapy works, and why we should always take a second look at medical myths. She calls herself @molecular.sylvia , and yes, she knows how nerdy that sounds. But that’s exactly the point: science is not just for people in white coats. Science is for everyone. Of course, she faced backlash. During the pandemic, her posts often became targets. It was a time when science turned into an ideological battleground, with facts and fake news colliding. And it was the time when Sylvia realized that scientists must not only research but also fight – against misinformation, conspiracy theories, and the notion that truth is negotiable. „Science denial costs lives,” she says. It sounds dramatic, but it’s a simple truth. And that’s why she keeps going. Why, despite the hostility, she raises her voice. As a scientist, a communicator, and a person who believes in reason – and in the power of a well-told experiment. Sylvia Kerschbaum-Gruber is a PostDoc researcher at the Department of Radiooncology at the Medical University of Vienna. On social media, she is the voice of molecular biology, educating and inspiring others. #SciBall25 #Ballbotschaft #SylviaKerschbaumGruber #MolecularSylvia
This season, we are once again hosted at the Stadt This season, we are once again hosted at the Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus at Karlsplatz. Thanks to the generosity of Stadtkino, we will be distributing pre-ordered and prepaid tickets at this central location from Monday, January 6, 2025, to Friday, January 24, 2025, on weekdays between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM. The exact address is Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus, Akademiestraße 13, 1010 Vienna. It is easily accessible by public transport: U1, U2, U4; trams 1, 2, 62, 71, D; Badner Bahn; buses 3A, 4A, 59A; and regional bus 360. #SciBall25
Without science, there can be no foundation for di Without science, there can be no foundation for dialogue, no solutions, only noise. Facts are not a matter of opinion. Denying them endangers democracy and education. Science must remain free, with politics following its lead, not the other way around. Truth is not for sale – it is the foundation of our society. And speaking of clear messages: Marina Lacković alias @malarina___ , a Serbian artist and cultural bridge-builder between „Schwabos“ and „Tschuschen“, doesn’t just deliver essential truths about science – she’s also conquering the cabaret stages. Winner of the Salzburger Stier in 2023 and the German Kleinkunstpreis in 2024, she proves that humor and truth go hand in hand. Photographer: Christopher Glanzl #SciBall25
In need of a ball gown or tux? Instead buying new, In need of a ball gown or tux? Instead buying new, you can swap, borrow and discover a unique piece with its own story. The Clothing Swap at Vienna BioCenter offers a consciously sustainable selection of evening wear – from vintage treasures to timeless classics and everything in between. When? Thursday, January 9, 2025, 4:00–6:00 PM Where? Campus-Vienna-BioCenter 1, 1030 Vienna Sign up here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/VBCBallGownSwap25 #SciBall25
As promised, here’s a glimpse behind the scenes As promised, here’s a glimpse behind the scenes of photo Shooting for the 10th Science Ball at the city hall with City Councilor Veronica Kaup-Hasler, Mayor Michael Ludwig, Organizer Oliver Lehmann, opera singer Katia Ledoux, up-cycling expert Nunu Kaller, artist Saki, quantum physicist Markus Aspelmeyer and our table decoration the pitcher plant. Tickets for SciBall at January 25, 2025 are sold out. But free pre-ball events remains open to all: Jan 9: Sustainable Ball Gown Swap Jan 24: Lecture by Maja Göpel on science communication Ball Highlights: Quantum Show: Philipp Haslinger (TU Vienna) blends live music with quantum physics in „Sounds of Entanglement.” Lab Waste Couture: Neuroscientist Saki creates gowns and chandeliers from scientific waste. Insta Spots: Poison dart frogs, axolotls, and mosses in giant wall art. Carnivorous Plants: Venus flytraps return, spotlighting peatlands’ ecological importance. Music Mix: Five stages, from waltz to hip-hop. Highlight: Katia Ledoux’s midnight show. Science on the Guest List:
Quantum physicist Markus Aspelmeyer to cabaret artist Malarina, from biologist @molecular.sylvia to transformation researcher Maja Göpel (University of Lüneburg), writer Barbara Zeman, Impulstanz director Karl Regensburger, Hedy Lamarr Award winner 2024 and computer scientist Laura Koesten, to podcast star and pathologist Christian Reiter – and many more. The ambassadors embody science’s diversity. Behind the Ball:
Hosted by the Wolfgang Pauli Institute, organized by Verein Wien Wissen, with patronage by Federal President Van der Bellen and Mayor Dr. Michael Ludwig. Members include Vice Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr and City Councilor Veronica Kaup-Hasler. For all program details and highlights, subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.wissenschaftsball.at/anmeldung-zum-newsletter/ (also for next year).
One of our last year’s guests of honor, Ursula S One of our last year’s guests of honor, Ursula Soritsch-Renier, is someone you need to know about. She’s the kind of person who hears, „Why not just do it?”. And then she does. After stints at heavyweight companies like Philips, Sulzer, Novartis, and Nokia, where she likely reshaped more technology than most will ever understand, she has been at the helm since 2021 as Chief Digital and Information Officer at Saint-Gobain, a 350-year-old French industrial giant that designs, manufactures, and distributes innovative solutions for the construction, mobility, and industrial markets worldwide. But Ursula Soritsch-Renier’s career isn’t just about technology, it’s about transformation. At Saint-Gobain, she’s steering the company toward a sustainable future, aligning its operations with a set of clear CSR pillars to minimize ecological, social, and societal impact. The company’s roadmap is ambitious: ethical codes, green solutions, and spaces designed for well-being. And Ursula Soritsch-Renier understands what’s at stake. She has spent her career navigating male-dominated environments and is now committed to paving the way for the next generation of female tech leaders. Slide 1: Ursula Soritsch-Renier with her husband, James Renier (one of the 34 percent of men who take on housework and cooking, compared to 79 percent of women). Slide 2: Ursula Soritsch-Renier, James Renier, Michael Hamm, Klaus Atzwanger, Beate Eckhardt, and Oliver Lehmann. #SciBall25 #AboutGuests
When we asked @barbara.zeman – a historian, jour When we asked @barbara.zeman – a historian, journalist, novelist, book club founder, podcaster, and occasional Bachmann Prize nominee born in Burgenland in 1981 – to contribute to our ball message, we didn’t quite get what we expected. Instead of the thousand words we had envisioned, she sent us exactly one sentence: „completely boring world without science.” That’s it. Asking for further elaboration felt unnecessary – perhaps even missing the point. Or maybe her words are simply a stark warning of the „completely boring world” that awaits if we fail to value science. Zeman, who lives in Vienna (evident from her fondness for the word ,bisserl‘), seems perfectly at ease with brevity. Perhaps it’s a holdover from her journalistic past, where precision is key, or her historian’s instinct to find meaning in the subtext. Her literary journey began with ‚Immerjahn‘, her 2019 debut novel – a quirky, melancholic work unsure whether to take itself seriously. Since then, she’s contributed to numerous anthologies, likely all as sharp and concise as her ball message. Then came the pandemic. While some baked bread or mastered origami, Zeman turned to the intellectual pastime of founding a book club – with actor Robert Stadlober, no less. During this time, she also began collaborating with author Clemens J. Setz, resulting in the ‚First Austrian Nonfiction Prize‘ podcast – a creative project that defies categorization, much like its creators. Now, Zeman’s latest novel, ‚Beteigeuze‘, has earned her a spot on the shortlist for the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize and a place on ‚Die Zeit‘s‘ list of the year’s 100 best books. Her modest response to all this success? Likely a casual shrug and a simple ‚Passt schon.‘ And what’s left? That single sentence: „Completely boring world without science.” Perhaps it’s anything but boring – a thousand words distilled into six, leaving the rest to us. Photos by Judith Stehlik #SciBall25 #BarbaraZeman
Vienna dances. It always has – in ballrooms, spi Vienna dances. It always has – in ballrooms, spinning to the rhythm of the waltz, a city full of grace and movement. But in 2025, the city will dance even more. Why? Because it’s all about Johann Strauss, the Waltz King, celebrating 200 years of him. And here’s the thing about a good dance: it needs a host. Someone who doesn’t just press play on the music, but creates a space where people connect. That’s Karl Regensburger. For nearly 40 years, he’s been at the heart of @impulstanz_festival , not just running a festival he founded with dancer Ismael Ivo, but building a world where dance is alive, raw, and totally unexpected. And next year? It’s Johann Strauss meets the present. Think Strauss, but reimagined – bold, modern, maybe even a little chaotic. French choreographers, Belgian visionaries, orchestras, and ballerinas breaking all the rules. We asked Karl Regensburger for a statement as a Ball Ambassador of SciBall25. He spoke of Anna Tsing’s „The Mushroom at the End of the World“, a book exploring how resilience and creativity flourish in unexpected places. Tsing talks about mushroom foraging as a kind of dance – wandering, searching, finding, and being fully present in the moment. (link in bio!) That’s exactly what Karl Regensburger and his team do with dance. They gather stories, talents, and movements from all over the world and turn them into something we can all share. In his own words: „This life and survival would be inconceivable without science – without connected, well-funded, respected, and persistent research, its implementation and communication – as certain as landing after a Grand Jeté.“ That, Regensburger says, is what dance is about too. Not every mushroom hunter is a scientist, and not every dancer is a philosopher. But both – science and dance – require curiosity, collaboration, and the ability to embrace life in all its complexity. They connect us, move us, and give us something worth celebrating at SciBall25. Photographer: Magdalena Blaszczuk #SciBall25 #Ballbotschaft #ImpulsTanz #KarlRegensburger
Update: We are completely sold out now! Only honor Update: We are completely sold out now! Only honorary tables are left. Gone faster than ever: student tickets sold out, even with extra availability, they’re completely gone. But don’t worry, regular tickets and honorary tables are still available online. 
For everyone who missed out:
This year we can’t set up an official ticket exchange. That said, there are still other ways to be part of the Science Ball experience. Upcoming dates: 
The Vienna Science Ball Gown Exchange Swap, borrow, or discover your favorite vintage look 
January 9, 2025 | 4:00–7:00 PM
Campus Vienna BioCenter 1, 1030 Vienna — 
Vienna Lecture on Science Communication 2025
If anyone knows how to make science accessible, it’s Maja Göpel. 
January 24, 2025 | 4:00 PM ÖAW Great Hall, Dr.-Ignaz-Seipel-Platz 2, 1010 Vienna 
— 
Looking ahead:
The 11th Science Ball will take place on January 31, 2026. Our tip: Subscribe to the newsletter. That way, you’ll be first to know when tickets go on sale in November 2025. 
All the info, tickets, and more are on our website (link in bio!) #SciBall25
Are you dreaming of dancing the so called „Fäch Are you dreaming of dancing the so called „Fächerpolonaise“ without tripping over your own feet? Of being the first to step into the grand ballroom while everyone else nervously adjusts their shoes? Of not just watching a Viennese ball but truly being part of it? At the SciBall, that dream could come true – if you’ve mastered the Viennese waltz. The choreography for the opening is led by Thomas Kraml (@thomas.tanzschule.kraml), a „Dancing Stars” celebrity who knows how to bring out everyone’s rhythm. Rehearsals start in December, and you can sign up by emailing office@tanzschulekraml.at. Not ready to open the ball just yet? No worries! With a valid ticket, you’ll get a free trial lesson at the Kraml dance school. Sign up for that as well via office@tanzschulekraml.at. #SciBall25
Sarah Rossmann, Chairwoman of the Austrian Student Sarah Rossmann, Chairwoman of the Austrian Student Union (@bundesoeh), recently made it clear what the SciBall truly means to her – and it’s more than just a festive evening. For her, the ball is a strong statement in support of scientific freedom, diversity, and everything that science truly stands for: openness and curiosity. Especially on an evening when we celebrate science, it’s more important than ever to stand up to the forces that threaten it. Her message is clear, direct, and to the point: „Universities are places for free thinking, critical exchange, and social responsibility – and certainly not for exclusion or hate.“ So, the Ball of Sciences is meant to do more than just get us dancing – it’s a reminder of how crucial it is for research and education to remain independent and diverse. Because, for a free society, we need more than just facts. We need the courage to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and most importantly, protect what truly drives us forward. #SciBall25 #Ballbotschaft #SarahRossmann #ÖH
Let’s be real: the hardest part of science is ac Let’s be real: the hardest part of science is actually the journey. But no stress – SciBall has your back with discounted @unsereoebb tickets! Just put the TAN code HVQS2F into the ÖBB event account, sign up with a new email address (yes, everyone needs a new account just for this event), and boom – 22% off standard fares, 10% off international tickets, and a special deal for the Nightjet are yours. The best part? Your ball account deletes itself when it’s all over. More details on our website (link in bio!). #SciBall25
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