“Glamour and celebration, unconditional and not preceded by delivering conference papers, is precisely what the scientific community needs today. Scientists spend an increasing amount of time competing with their peers, collecting publishing points, filling out bureaucratic forms, applying for prestigious grants, indulging in petty institutional politics, complaining about the global neoliberal restructuring of universities and isolating themselves in their offices. Continue reading Tereza Kuldova →

“Physically, one can easily describe, why the Vienna Ball of Sciences is one of the most fascinating happenings of the season: Students and researchers, well-established scholars and those to be interact as one matter through space – the Vienna City Hall. This interplay is highly promising in terms of energy to be released, which guarantees innovation and development. Continue reading Werner Gruber →

What do you absolutely need for a successful ball? Two producers, who are in charge of a perfectly smooth organization and running. Especially important: always keeping a cool head and a smile on your face, even when challenged by sudden problems and difficulties. Continue reading Cool-headed in a shower of confetti →

We would like to say thank you – for your support, your interest and your appreciation during the last weeks! Therefore, we do have a special surprise for all friends of the Science Ball in our online-ticket shop: a 5% discount on a limited number of 200 regular tickets as well as on table reservations in the main and adjoining ball rooms, if ordered until January 6. Representing all our team members, supporters and ball ambassadors, we wish you a merry Christmas, happy holidays and a happy New Year with our group portrait of ball ambassadors, shot by Sabine Hauswirth on November 29, 2016 on the grand ball room balcony at Vienna’s town hall, with a view on Votivkirche!

The ball ambassadors (from left to right): archaeologist and Austria’s Scientist of the Year Wolfgang Neubauer (University of Vienna), photonics-physicist Karl Unterrainer (TU Vienna), science councillor Andreas Mailath-Pokorny, computer scientist and Dean Stefanie Rinderle-Ma (University of Vienna), organizer of the ball Oliver Lehmann, pharmacist Sabine Glasl-Tazreiter (University of Vienna), social anthropologist and fashion curator Tereza Kuldova (University Oslo), molecular and systems biologist Giulio Superti-Furga (Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences), Oliver Holle (Speedinvest); dancing couple of Tanzschule Chris / Photo: Sabine Hauswirth

“Gladly, the so called ‘Akademikerball’ is meanwhile not imaginable without protests against this event. This protest movement is important and justified, as long as the ball of the political right wing die-hards is held at Hofburg Palace. The Vienna Ball of Sciences sets a mark for cosmopolitanism and tolerance on the dance floor. Great, that we have ball events like this!”

Lucia Grabetz, Board member of the Austrian Students’ Association

Photo: VSSTÖ / Novotny

“Traditional balls have a significant impact on Vienna’s cultural identity and are shaping Austria’s international image. Traditions may be a valuable base, when they prove themselves by continuous adaptation. The Vienna Ball of Sciences demonstrates how innovative this ball tradition may be interpreted.”

Johannes Hahn is EU-Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations

Photo: European Commission

“Within the last years, Vienna consistently showed its leading position in international rankings on liveability and sustainability. Innovative, smart and sustainable – these are Vienna’s slogans. The Science ball also fulfils these claims: launched in 2015, the ball strives for celebrating and conveying science. Continue reading Brigitte Bach →

“What is important to Viennese people, needs to be celebrated with a ball. It is lovely, that we closed a gap in that sense in January 2015, and that we will therefore celebrate the third Vienna Ball of Sciences on January 28, 2017. With this, the city of Vienna impressively proves, what actually everyone knows: Our city matches a strengthening scientific standard with a continued swinging dancing mood!”

Jürgen Czernohorszky is administrative chairman of the Vienna School Board. 

Photo: Pertramer

“To me, the Vienna Ball of Sciences brilliantly combines the fascination of science with the glamour of a social event, a Viennese ball. Students, researchers and faculty dance together with an interested public to the sounds of Viennese waltz und enjoy a variety of entertainment programme. I am very much looking forward to making my debut at the Vienna Science Ball.”    

Stefanie Rinderle-Ma is a computer scientist and Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of Vienna.

Photo: Barbara Mair