Just in time for our video premiere on February 5th (21:30 on W24 and again on February 12th) we present a glance behind the scenes!

All photos (c) Roland Ferrigato

“It doesn’t seem instantly apparent, how discourse researchers and lingusts can contribute to the big challenges of our time. Natural scientists have been involved until recently in a ‘race to the top’, to find the first good medication or effective vaccine against COVID-19. Social scientists cannot achieve that. Continue reading Ruth Wodak: Crisis? Communication! →

“I congratulate Mayor Dr. Michael Ludwig on his success in greatly fostering education, internationalism, and science in Vienna, and in creating for them the space that this extraordinary cosmopolitan city needs for its prosperous future. May the traditional Vienna Ball of Sciences continue to reflect a visible sign of enlightenment, of openness to the world, and of the joy of knowledge from the heart of Europe.”

Ronald S. Lauder is President of the World Jewish Congress and President of the Lauder Business School in Vienna.

“All former economic crises led to a backlash regarding the equality between genders. It was therefore interesting to hear economists argueing during the first lockdown, that the corona crisis could have the potential to reduce those inequalities between women and men. Continue reading Katharina Mader: Home office as social trap →

“Corona is simpler: even though the situation is dramatic right now, it will pass. As an author I was never interested in stories about epidemics, since there have been a lot already in the last decades. I do, however, try and ask people to act responisbly by wearing masks, washing their hands and reducing contacts. Continue reading Marc Elsberg: Superpresent climate crisis →

“As part of my work I am dealing with topics like disinformation and conspiracy theories about Covid-19 but also the climate crisis. Corona and climate change-deniers have many things in common. Both groups don’t accept academic instiutions or scientific findings. Continue reading Julia Ebner: Fight the infodemic →

“2020 was a year, in which we had to face many challenges as a society and choose the best possible way forward.  Continue reading Nuno Maulide: Sustainable Chemistry of the Future →

“The arts world and event organisers belong without doubt to those, who suffered most during the last months. Due to many years of experience in the event sector, technical expertise and enthusiasm for research, mathematics and algorithms, we came up with a way to support organisers, musicians, artists, theaters and museums: Continue reading Sophie Grünbacher: What A.I. can do for contact tracing →

“Dance, music and evidence-based entertainment will not be part of the Science Ball 2021. The pandemic is more powerful. A painful message of the year 2020: large-scale crises must be tackled in a broad and quick manner. What became clear as well: Continue reading Franz Essl: Fight every crisis →