All posts by Oliver Lehmann

Seasons’ Greetings!

As a small gift for our ball guests, we have put together a preview of the #SciBall25 program and presented it to Mayor Michael Ludwig and City Councilor for Science  Veronica Kaup-Hasler at a photo opportunity in the town hall. Here is the corresponding press release with the official ball photo:

Dancing couple from Tanzschule Kraml; City Councilor for Science, Veronica Kaup-Hasler; Mayor of the City of Vienna, Michael Ludwig; ball organizer Oliver Lehmann, opera singer Katia Ledoux; upcycling expert Nunu Kaller; artist Saki in a ballgown made of lab garbage; quantum physicist Markus Aspelmeyer. Photo: Sabine Hauswirth
From experiment to event
The Science Ball will celebrate its anniversary on January 25, 2025 in the City Hall with attractions from the world of research and excellent models of science communication

Vienna (OTS) – The 10th Vienna Science Ball on January 25, 2025 in the Vienna City Hall has been completely sold out for two weeks. Participation in events is still possible for the supporting program that complements the ball. Mayor Dr. Michael Ludwig: “What began as an experiment ten years ago has developed into an extraordinarily remarkable successful concept that is also attracting great international attention. I would like to congratulate the organizing team very warmly on this.” Continue reading Seasons’ Greetings!

Regular tix sold out too!

We are touched and saddened at the same time. But it is what it is. We are sold out! After the tickets for students, all regular tickets are now gone too. The very last chance to secure tickets is to book the last remaining honorary tables in the ballroom for €4200 or in the adjoining rooms for €2200, each with 8 tickets included. For the time being, the tables can be booked in our webshop. Continue reading Regular tix sold out too!

Karl Regensburger: Dancing at the end of the world

© Nikolaus Similache

In 2015, the American anthropologist Anna Tsing landed something of a global bestseller with her book “The Mushroom at the End of the World” and – I hope the Science Ball audience agrees with me here – a scientific global success. “About life in the ruins of capitalism” is the subtitle of the German translation and yes, this life and survival is simply unimaginable without science: diverse and broadly networking, excellently funded, respected and persistent research, its implementation and its communication. That is as certain as, say, the successful landing after a grand jeté. Continue reading Karl Regensburger: Dancing at the end of the world

Christian Reiter: Popular science vs. populism

Photo: Christopher Mavrič

Ever since man has existed, he has been searching for what we call “truth”. He tries to understand reality, he tries to find it, he looks for different perspectives on the world as it is. These insights, gained according to strict formal rules that are above all comprehensible to everyone, are then intended to benefit people in their daily lives.

Not only in medicine, to which I have dedicated my life, but above all when it comes to the administration of justice, citizens expect an unprejudiced search for truth and knowledge. Continue reading Christian Reiter: Popular science vs. populism

Sophie Juliane Veigl: We scientists have a duty to deliver

As a child, my goal of becoming a scientist was of a pragmatic nature. As a declared fan of the Middle Ages and princesses, I soon became aware of the dark side of the Middle Ages: infectious diseases such as the plague. I was not reassured that such scenarios were in the past and wanted to be at the forefront of research into such diseases – as in “know your enemy”. Continue reading Sophie Juliane Veigl: We scientists have a duty to deliver

Elly Tanaka: A union of music and science

© Anna Stöcher

Music and science are united in their ability to help us understand our world more deeply. While science offers us the tools to explore and explain the physical universe, music taps into the emotional and intuitive aspects of our human experience. Together, music and science create a richer, deeper understanding of life—science reveals the “how,” while music helps us grasp the “why.” Science and music are also connected at an emotional level: The aesthetic pleasure one feels when hearing great music, that is abound in Vienna, is mirrored by the pleasure of making a scientific discovery. Continue reading Elly Tanaka: A union of music and science