All posts by Oliver Lehmann

A fanfare to the ball

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The MAK fanfare at the #SciBall24 / Photo: R. Ferrigato

The Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna (MUK for short) has accompanied the Science Ball from the very beginning. And this is to be understood literally. Every year, students specially compose fanfares which form the prelude to the opening. Student Laura Oos (born 2003) has composed a “Fanfare for the Scientists” especially for this year’s anniversary, which will be performed by students from the Jazz, Wind Instruments and Percussion departments under the direction of the composer. And that’s not all. At midnight, Alexandra Danilova (soprano), Ghazal Kazemi (mezzo-soprano), Malo Peloffy (tenor) and Aleksandr Ivanov (bass) will accompany Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” with the Divertimento Viennese ball orchestra.

Maja Göpel: Lots of positive vibes

Ball 2025
© Anja Weber

One thing we have realized in recent years is how important legitimizing narratives are for shaping social design and change. Science communication plays a central role if these narratives are to be supported by evidence. Particularly in times of upheaval, we see the temptation to ignore unpleasant changes in reality in order to offer known and simple solutions. Continue reading Maja Göpel: Lots of positive vibes →

Sigrid Stagl: From the lecture hall to the ball room

Ball 2025, General
Ball organizer Oliver Lehmann, Sigrid Stagl, Scientist of the Year, and Eva Stanzl, chairwoman of the Club of Education and Science Journalists, at the Concordia Press Club / Photo: R. Ferrigato

The focus is of course on the well-deserved award as Scientist of the Year 2024, which Sigrid Stagl received today at the Concordia Press Club from the Club of Education and Science Journalists. But the economist at the Department of Socioeconomics at WU Vienna was also delighted to receive an invitation to the Science Ball that came with the award. Continue reading Sigrid Stagl: From the lecture hall to the ball room →

Ingeborg Zerbes: Communication without instructions „from above“

Ball 2025, General
Photo: Universität Wien/Barbara Mair

For me, science – not just my own, but also and perhaps even above all the natural sciences – means the possibility of arriving at a rationally justified assessment in an increasingly less transparent, increasingly differentiated and increasingly conflict-ridden world: rational in the sense of being based on knowledge rather than rumors, rational in the sense of being balanced, rational in the sense of including other approaches, rational in the sense of being (as) objective as possible rather than headed towards individual interests. Continue reading Ingeborg Zerbes: Communication without instructions „from above“ →

Box office opens doors

Ball 2025, General

It’s literally a box office hit! Again, this ball season the Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus am Karlsplatz is our host. Thanks to their hospitality we are distributing our ordered- and pre-paid tickets at this well-located address in the inner city centre from Monday, 6 January, to Friday, 24 January, on workdays from 15.00 until 18.00.

The exact address: Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus, 1010 Wien, Akademiestraße 13. You can reach the ticket office via U1, U2, U4; tram lines 1, 2, 62, 71, D; Badner Bahn; bus lines 3A, 4A, 59A; Regionalbus 360.

Photo: R. Ferrigato

Seasons’ Greetings!

Ball 2025

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! →