“It is an extremely charming idea to combine science and society at a ball with the intention to connect those spheres to eachother. This shows that science does not feel at home in the ivory tower, but is in the midst of life and celebrates its joys. This ball is a symbol of an open and open-minded society that exchanges and develops in dialogue. This is what a contemporary concept of science stands for, which we want to celebrate with this ball!”

Stella Rollig is the managing director of the Belvedere Museum Vienna since January 2017. Prior to that, she was Artistic Director of the Lentos Art Museum in Linz for 12 years. She studied German and art history at the University of Vienna.

Photo: Ingo Pertramer

Andreas Mailath-Pokorny, Viennas City Councillor for Arts and Science, has a special gift for Viennese students. He is giving away 2×10 tickets for the science ball!
To take part in the competition, just like our Facebook page and tag your potential ball partner in a comment to the corresponding post. The winners will be informed on Friday, 22nd December via Privat Message on Facebook (Attention: please check other messages)! All decisions are final. Good luck!

“The Vienna Ball of Science – a ball that should be opened with the words ,And every molecule moves!‘ . I’m sure nothing promotes interdisciplinarity more than a little clash on the dance floor. Once you’ve kicked each other, the ice is broken and inspiration for a chat is served on the ball parquet. And since science in Vienna also includes the art universities, there is also a chance that a creative spark may jump over. ”

Cornelia Travnicek is a novelist. Among other honors, she received the Theodor-Körner-Award 2008 and the Audience Prize at the Ingeborg Bachmann Competition 2012. In addition to her literary work, she also works as a researcher at the Vienna Center for Virtual Reality and Visualization. Cornelia studied computer science and sinology.

Photo: Dirk Skiba

“Science and research are an important part of our society. For the fourth time now, the Science Ball is helping to present Vienna all over the world as a city which combines cutting-edge research with old traditions. I am particularly pleased that our young researchers are being brought into the public eye at the Vienna Ball of Sciences. They contribute significantly  to our research and will definitely enjoy the event. Ultimately, science is about sharing and creating new knowledge – and what strengthens a sense of collaboration more than a jolly evening in a special ambience? I’m happy to be part of it! ”

Anna Obenauf is the group leader of the Obenauf Lab, which studies cancer metastasis and therapy resistance at the Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP). She did her PhD at Medical University of Graz and was a postdoctoral fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the US.

Foto: Lukas Beck

On January 27, 2018, the Vienna Ball of Sciences will take place for the fourth time. In a media talk Mayor Michael Häupl and the City Councillor for Arts and Science, Andreas Mailath-Pokorny, today explained, why the importance of this  event. Oliver Lehmann, chair of the organizing committee, presented major topics and features of the upcoming Science Ball. Continue reading Media talk at Rathaus →

“Science is generally said to be more content-analytical and therefore a little hostile to life and fun. Well, which other city would be more appropriate to contradict this assumption than Vienna with its time-honored tradition of balls? Viennese style and freely adapted from Max Weber: cool and distant in analysis, passionate in the matter – and Viennese when it comes to parties … “

The sociologist Kenan Güngör sees himself as a German-speaking European with Kurdish-Turkish roots. He is founder of the “Office for Society, Organization and Development – think.difference” in Vienna which advises and accompanies state and non-governmental organisations at federal, state and local level as an consultant and international expert on integration and diversity issues.

Photo: Magdalena Possert

“The Vienna Ball of Sciences sets a signal. A signal that is necessary more than ever. At the Sci Ball we dance for open minds and tolerance. We also dance against those who have long been trying to propagate their terrible ideas in the Vienna Hofburg. Let’s show everyone that there is another way! Science and teaching are free. It’s a good thing, that there’s the Sci Ball. ”

Johanna Zechmeister is the chairperson of the Austrian Student Union, nominated by the independent student list (FLÖ). She studies medicine and law.

“The JAM MUSIC LAB Private University for Jazz and Popular Music is pleased to be the youngest member of the Austrian music universities to participate in the Vienna Ball of Science. Jazz began its journey as dance music of the 1920s and 30s. Since then it has always been reinterpreted. So did our wonderful students, who will contribute their interpretation of this ‘dance music’. Even a musical particle can be in several places at the same time – we want to set both, dance legs and scientific inspiration of the ball guests, in motion. ”

The guitarist and music theorist Marcus Ratka is co-founder of the JAM MUSIC LAB Private University for Jazz and Popular Music, which was accredited by the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy in February 2017. Ratka worked as a musician with Joe Zawinul, Sylvester Levay, Harry Kupfer, Jérôme Savary, Werner Herzog, Hansi Lang, Paul Capsis, Roman Gottwald, Thomas Gansch, Mario Gonzi, Georg Breinschmid, Bumi Fian, Herwig Gradischnig and Erika Pluhar.

“Science plays an important role in Vienna. Many international partners in various fields cooperate with local researchers. How nice that this special event, the Vienna Ball of Sciences, has been established a couple of years ago, where scientists exchange ideas in a cheerful atmosphere and show that this is a large community. I wish you all a glittering party and a lot of fun!”

Eva Schlegel is an artist often working at the interface of arts and science. Until 2011 Schlegel was Professor for Art and Photography at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna

Photo: Günther Peroutka