Science made tangible: SFU attracts around 500 visitors at LNF#26
At the Long Night of Research, which took place across Austria on Friday, April 24, SFU once again participated with a diverse and engaging programme. The wide-ranging selection of lectures, workshops, and interactive hands-on stations from all four faculties attracted around 500 visitors, filling lecture halls and drawing lively crowds to the activity stations.
The speakers were delighted not only by the well-attended sessions but also by an interested and engaged audience whose insightful questions led to dynamic discussions. As part of the panel discussion, participants engaged in a lively exchange on the benefits of using artificial intelligence in mental health care, as well as the associated risks from medical, legal, and ethical perspectives.
Particular highlights for the many children present included applying a real plaster cast to a teddy bear and meeting Campino, a therapy dog who inspired great enthusiasm. Hands-on activities such as practicing medical skills like resuscitation, surgical suturing, and bone drilling, as well as testing one’s lung function, appealed equally to young and adult visitors. The interactive stations at MED Research Lab and Freud CanBeLab were also very popular, offering opportunities to test the heat resistance of enzymes or marvel at the fascinating capabilities of the human brain.
The workshops were equally well received: while children and teenagers explored topics such as democracy and the legal system in a playful way, an art therapy workshop offered adults the chance to express themselves creatively.
The Long Night of Research once again demonstrated the strong public interest in scientific topics and highlighted the importance of communicating research in a clear and engaging way. SFU presented itself as a vibrant hub for dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration, making a lasting contribution to rendering science tangible, reducing barriers, and inspiring young people in particular to engage with the world of research.
The lively exchange and high level of participation created a palpable sense of enthusiasm and enjoyment among both visitors and contributors. We would like to thank everyone involved for their great commitment and are delighted by the consistently positive feedback! Here you can find the SFU programme of the LNF 2026 (pdf).
Some impressions:
