From 19 to 21 May 2025, the first Austrian edition of the E³UDRES² Science Festival was hosted in the city of St. Pölten, celebrating research, curiosity, and collaboration. Under the theme “Local Pulse, Global Waves,” the event brought together researchers, students, educators, and citizens to explore the role science can play in shaping the world around us. With a focus on hands-on research and engagement, the festival served as a space for both academic exchange and public involvement.
Science in the Spotlight
A standout feature of this year’s festival was the debut of "Pint of Science" in St. Pölten, hosted in the local venues Cinema Paradiso and the Chameleon Bar. Originating in the United Kingdom, this relaxed, pub-style event invited attendees to explore scientific topics over a drink, making research more relatable and fostering candid discussions between scientists and the community. Speakers at Pint of Science included Thomas Delissen, Professor for Data Science and AI at the St. Pölten UAS, Max Nutz, Climate and Energy Scientist at the Climate Change Center Austria, and Alexandra Anderluh, Expert for Sustainable Mobility at the St. Pölten UAS. Interactive elements of their talks allowed the participants to also test their knowledge and win small prizes.
Next to the programme at the city center, also the St. Pölten UAS campus turned into the place to be for science-interested visitors. On 21 May, an interactive Science Fair made it possible for anyone interested to find out more about the research done in Lower Austria and beyond, with booths covering topics like vertical indoor farming, dietary choices for maintaining healthy joints, or bringing data to life. A well-visited science communication workshop, titled "Public Engagement with Science", taught participants how to communicate complex and sometimes hard to understand scientific topics to a broad audience in a fun, easy-to-grasp way. Various tours through the St. Pölten UAS labs, such as the rail lab, the audio lab, the TV studio or the health labs, as well as a research speeddating session, provided a varied programme for the visitors. In the evening, a Science Pub Quiz invited attendees to test their knowledge in a competitive but fun setting, as the St. Pölten UAS cinema turned into the stage for quiz hosts Ramona and Alex. Enjoying free drinks and various rounds of questions, the winning team got to take home hand-crafted and upcycled bags provided by the E³UDRES² Ent-r-e-novators team.
One of the academic cornerstones of the Science Festival was the 22nd edition of the IAFeS NETTIES conference, focusing on “Human-centered solutions for the age of digital transformation and artificial intelligence.” This conference gathered experts from across Europe to discuss how emerging technologies are reshaping our world, particularly in regional and global contexts.
Inspiring the Next Generation and Celebrating Excellence
Youth engagement played a significant role in this year’s festival, particularly through a Photo Voice Challenge organized in the run-up to the event. Through a school competition, students were invited to reflect on the climate crisis through photography. Addressing the theme “What do I want the older generation to know about the climate crisis?” the challenge sparked intergenerational dialogue and creative expression on one of the most urgent issues of our time. During the Science Festival, the best submissions were brought to the stage and awarded with a trophy for their outstanding contribution. Visitors of the Science Festival had the chance to discuss with the winning teams during the Science Fair.
The festival culminated in the ceremony for the E³UDRES² Awards of Excellence, which recognized outstanding achievements in research, education, and student innovation. These accolades celebrated individuals and teams whose work exemplifies creativity, impact, and a commitment to positive change. The awards were given away in the three categories "Innovative Science Outreach", "Innovative Teaching Methods", as well as "Student Innovation: Local Pulse, Global Waves". You'll be able to find out more about the E³UDRES² Awards of Excellence, as well as the winners, in one of our upcoming news articles.
