56 IST Austria Annual Report 2013
Outreach 57
Communicating science
In the communication flow
IST Lectures
Science Slams
In the IST Lecture series, eminent scientists are invited to IST Austria to present their research and address topics of interest to the scientifically interested general public. In 2013, two distinguished scientists gave public IST Lectures at IST Austria. On April 24, the American mathematician Stephen Smale presented his work on the three-dimensional structures of proteins. On October 10, the biologist Bruce Levin shared his insights into the adaptive immune system of bacteria and its evolutionary dynamics.
2013 marked a first for the participation of IST Austria scientists in Vienna Science Slams. Designed as a platform for researchers to talk about their work to a non-scientific public, the participants explain their research in simple terms in five minutes, with the audience judging who performed the best „slam“. Tom Ellis, PhD student in Nick Barton’s group, won the Vienna Science Slam on June 20 with an entertaining glimpse into his research on evolutionary dynamics using snapdragons. Leila el Masri, postdoc in the group of Sylvia Cremer, won the Science Slam held as part of the Vienna Science Festival on September 15, describing her work on ant immune systems.
Science-Industry Talk The Science-Industry Talk series is a joint initiative of IST Austria and the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV). This year’s Science-Industry Talk on „Partners in Innovation: Synergies between Industry and Basic Research“ offered a forum to discuss relations and exchanges between academia and industry with the aim of learning from the respective partners. The panel discussion included entrepreneur Horst Domdey, venture capitalist Hermann Hauser, TTTech founder Hermann Kopetz, and Assistant Managing Director of Microsoft Research India Sriram Rajamani.
Open Campus The IST Austria campus was open to the public at the annual Open Campus. The friends and neighbors of IST Austria and their families were invited to spend the day at IST Austria and explore the day-to-day life of a research institution. Many hands-on science stations, such as cryptography workshops and fluid explorations, gave the visitors the opportunity to experience research for themselves. The Open Campus was rounded off with the award ceremony for the 2013 School Science Competition run by IST Austria, this year on the topic of „Forces in Nature“.
IST Austria aims to increase the public awareness of basic research and actively seeks to reach out into the community. The Institute participates in many local and regional events, such as the Vienna Science Festival, and hosts many visits by different groups and constituencies.
Public Events 2013 April 24
IST Lecture Stephen Smale
June 4
Science-Industry Talk
June 8
Open Campus
October 10 IST Lecture Bruce R. Levin