Bringing research closer to society: IMBA at the "Be Open" Science Festival

From September 8 to 12 young scientists and committed researchers from IMBA and the Vienna BioCenter took part in a very special celebration reaching out to over 30.000 visitors: For its 50th anniversary, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) - Austria's central funding organization for basic research – initiated a huge science festival called “Be Open”.

This event allowed scientists to directly engage in an open dialogue between the general public, the scientific community, politicians and key decision makers at national and European levels on the key role of basic research for societal development. 

The festival took place in a picturesque setting at Maria-Theresien-Platz – a touristic hotspot in the heart of Vienna. The “Be Open” Festival was also Austria’s biggest open-air science event during the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Federal President of the Republic of Austria held the patronage of the event and inaugurated the festival with a speech, underlining the need for more funds for basic research. Carlos Moedas, the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation visited the closing ceremony.