Communicating Science
The IWF is very active in communicationg science and sharing its knowledge with the wider public. One example is the exhibition MISSION POSSIBLE!, which was designed to celebrate the institute's 50th anniversary and was vsited by 15,000 people. In 2023, IWF's exoplanet researchers presented their studies on extraterrestrial atmospheres in the Mobile Pavilion, which is part of the exhibition Showing Styria (duration: 29 April – 5 November 2023).
Every year, sixty European engineering and science students are selected to participate in the Summer School Alpbach, a ten-day learning opportunity, which is co-organized by the IWF. The two-day lecture series Graz in Space is organized by the IWF every two years at the beginning of September, aiming at people who do not have a scientific background.
Opening doors
Every two years the IWF opens its (laboratory) doors, taking visitors into the vastness of space during the Austrian Long Night of Research (LNF - Lange Nacht der Forschung). On 24 April 2026 about 1,800 visitors were counted. In the picture gallery you can find impressions from the past years. For several years now, the IWF has been taking part in the European Researchers’ Night with its current projects, most recently in 2023 in Vienna on the topic of Jupiter and its icy moons and in 2025 in Graz under the theme "Life is science in a world turned upside down".
Sharing enthusiasm
Contact with young researchers is particularly important to the IWF. Once a month, guided tours through the laboratories and the planetary garden are offered to share the fascination of space with the young visitors and thus to encourage their natural and technical interest. The goal is to, to inspire children and young people in the long term, so that they might to pursue a career in the natural sciences or technology.
The support of young talents interested in space research is one of the main pillars of the IWF’s Young Researcher Program. Depending on the available budget, we offer four-weeks internships for pupils and one-to-six-months projects for undergraduates.
Presenting research topics
In the IWF colloquium and seminar series, international guest speakers (colloquium) and local speakers (seminar) inform about current research topics and scientific results every Thursday. The summer months are lecture-free. Older lectures can be found on the IWF YouTube channel.
Strenghtening networks
The IWF organizes scientific conferences and meetings, such as the Graz-Vienna Exoplanet Scientist Meeting, to strengthen connections between Austria's working in the field of space research.
3, 2, 1, ... lift off
The most exciting moment for IWF's engineers and scientists is the moment when the measuring instrument, which has been developed and built during the last years, lifts off into space. At regular launch events - most recently on the occasion of the launch of the JUICE and SMILE missions - the public can participate in these exciting minutes, follow the rocket launch live on a large screen and learn about the Austrian contributions to the respective space mission.
If you no longer want to miss an IWF event, visit the institute's website regularly or register for the IWF mailing lists.
If you are looking for pictures from past events, you may find them in the online gallery.
If you want to (re-)watch past events and presentations, visit the IWF YouTube channel.