IMBA is committed to engaging in an open exchange with the society of which it is part. The institute seeks to inform the public about its research and views outreach as an opportunity for its scientists to learn, grow, and develop into better communicators.
IMBA sees outreach also as an opportunity and part of IMBA’s spirit of connecting to people. IMBA regularly opens its doors to spark curiosity, welcome the public into its labs, and show what science looks like day to day to share the enthusiasm and excitement of discovery with people beyond the scientific community.
Outreach is a two-way street. Engaging with diverse audiences including lay members of the public pushes IMBA’s experts to explain their work clearly and confidently — making scientists better communicators, both inside and outside the lab.
For all these reasons, IMBA actively organizes outreach and public engagement activities throughout the year, each aimed at a specific target audience. You can learn more about each of them below. In addition, IMBA scientists regularly appear in media, give public lectures, and participate in study visits that occur ad-hoc to help inform broad audiences about IMBA’s research and science in general.
As of 2025, 74 percent of people in Austria report strong trust in science, and 82 percent state they want researchers to actively inform the public about their work, according to the ÖAW’s Austrian Science Barometer. IMBA’s outreach efforts are part of what sustains this trust and interest.
Austria's biggest science fair — over 250 institutions across the country open their doors for one evening of free, hands-on science for everyone. IMBA contributes to the venues at the Austrian Academy of Sciences central office and the Vienna BioCenter.
Who? Families and interested members of the public
Where? Location 1 at Austrian Academy of Sciences central office; location 2 at Vienna BioCenter, IMBA foyer
When? Bienniel in April, last in 2026
More: langenachtderforschung.at/
A hands-on laboratory at the Vienna BioCenter, run as a joint initiative of IMBA and the association Open Science. The Vienna Open Lab offers interactive workshops on molecular biology and chemistry for ages five and up.
Who? Anyone from five upwards, different courses and formats cater to different age groups
Where? Vienna Open Lab, access via IMBA's main entrance
When? Ongoing
More: viennaopenlab.at/en/
A Vienna-wide festival celebrating local research since 2008, bringing science out of the lab and into public spaces across the city. IMBA attended with its own stand at changing locations.
Who? Families and interested members of the public
Where? IMBA stand at city hall (Rathaus)
When? Occasional, last in summer 2025
More: digitales.wien.gv.at/rueckblick-wiener-forschungsfest-2025/
An annual open night of museums. In 2026, IMBA partners with the Vienna Museum of Science and Technology (Technisches Museum Wien) to showcase molecular biology with examples from stem cell research and regeneration.
Who? Families and interested members of the public
Where? IMBA stand at the Vienna Museum of Science and Technology (Technisches Museum)
When? Autumn, next October 2026
More: langenacht.orf.at/en/
Girls aged eleven to 16 spend a day at IMBA, shadowing real scientists in the lab to provide insights into how to pursue a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields.
Who? Female highschool students aged 11 to 16
Where? IMBA
When? Annual since 2002, in early summer
More: toechtertag.at/
A Europe-wide science festival held simultaneously in cities across the continent. IMBA researchers participate with a hands-on station to showcase aspects of the institute’s research.
Who? Families, interested members of the public
Where? Event venue set by the organisers, last at the city hall
When? Occasional, last in 2025
More: marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/european-researchers-night
Open Science is a non-profit association that promotes the exchange between life science researchers and the public. The collaboration with IMBA includes the Vienna Open Lab, as well as activities to which IMBA scientists contribute individually.
Who, where, when? Depending on the specific activity, ad-hoc
More: openscience.or.at/en/
Workshops on regeneration and neurobiology for 3rd and 4th graders (approximately age nine/ten), for which IMBA scientists go to primary schools and do hands-on experiments with children. Sessions run several times a month throughout the school year.
Who? Primary school classes grades 3 and 4 (approximate ages 9 and 10)
Where? In the relevant classroom of the respective school
When? Throughout the school year, workshops are individually agreed
More: oeaw.ac.at/imba-de/imba-im-dialog/neugierigekoepfe-science-meets-classroom
After-school science workshops for children with a particular focus on students with special focus on those from disadvantaged backgrounds, ages ten to 15. Run together with Vienna Open Lab and the organization Hobby Lobby, IMBA scientists contribute to or lead sessions.
Who? Highschool students with special attention on disadvantaged backgrounds, ages 10 to 15
Where? Local schools in selected district of Vienna
When? 10 to 12 sessions throughout the school year, starting in late 2026
More: hobbylobby.ngo/en
Children get to be real scientists for a day — hands-on experiments as part of university courses and events. IMBA scientists have participated in Kinderuni events at the ÖAW central office and directly at IMBA.
Who? Children ages 7 to 12
Where? IMBA scientists participate at ÖAW central office; as well as at IMBA itself
When? Individual events throughout summer
More: kinderuni.at/en/
Eighth-grade students spend three days at IMBA, trading the classroom for the lab bench — often their first real look at a career in science.
Who? Eighth-grade highschool students (approximately age 14)
Where? IMBA
When? Individual dates in late winter/spring
More: jobs.wien.gv.at/praktika/berufspraktische-tage/
Europe's largest science outreach event for high school students (ages approximately 16 to 18), focused on stem cell research and regenerative medicine. UniStem Day features a day of lectures, lab tours, hands-on workshops, and bioethics discussions. The Vienna edition is hosted by the Vienna Open Lab in collaboration with IMBA and the association Open Science, with school classes touring IMBA's research labs and getting hands-on lab experience.
Who? Highschool students, ages approximately 16 to 18
Where? IMBA and neighbouring institutes, Vienna Open Lab
When? Annually in March since 2002
More: viennaopenlab.at/en/news/2026-04-01-unistem-day-2026/
A summer school with visits to research institutes in Vienna organized for the winning students of a national science competition in Ukraine (ages 14 to 17). The summer school aims to give an in-depth look at high-level research organisations and open up perspectives for the participants. Organised by the people behind the mathematics promotion initiative "Mathematik macht Freude" (University of Vienna) together with the Ukrainian Embassy, in cooperation with IMBA and other Vienna research institutes.
Who? Regional winners of nation-wide science competition aged 14 to 17
Where? IMBA (as one of many visited research sites)
When? Annual in early summer
More: TBA
An evening event series co-hosted by IMBA and Merck, bringing together researchers, industry representatives, and health policymakers to discuss current topics at the interphase of basic research and medical application. A panel discussion followed by networking opportunities in an elegant setting at IMBA.
Who? Decision makers from research, health and policy sectors
Where? IMBA lecture hall and atrium
When? Annual in autumn, last in October 2025
More: healthscienceforum.at/
Groups of stakeholders or representatitives of organisations with an interest in IMBA and the Vienna BioCenter are welcome to enquire possiblities for organised tours. Further information will be provided here soon.
Who? Representatives of organisations with an interest or stake in IMBA
Where? IMBA building
When? Ad-hoc, upon request
More: Please contact Ms. Sylvia Weinzettl (sylvia.weinzettl(at)vbc.ac.at)
At the Vienna Science Ball, IMBA runs an information stand with a photo wall, offering a playful hook for guests to interact with IMBA – and ideally learn more about the institute’s research and mission.
Who? Visitors of the Vienna Ball of Sciences (Austria's research and academia community)
Where? Rathaus (Vienna City Hall)
When? Annual (late January)
More: wissenschaftsball.at/en/
A lecture series targeting staff of Vienna BioCenter institutes with no scientific training for them to learn more about the science they contribute to in accessible language. Each “Science2Go” comprises of a short talk by a scientist, followed by a tour of the relevant lab or research facility.
Who? Internal audiences, colleagues with no scientific background
Where? Hosting institute at the Vienna BioCenter (e.g. IMBA)
When? Quartly
