Society Spotlight
In our institute, science, technology, and art come together to build meaningful connections with society. We believe research shouldn’t stay behind lab doors – it should inspire, inform, and involve the public.
Kinderuni Wien 2025
Everything is Connected – Workshop at Kinderuni Wien 2025
Do you know what the subway and TikTok have in common?
How does a rumor spread in a school class? What’s the fastest way from Karlsplatz to Westbahnhof? Through a few games, we’ll dive into the world of networks and understand that we’re actually surrounded by networks without even realizing it.”
On July 11th, 2025, our workshop “Everything is Connected” took place as part of the Children’s University / Kinderuni Wien. Ten enthusiastic children aged 10 to 12 explored the fascinating world of networks together with researchers from LBI-NetMed.
Over the course of two exciting hours, they discovered how networks shape our everyday lives – from subway systems to social media. Supported by five dedicated team members, the children calculated, connected, learned, and most importantly, had a lot of fun.
We thank all participants, with special thanks to the University of Vienna and the amazing yellow-shirted volunteers for their inspiring contributions and support.
Workshop Highlight: Networks in Everyday Life: Using a simplified subway map, the children calculated shortest paths, found the fastest routes, and navigated around construction sites. Shared Interests as Networks: In a second activity, they built networks based on shared preferences – such as favorite ice cream flavors or hobbies. The final sentence of the day captured the spirit of the workshop: “WE ARE ALL CONNECTED NOW.” A moment of realization that brought the concept of networks vividly to life.
Photos: © Annette Tesarek, LBI-NetMed
Interactive VR Station at the Environmental Climate Hub
Contaminants in Food – Small Doses, What Impact?
On May 6, 2025, the Environmental Climate Hub hosted the 13th edition of the “Environment in Discussion” series at the Natural History Museum Vienna. The event focused on a timely and complex topic: chemical contaminants in food and their potential effects on human health—even in very small doses.
Food is more than just nutrition—it shapes our bodies, cultures, and emotions. Yet, in a highly industrialized world, concerns persist about substances like microplastics, pesticides, and PFAS entering our food chain. With over 16,000 chemicals used in plastics alone, many of which are insufficiently tested, the challenge of assessing long-term health risks is growing.
The event explored how our understanding of “toxins” has evolved over time and how cultural and historical perspectives influence public perception. It also addressed the limitations of current risk assessment methods in dealing with chronic, low-dose exposure to a wide range of substances.
We provided an interactive VR station which offered visitors an immersive experience of how contaminants can affect the human body. This made complex scientific data tangible and accessible, bridging the gap between research and public awareness. In addition, selected videos were shown to further illustrate the scientific background and real-world relevance of the topic, enriching the audience’s understanding through visual storytelling.
The discussion concluded with a call for more robust scientific methods, interdisciplinary collaboration, and greater public engagement to ensure food safety in an increasingly complex chemical landscape.
Photos: © Annette Tesarek, LBI-NetMed
