Press conference Long Night of Research in Vienna
31.03.2026
The FHV's impressive station showed how microsensors observe our environment and make its "health" visible. "We made a really strong showing. The three ministers were really impressed by our self-made sensors. We were able to show that research in the high-tech sector - especially in chip manufacturing - is also happening in the Ländle", Volha and Stefan summed up in unison.
Microsensors as nature's detectives
Under the title "Do you know how microsensors sense our environment and its health?", the team demonstrated how a self-developed multisensor measures important environmental parameters in lakes, rivers and ponds: from temperature and pH value to oxygen content. It was clearly explained why oxygen in particular reveals so much about the activity of plants and algae. In a playful experiment, representatives of the ministries, the media and two school classes experienced live how the sensor reacts when light is switched on or off and how plants change their photosynthesis performance as a result. A "scientific aha moment" that was well received by the audience. The varied program of the Long Night of Research 2026 was presented by Federal Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner, Federal Minister Peter Hanke and Federal Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer.
Save the date: April 24, 2026
Under this year's motto "Join in. Marvel. Discover." the Long Night of Research will once again take place simultaneously throughout Austria on April 24, 2026. At the FHV, we will also be bringing research to life on this evening with a total of 30 stations - with experiments, hands-on stations, demonstrations and direct exchanges with our scientists. Admission is free.
Open to everyone
The event is aimed at the general public: families, people interested in the subject, schoolchildren and anyone who is curious about science. The aim is to make research visible, get to know the people behind it and highlight possible career paths. With their strong performance in Vienna, Volha and Stefan have already aroused anticipation for what the FHV will present in April. A great start and a sign of how committed and effective our teams are in communicating research to the outside world.
