This was the Long Night of Research 2026 at CeMESS
More than 12,000 people attended the University of Vienna’s venues during this year’s Long Night of Research. At the Vienna BioCenter, 1,500 visitors toured 30+ stations across different buildings, with the University Biology Building (UBB) run by CeMESS and the Faculty of Life Sciences (University of Vienna).
Eight CeMESS-led stations were spread across two venues – the University of Vienna Main Building and the UBB – with the program running from 17:00 to 23:00 and inviting attendees to explore current research. The stations covered topics ranging from soil biology and microbes to evolution, color science, and plant–microbe nitrogen dynamics through hands-on activities.
CeMESS-Stations at University of Vienna Main Building
Biological soil crusts under stress
Dagmar Woebken and her team demonstrated how tiny soil microorganisms survive extreme conditions and what these lessons taught us about climate resilience.
Biodegradable chemicals
Michael Zumstein and his colleagues explored what makes certain chemicals biodegradable and where such substances could replace other harmful man-made chemicals in ecosystems.
Highlights at the UBB included a pub quiz that tested knowledge across the life sciences and sparked interactive discussion; hands-on stations that let visitors experience the research process firsthand: from microscopy and microbial exploration to demonstrations with animal models and biodiversity activities; a photo booth capturing memorable moments from the evening; guided tours of the Aqualab offering a behind-the-scenes look at aquatic research facilities; and a reading on how elephants communicate, providing a narrative perspective on animal behavior and communication in the wild.
CeMESS-Stations at University Biology Building (UBB)
Science brought to life with board games
Nathalie Heldwein’s group invited visitors to become fertilizer and test whether humanity could be fed without pollution.
Laura Sanchez Lara’s team guided creatures through natural selection in an engaging, interactive format.
Color in science
Sarah Pati’s and Valentin Göldner’s team offered hands-on experiments to reveal the components of everyday color.
Ruizhe Pei’s group used fluorescent stains to make invisible microbes glow under the microscope.
Exploration of what lies beneath our feet
Cornelia Rottensteiner’s group let visitors discover soil microorganisms through a memory game that engages the senses.
Christina Straub’s team let guests examine real root nodules to learn how bacteria provide essential nitrogen to legumes.
We thank everyone for a wonderful evening and look forward to the next Long Night opf Research in 2028!
Links
- Program University of Vienna – Main Building (in German)
- Program Vienna Biocenter (in German)
- More about the Long Night of Research at University of Vienna