1,700 visitors at Research Night in Kufstein

When doors open and research comes to life: As part of the state-wide Long Night of Research, which takes place every two years, the Kufstein University of Applied Sciences in Tyrol once again transformed into a vibrant hub of discovery on April 24. Around 1,700 visitors took the opportunity to get up close and personal with modern technologies and try them out for themselves—a significant increase compared to 2024, which drew around 1,000 guests.

ENTHUSIASM THAT LASTS

There were plenty of special moments—such as during a visit to the Media Lab: Amy, Theresa, and Lea met an ORF team there and were given the chance to spontaneously introduce a segment for "Tirol Heute" (starting around the 10:50 mark), which aired that very evening.

The event itself also made a lasting impression—in many different ways: “This is my third year here because it’s just really good,” says Amy. “I think it’s really cool that you get to try so many things out for yourself here,” says Theresa. And Lea adds, “It’s just exciting because you get to see things you wouldn’t normally see.”

The feedback shows that what makes the event so appealing is, above all, the opportunity to get involved and try things out for yourself.

TECHNOLOGY YOU CAN TOUCH

The drone stations were a particular highlight. Here, the technology became easy to understand as a drone was taken apart piece by piece. In the “Paper Airplane vs. Drone” activity, visitors could also get hands-on and playfully discover the principles behind flight and control.

The field of robotics was equally popular: systems such as Nao and Temi impressively demonstrated the wide range of applications for machines today—from social companions to industrial assistants.

Another highlight was the motion capture lab. Here, visitors could see how movements are digitally captured and transferred to virtual characters in real time—a fascinating glimpse into applications in film, gaming, and sports analysis.

GET INVOLVED AND LEARN

The CO₂ rocket station was particularly popular. Using simple materials, visitors built their own rockets and launched them. This provided a clear demonstration of the forces at work and the role played by energy and greenhouse gases.

Contributions from regional schools—including the International School Kufstein, the BG/BRG Kufstein, and the HLW Kufstein—also enriched the program. Through their own experiments and hands-on stations, they demonstrated how enthusiasm for science can be sparked at an early age.

SPARKING AN ENTHUSIASM FOR RESEARCH

“The Long Night of Research is a very important event for Kufstein University of Applied Sciences. It is very important to us to inspire children and young people to take an interest in science and research at an early age. At the same time, the strong participation of regional schools shows just how vibrant and diverse this interest already is. We would like to extend a special thank you to Sparkasse Kufstein, which has been supporting us for years, not just with this event,” emphasizes Mag. Thomas Petzold, Head of Events at Kufstein Higher Education Institution.

From the higher education institution or university administration’s perspective as well, the event—which took place for the ninth time at the Kufstein UAS—underscores the importance of practical knowledge transfer: “Events like the Long Night of Research highlight how we conduct research at Kufstein University of Applied Sciences: application-oriented, interdisciplinary, and in direct dialogue with society,” said Rector Prof. (FH) PD Dr. Mario Döller.

Links: 

• Science Labs | Website