Science
Conferences
Free
Austrian Science Day 2025 in Tyrol
Add to calendar Program and registrationTime:
14:00
Date:
Location:
Kaiser Leopold Hall, Faculty of Theology
Partner:
University of Innsbruck, Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research, OeAD Cooperation Office Lviv, Ukraine Office Austria, Euroregio Tyrol South Tyrol Trentino, State of Tyrol, Literaturhaus am Inn, Institute for German Culture and Southern European History at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Organizer:
Austrian Research Foundation
"not moving away from one another, but lifting and laying down together"
From the revolt of the subjects to a self-confident civil society as the cornerstone of our democracy.
Under the motto “From the Revolt of Subjects to a Self-Confident Civil Society as a Cornerstone of Democracy”, the Austrian Science Day 2025 (Österreichischer Wissenschaftstag) organised by the Austrian Research Association (ÖFG) in cooperation with the University of Innsbruck will explore the historical and contemporary dimensions of civic participation and democracy.
🔹 Programme Highlights
The opening session on 23 October will feature welcome addresses by Rector Veronika Sexl, Regional Councillor Cornelia Hagele, and ÖFG President Emil Brix, followed by a keynote lecture by Robert Rebitsch on “Michael Gaismair – Rebel, Social Revolutionary, or Utopian Thinker of Civil Society”, with a commentary by Martin Schennach.
In the evening, the Reading and Panel “Civil Society & Literature”, moderated by Kurt Scharr and Andrea Zink, will bring together authors from across Europe:
Marianna Kiyanovska (Lviv, Ukraine), Paula Erizanu (Chișinău, Moldova), and Sepp Mall (Merano, Italy).
The Ukrainian poet Marianna Kiyanovska, one of the evening’s key guests, will share her reflections on literature’s role in preserving memory and humanity amid conflict.
On 24 October, the focus shifts to “Civil Society & International Law.”
Walter Obwexer (Innsbruck) will discuss legal perspectives on civic responsibility, followed by Oxana Matiychuk (Chernivtsi National University, Ukraine) with her talk “Our Front, Our Responsibility: The Role of Civil Society in Ukraine’s War against Russia.”
Further sessions include Marit Cremer (Karlsruhe) on “Civil Society in Exile: The Human Rights Organisation Memorial” and Katherine Dormandy (Innsbruck) on “Civil Society & Religion.”
The Science Day 2025 will thus connect historical lessons from Tyrol’s 16th-century uprisings with the urgent realities of today’s Europe, highlighting how civic engagement continues to safeguard democracy.
Ukrainian speakers Marianna Kiyanovska and Oxana Matiychuk will represent voices of resilience and civic responsibility within this international dialogue.