Innsbruck University marks 20 years of science talks in Reutte

The University of Innsbruck has spent 20 years bringing free public science talks to Reutte, in the Außerfern region, ORF reported Thursday. The initiative, “Uni goes Reutte,” is run with the Chamber of Commerce’s district office.

Researchers give talks on a wide range of topics and take questions from the audience. The events, usually held twice a year, move the university’s experts from lecture halls to the chamber’s event hall in Reutte.

The initiative began as the university sought to make science more accessible and encourage people to engage with it, said Sara Matt, who leads the university’s science, business and society transfer office. The aim was to show that the university could go out to communities rather than requiring people to come to campus, she told ORF Tirol.

Wolfgang Winkler, head of the chamber’s Reutte district office, said the events help make the university’s work more tangible and encourage young people from the region to consider studying. Study advice is now also available at the talks, with organizers highlighting local economic needs and career opportunities.

Past topics have included traffic issues affecting the district, climate change, tourism, religion and developments in the universe. One talk on medieval building materials was held at Ehrenberg Castle ruins. An event with political scientist Gerhard Mangott was among the initiative’s most successful, and talks typically attract 150 to 180 people.