🍺 Cheers! Give me a pint of science!

From May 19–21, 2025, the international science festival Pint of Science took place in cities around the world – including Innsbruck – and this year, our lab was represented by five members of the Affective Neuro Lab! In a relaxed pub setting, with a beer in hand and minds engaged, attendees explored cutting-edge research in neuroscience and psychology.

🌟 “Beautiful Mind” – Organized by the Affective Neuro Lab

The thematic group “Beautiful Mind” was once again organized with great dedication by our team – consisting of Mi Lande, Nils Wehner, Christina Grammenou, Gaia Lapomarda, and Marleen Voorn, all members of the Affective Neuro Lab, and additionally Amálie.

Planning began in November 2024, covering everything from speaker selection🗣️, break-time activities🧩, location scouting📍, ticketing🎫, and promotional efforts📢. The result: three sold-out evenings, filled with applause and an enthusiastic audience!

🗓️ Daily Events Recap

• Day 1: 🌜 “Zwischen kindlichen Krisen & rätselhaften Schlafwelten” 🧠Mi Lande, MSc, explored the fascinating phenomena of sleep paralysis and lucid dreaming, highlighting their psychological impact, coping strategies, and practical applications. Ass.-Prof. Priv.-Doz. Manuela Gander, PhD provided a compelling insight into child and adolescent psychiatry, discussing common mental health conditions, diagnostic challenges, and current therapeutic approaches.

• Day 2: 🐿️ “Wald, Welt, Weinen – Zwischen Baumumarmung & Apokalypse” 🌍Univ.-Prof. Dr. Carmen Morawetz explored how nature influences our emotional regulation – from forest walks to squirrels on cocaine – and why, sometimes, trees might just be the better therapists. Afterwards, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christoph Singer took the audience on a journey from ecological grief (solastalgia) to hopeful visions of the future inspired by solarpunk.

• Day 3: 🔋 “Wenn die Kraft versiegt – Depression & Stress verstehen” 🔬Mag. Dr. Laurin Mauracher gave a powerful account of how depression manifests clinically and what current psychiatric treatment approaches can offer. Ass. Prof. Dr. Alexander Karabatsiakis followed with insights into how chronic stress impairs the “powerhouses” of our cells – the mitochondria – and the role they play in psychological strain.

🏆 Three Days of Science, Ideas & Community

In addition to the talks, interactive science quizzes and open discussions provided engaging opportunities for dialogue – with fun prizes awarded to the winners. The audience ranged from students and scientists to curious minds of all backgrounds, showing strong enthusiasm for psychological, neurological, and cultural topics.

Pint of Science 2025 was a great success for our team – both behind the scenes and on stage.We’re proud to have contributed to this dynamic and accessible celebration of science, and we look forward to raising a glass again next year when it’s time for: Beer, Brain & Beautiful Minds! 🍻