On September 19th, atom*innen had the great pleasure of participating in a panel discussion on women in science and art at the kg17 project in Innsbruck. The event was part of the ULTRA | memoria cosmica, an immersive installation by conceptual artist Tim Otto Roth, which uses light and sound to bring the invisible world of cosmic radiation to life. 75 luminous speakers transform the turbine hall, bathed in a deep blue hue through filter foils, into a sound laboratory. The predominantly downward movements make the invisible ionizing radiation from space not only sensually perceptible, but the energies translated into pitches also create a spatial-musical experience. The "natural score" for the various pieces is based on datasets from neutrino observatories.
The exhibition commemorates Marietta Blau, a pioneering Austrian physicist whose work transformed nuclear particle detection. She developed photographic emulsion techniques that became standard tools in particle physics. Despite her groundbreaking discoveries, she was denied the recognition she deserved for decades. Blau symbolizes the many women whose scientific achievements have been overlooked.
Our Gender Officer Karoline moderated the panel with experts from science and arts:
- Prof. Anita Reimer, physicist, who will also give a lecture on the origins of cosmic radiation
- Prof. Brigitte Mazohl, historian and pioneer on women's history
- Mag.a Carmen Brucic, artist and lecturer
Together, they explored the progress made towards gender equity in science and the arts, while also reflecting on current setbacks and the ongoing importance of advocacy and structural change.
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Gerhard Kerschbaumer and Helga Madera from kulturnetzTirol for the kind invitation, to the excellent panel guests who shared their expertise with us, and to the audience for the great discussion afterwards.
You can listen to part of the discussion (in German) here: https://cba.media/podcast/sondersendungen-auf-freirad-freies-radio-innsbruck
The exhibition is open until October 24, Fridays and Sundays from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Further info can be found here.
For further info on Marietta Blau, see: https://scientificwomen.net/women/blau-marietta-117 | https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/the-dark-stars-of-marietta-blau/
Pictures by Helga Madera