The WZMF is active in science communication
Science ambassador
Mag. Hannah Riedl, music therapist, senior scientist and lecturer at the IMT/WZMF, has been a science ambassador for the OeAD since 2024. During school visits, she presents the fascinating world of research and brings music therapy to life in school classes in the form of active workshops, e.g. in Vienna, Pinkafeld, Hollabrunn, as well as in online formats at polytechnic and vocational schools. In mdw Magazine, two science ambassadors from the mdw – Hannah Riedl and Malte Kob – were interviewed about their offerings. The article can be read here [in German].
Mag. Irene Stepniczka, MSc., Research associate at WZMF, musicologist and cognitive scientist has been a science ambassador since 2026. She offers workshops to schools in the Vienna region where students can learn about what music therapy is, the fields of work, and why music makes us feel what we do. Her webpage on OEAD can be viewed here.
Major events in the field of science communication
Long Night of Research [Lange Nacht der Forschung] (every two years throughout Austria): As Austria's largest event for science, research, and innovation, the Long Night of Research is aimed at all age groups. The WZMF participated for the first time in 2024, presenting music therapy research and practice in an interactive and informative way. https://langenachtderforschung.at/
Vienna Research Festival [Wiener Forschungsfest] (held every two years in Vienna): This interactive exhibition offers workshops and hands-on opportunities for children and adults to discover and try out different areas of research. The WZMF was represented for the first time in 2025, showcasing documentary films, musical instruments Open Access Publication: By making publications freely available and accessible, the WZMF actively contributes to open scientific communication.
Open Access Publications: By making scientific publications freely available and accessible, the WZMF actively contributes to open scientific communication.
(c) Images: OEAD
Current Events
Long Night of Research 2026
Lectures on music therapy and its fields of practice, the WZMF, music and the brain, and workshops on vocal interventions and improvisation in music therapy — these highlights captivated two school classes during the Long Night of Research (April 24, 2026). A total of 35 students and two teachers visited the institute and actively participated in the activities. The morning was carefully planned by Irene Stepniczka, our science ambassador. In workshops led by Julia Fent, Johanna Zachhuber, and Lily Hitelman, the students had the opportunity to try out various music therapy instruments and games, as well as vocal interventions, to gain a personal insight into what a music therapy session might look like. They were very enthusiastic—especially about the howling tubes, the table drum, and the canon they learned—and many of them were humming on their way out! Many thanks to everyone involved and to our visitors!
FÄKT
Hannah Riedl, as science ambassador, music therapist and senior scientist at the IMT/WZMF, was featured on the online platform FÄKT. The channel is a science communication project run by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), which aims to show children and young people, in an engaging and informative way, how research explains our everyday lives. The video explains what music therapy is, how it can help people, and what research is being carried out at the WZMF in this field.
Click on the image to watch the video on YouTube (German only).
