Brains, behavior, and our place in nature — Pronizius's team brought science to life

Throughout the evening, we presented a wide range of topics — from neuroimaging and self–other distinction to human–nature interactions — all designed to make complex research accessible and interactive.

For younger visitors, we introduced the brain through hands-on activities and sensory illusions, including the blind spot and the rubber hand illusion. These demonstrations sparked curiosity and wonder about how easily perception can be influenced by the brain. A particular highlight for children was the opportunity to build a brain hat, guided through carefully designed tasks prepared by Sude Kirkaya.

Older visitors joined us in more in-depth conversations, exploring the real-world implications of our research and asking thoughtful questions about cognition, behavior, perception, and human–nature connectedness. Our diverse team had a lot of knowledge to share across these topics! For example, Thomas Karner talked among others about the gut–brain axis and neuroimaging, while Anna Kulesza and Anja Gaiswinkler led discussions on brain function and cognition. Ekaterina Pronizius invited participants to reflect on the relationship between humans and nature, asking what it means to define “nature” and whether humans stand apart from it or are part of it. Finally, Nino Sidar brought behavioral experiments from the lab into the public space, allowing visitors to experience first-hand how we distinguish between ourselves and others. 

Overall, the event was an inspiring opportunity to engage directly with the public and share our enthusiasm for science. We are grateful to the University of Vienna for supporting this experience and look forward to the next opportunity to bring our research to a wider audience — hopefully again in 2028.

Organizing team: Anja Gaiswinkler, Thomas Karner, Sude Kirkaya, Anna Kulesza, Kathi Maichanitsch, Nino Sidar, Emma Wood, Ekaterina Pronizius