The Long Night of Museums, organised by ORF on the first Saturday in October every year, is a resounding success: 280,000 visitors took advantage of the event last year. In Styria, around 33,700 curious visitors took the opportunity in 2025 to visit as many museums as possible with a single ticket.
The University of Graz also hosts the event every year, showcasing – in part – its hidden treasures. This time, there were numerous stops exploring the overarching theme of ‘Women in Research’:
University Museums: Women in Research
The focus is on female researchers who have made pioneering contributions through their individual work. The presentation builds on the history of women at the University of Graz and draws connections to the current exhibitions at the University Museums. A guided tour traces the history from the first female pioneers in Graz to researchers such as Katherine Johnson, who have shaped the history of international science and space travel. >> find
out more Also on display at the UniGraz@Museum is the permanent exhibition ‘Experiencing Democracy’. >> find out more
“Goddesses, Rulers, Priestesses, Explorers”
The Archaeological Collections of the University of Graz shed light on the diverse roles of women from antiquity to the present day. Special guided tours link historical portrayals of women with current issues in society and science. At the same time, they offer fascinating insights into archaeological research and the world behind the university’s collections. >> find out more
Hans Gross Crime Museum: “Violence against Women – Focus on Femicide”
‘Violence against women – a focus on femicide’ highlights one of the most common human rights violations and complements the Hans Gross Crime Museum’s permanent exhibition with thought-provoking installations. Founded by Hans Gross, the ‘father of criminal science’, the museum displays murder weapons, poisons, burglary and forgery tools, as well as numerous corpora delicti. Among the key exhibits is the famous ‘crime scene case’, which offers insights into early forensic work. >> find out more
University Library: Guided tours from the underground storage area to the roof terrace
As Styria’s largest public repository of knowledge, the University Library skilfully strikes a balance between an academic perspective and playful approaches to knowledge and history. Visitors can look forward to guided tours from the underground storage area to the roof terrace, insights into the AI-assisted digitisation of historical documents, and tables laden with books to browse through. Highlights such as a brand-new ‘escape room’, a treasure hunt, a digital globe, VR headsets and medieval manuscripts bring research to life for all age groups. >> find out more
University of Graz Botanical Garden
This year, the University of Graz Botanical Garden is presenting ‘Scents from the Realm of Plants’ in its illuminated display greenhouses. Spanning an area of 2.8 hectares, it is home to around 7,000 plant species from five climate zones. Guided tours for adults and children invite visitors to follow the scent trails of plants and rediscover well-known crop plants from all over the world. >> find out more
Mineralogical Collection at the Institute of Earth Sciences
The Mineralogical Collection brings the fascinating world of the Earth’s interior to life – from rocks from the depths of the Earth to minerals from the seabed and cosmic artefacts from space. The focus is on how the structure of our planet was scientifically unravelled – a feat achieved by a female researcher in the 20th century. Highlights such as the Sandbox research programme, the Deep Earth Challenge and the Geology Cinema invite children, young people and adults to explore, puzzle over and be amazed. >> find out more
Gallery of Rectors in the Aula
The Rectors’ Gallery in the auditorium of the University of Graz offers an insight into the history of the Alma Mater and its influential figures since the early 20th century. During guided tours, visitors can learn more about the portraits, the auditorium and the panel paintings. As an interactive highlight, a photo booth invites visitors to become part of the Rectors’ Gallery for one night. >> find out more
