1. What a tradition!
The young woman at the box office in front of me in the strapless dress, with glittering pins in her hair, doesn’t want to believe it, but it’s a fact: the ball is completely sold out! I realise why she doesn’t accept no for an answer. There is magic in the air as soon as you enter the foyer. It is reflected in the good-humoured faces, in the elegant outfits, in the sounds of the saxophone which make many people sway while still in the cloakroom. What’s in the air is a long tradition of celebration! The ball was held for the first time on 8 February 1858. Archduke Johann was present. It is the oldest ball at Austria’s oldest university of technology.
2. A celebration of technology – and dance!
“We must compliment the technologists on their brilliant success with their ball, and the ladies will certainly testify to their metrological skills as they practise the art of dancing splendidly in the ballroom,” could be read in the “Tagespost” the following day in 1858. And indeed, the high standard and the joy of dancing (also among the men!) are also evident here and now. No matter where you look, whether in the magnificent Stefaniensaal, where the Graz Salon Orchestra is performing, or in one of the other rooms filled with rumba, cha cha cha or quickstep, there are inspired couples, young and old everywhere, from all nations. Against all expectations, I also found two dancers, excellent ones at that. I almost missed the brilliant midnight interlude (Piano & Dance Expanded by Andreas Woyke & Tanzfabrik) and the quadrille, which was a lot of fun...
3. Dance of the algorithms – more than just a motto
It was his first ball as Rector and he felt like a debutant, joked Horst Bischof, the evening’s host, at the reception for the guests of honour. After thanking the sponsors (main sponsor: IT Community Styria), the co-organisers (Chamber of Civil Engineers for Styria and Carinthia, alumniTUGraz 1887, FH Joanneum and the TU Graz Students’ Union) and welcoming the guests from academia, politics and business, some of whom had travelled a long way, he revealed what he himself would do about dancing: “Thank you for the motto of the evening, which I take quite literally. If the algorithms are dancing, the Rector doesn’t have to. And hopefully the robots will be dancing for me next year.”
4. Progress lies in working together
The real highlight of this ball, however, is the lightness with which it celebrates an old concept of success: togetherness. The ball effortlessly combines tradition with technological progress, established science with up-and-coming minds, dancing and socialising with the “magic” of computer science and biomedical technology. A playful journey into the world of algorithms. How do you become a Rector? (Deepfake). How does AI help you to learn the piano? Exciting too: the “match” between humans and AI is simply about finding out who can do something better and prefers to delegate and collaborate. It’s very pragmatic. See Rector and robot...
5. What a lust for life!
The specific feeling that makes the technical sciences so attractive is reflected not least in the Rector’s sense of humour. The knowledge that you can shape the future yourself, striving ever forwards, the creation of solutions to pressing issues. Not for a long time have I felt so surrounded by optimism as I did at this TU Graz Ball and in the midst of the digital intelligence presented in the foyers and corridors. A lasting and inspiring experience.
