As ambassador for the Vienna Ball of Science 2026, Elka Xharo, Academic Expert & Lecturer in the Digital Economy study programs, shows how curiosity breaks down barriers – and why visibility matters for women in STEM.
With Elka Xharo, FHWien der WKW is presenting its first ambassador for the Vienna Ball of Science 2026. For Xharo, one thing is clear: science does not take place in an “ivory tower,” but shapes our everyday lives – “from the ubiquitous smartphone in our hands to the protective flu vaccination in the winter months.” That is precisely why science must move to the center of society and be accessible to as many people as possible.
In her educational work, Elka Xharo is committed to making complex topics understandable and tangible – both in the lecture hall and on Instagram. Under the account “The sciency feminist”, she combines science communication with female empowerment. Especially in the STEM disciplines, she wants to break down barriers created by a persistent “genius image.” Her approach: You don’t have to be a genius – curiosity and interest are enough to understand science.
Another concern of hers is the visibility of women in research. Because their achievements were long unrecognized or attributed to others, female pioneers often fade into the background in the public eye. Xharo therefore puts female role models in the spotlight and breaks down stereotypes.
Elka Xharo studied medical informatics and biomedical engineering at TU Wien, trained as a medical physicist, and has been working at FHWien der WKW as an academic expert and lecturer in the study program Digital Economy for several years. As a ball ambassador, she stands for science communication that invites, engages, and inspires – in keeping with the Ball of Sciences on January 24, 2026, at Vienna City Hall, which aims to be a “celebration of inspiring science communication through sensory experiences.”
On the image (from left): Tango dancers Nataliia Kozak and Gencay Aslan, ball ambassador Jing Chen, star guest and Ig Nobel Prize winner Fabrizio Olmeda, ball ambassadors Elka Xharo and Amira Ben Saoud, City Councilor for Science Veronica Kaup-Hasler, Mayor Michael Ludwig, and ball organizer Oliver Lehmann.