"LUNA 2012, held on September 28, will show how science and research are the most important resources for solving current and future problems. LUNA 2012 will demonstrate that research is one of the most important driving forces behind the development of our society. More than 250 scientists are on hand to provide ‘edutainment’ from 17:00h to 24:00h at ten different venues all over the city. They will be opening the doors to where research actually happens, welcoming people in to get to know them and their work through games, challenges, experiments and discussion, and from midnight onwards to let their hair down at an ‘Après-Science Party’. Children will get to see science as an exciting adventure, for young people it will be an attractive challenge for their own future, and adults will see how science impacts on and improves their daily life. All ten venues will offer a non-stop programme and will be linked by a free shuttle service.The main attractions will be at the headquarters of the three chief exhibitors: EURAC, TIS innovation park and FUB (Free University of Bozen-Bolzano), and they will each deal with one leading theme – “No Walls” (FUB), “The Perfect Couple” (TIS) and “Surviving the Future” (EURAC). These will correspond to the main ideas behind scientific communication: bridging the gap between science and society (FUB), establishing a direct link between researchers and entrepreneurs (TIS) and highlighting the importance of research for daily life and future survival (EURAC). A further seven establishments will also be opening their doors to the public, thereby turning the whole city into a kind of scientific adventure playground.This will be the third event of this type, with the organising partners all playing their well-practised parts. Visitor totals were 6,000 in 2008 and 12,000 in 2010, and we confidently expect around 10-12,000 this time, that’s more than 10% of the population of Bolzano!"