The insatiable hunger for knowledge, the desire to turn old knowledge on its head; the yearning to find out where we come from; the longing to give meaning to our existence and to anchor ourselves within the big picture of the universe: these fundamental, essential qualities of humankind are the common sources of art and knowledge.

In cooperation with CERN, the international research institute, where over ten thousand scientists from many different nations are attempting to understand the creation of the universe and the origin of all material, Ars Electronica 2011 is working in the world of top level research. It's also about gaining a new perspective of institutions such as CERN. After all, they are affording room for thought, which is not only indispensible for science, but also urgently needed for the development of plans for sustainable societies.