Social Sciences & Humanities
Who will become the Science Breakthrough of the Year 2025 in the Social Sciences & Humanities category and be part of this year's Falling Walls Science Summit?
In the Social Sciences & Humanities category we are seeking internationally recognised, established academics and leaders in the study of the institutions and functioning of human society and of the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society (e.g. politics, economics, philosophy), whose groundbreaking work contributes towards solving the world’s biggest challenges.
We showcase:
- Exceptional thinkers and innovators who break new ground in the social sciences, pushing the frontiers of knowledge with pioneering research and transformative discoveries.
- Scientists whose work not only advances their field but also holds the potential to shape the broader research landscape and address pressing global challenges, such as sustainability, energy, and health, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Researchers who communicate complex scientific ideas in ways that engage and inspire, making cutting-edge science accessible to a wider audience.
Your work will not only be evaluated for its impact in this category but also for its potential to ignite interdisciplinary solutions.
THE FALLING WALLS GLOBAL CALL CLOSED ON 15 MAY
Thank you for +100 submissions in the Social Sciences & Humanities category!
And congratulations to all 30 Shortlisted Applicants! Mid August, we will announce the 10 Finalists on our website and on our communication channels. Subscribe to our Newsletter and don't miss any updates.
SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR 2024
IN SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES
Rafael Prieto Curiel: Breaking the Wall of Drug Cartel Analysis
Rafael Prieto-Curiel's research on Mexican drug cartels highlights the critical role of reducing recruitment to curb violence to spread awareness about the National Safety budget, drug smuggling, and the limitations faced by the police.
FALLING WALLS GLOBAL CALL - GET INVOLVED
Nominations for the Science Breakthrough of the Year may be initiated by leading academics and academic institutions, universities, research organizations, companies, private and public research centres, academies, research funders, foundations, and individuals to nominate the latest breakthroughs in Social Sciences & Humanities.
Self-nominations are accepted. To submit your own project, please run through the nomination process on our online platform. You will receive an email to confirm your nomination in order to give detailed information on your project.
Please note that submissions must be completed in English.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via email. We are happy to help.
- Your work will be presented to a distinguished Jury and will get international visibility.
- Be a part of the Falling Walls network and interact with a wide range of decision-makers, innovators and emerging talents from all over the world. Join an interdisciplinary community that is committed to bringing down barriers to address common challenges.
- Take your chance to become the Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year in Social Sciences & Humanities and present your breakthrough work to a global audience on 9 November 2025 on our stage at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin.
- As Science Breakthrough of the Year you will get the opportunity to enjoy the Falling Walls Science Summit 2025, a three-day conference with inspiring keynotes, discussions, and exciting pitches. Be part of a community of the most important researchers and thinkers of our time and discuss breakthroughs with global leaders in science, politics, business, and the media.
- We will use our expertise and years of experience in science communication to help make your research accessible and engaging to a wide audience, and to highlight its impact on society.
STEP 1 – NOMINATION
Leading actors in science and academia worldwide nominate individual scientists or research groups by submitting a nomination form via our online platform by 15 May 2025. Nominated candidates will be contacted directly and asked to submit further details. Self-nomination is accepted.
STEP 2 – 30 SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS
Submissions that meet the standard requirements will be evaluated by a shortlisting jury and the jury chair using our selection criteria (see below) to agree on a list of 30 Shortlisted Applicants, who will be officially announced on our website in mid-June.
STEP 3 – 10 FINALISTS
Our distinguished jury for Social Sciences & Humanities, chaired by Genoveva Martí, will evaluate all finalist applications based on the selection criteria and choose ten winners. The ten winners will be released in mid-August.
STEP 4 – THE FALLING WALLS SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR
The respective jurys will select the Science Breakthroughs of the Year from the finalists of each category. On 9 November, the anniversary of the peaceful fall of the Berlin Wall, the Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2025 will take up the stage at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin.
We are specifically looking for projects that address global challenges and represent scientific knowledge in an innovative way. Falling Walls always encourages interdisciplinary approaches to science and seeks outstanding scientists as well as research groups. The four selection criteria are:
- Breakthrough Potential: How much of a paradigm shift does the research represent? Are there excellent, ground-breaking, recent achievements in their respective fields, nationally and internationally?
- Level of Innovation: How new and original is this idea?
- Societal & Artistic Relevance: How significant is the research for society today and in the future? Is there a positive effect on nature and humanity, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals? How relevant is the artistic component? How strong is the project’s artistic engagement with the subject matter?
- Academic Excellence: Is the research of outstanding quality and is it likely to have a significant long-term impact on the research landscape and to contribute towards solving global challenges? Is the research able to translate scientific topics and their complexities in a way that makes them accessible and attractive to large sections of society?
Each evaluation criterion is considered proportionally. Nominations and Self-nominations will be considered and evaluated within the category, but their potential for interdisciplinary problem-solving will also be assessed.
FINALISTS 2025
The Falling Walls Science Summit proudly honors the visionary work of this year’s finalists in Social Sciences and Humanities, whose groundbreaking research addresses critical global issues. From exploring societal challenges to fostering new ways of thinking, these finalists are redefining the role of social science in shaping policies, cultures, and communities worldwide. Their contributions exemplify the transformative power of knowledge in creating a more just and equitable society.
JURY 2025
Meet the esteemed experts guiding the Social Sciences & Humanities category at the Falling Walls Science Summit. Our jury brings together leading researchers, scholars, and changemakers who identify groundbreaking ideas that reshape our understanding of societies, cultures, and human behavior. With their expertise and critical insights, they highlight breakthroughs that drive meaningful impact, inform policy, and inspire new perspectives on global challenges.
