Finalists Interviews 2025
Congratulations to all 2025 Finalists!
We’re pleased to congratulate our 2025 Science Breakthrough of the Year Finalists for the categories Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Social Sciences & Humanities and Art & Science!
To explore the inspiration and goals behind the chosen projects and learn more about the impact of this breakthrough research on both the scientific community and society at large, we interviewed the Finalists from each category.
Discover the highlights and challenges of each Finalist’s journey–along with surprising facts and valuable advice–in the following interviews.
This page is being continually updated. If you can't find the interview you're looking for, please check again at a later date.
- Jake Brenner: Breaking the Wall of Therapeutic DNA Delivery
- Paola Laurino: Breaking the Wall of Ocean Microbes’ Survival Secrets
- Ingo Mellinghoff: Breaking the Wall of Targeted Brain Tumor Therapy
- Ramon Sun: Breaking the Wall of Metabolism with 3D and AI
- Peter Yingxiao Wang: Breaking the Wall of Genetic Control by Sound
- Melina Schuh: Breaking the Wall of Invisible Ovulation
- David Maresca: Breaking the Wall of Deep Tissue Imaging
- Crina Nimigean: Breaking the Wall of Drugging Ion Channels
- Ali Rezai: Breaking the Wall of Treatment for Alzheimer’s
- Martin Harmer: Breaking the Wall of 100 Years of Superalloys
- Richard Norte: Breaking the Wall of Miniaturisation in Nanotechnology
- Athina Anastasaki: Breaking the Wall of Plastic Circularity
- Claudio Emma: Breaking the Wall of Intense Particle Beams
- Tanja Mehlstäubler: Breaking the Wall of Time & Frequency Standards
- Henry Chapman: Breaking the Wall of Observing Molecules in Action
- Alexie Leauthaud-Harnett: Breaking the Wall of Dark Energy
- Cesar de la Fuente: Breaking the Wall of Antibiotic Discovery with AI
- Junwang Tang: Breaking the Wall of Clean Energy Chemistry
- Mario Lanza: Breaking the Wall of Energy Efficient AI
- Sihong Wang: Breaking the Wall of Rejection–Free Medical Implants
- Lu Fang: Breaking the Wall of High-Power AI Needs
- Shana Kelley: Breaking the Wall of Hidden Disease Signals
- Takuzo Aida: Breaking the Wall of Non-Degradable Plastics
- Zhiqin Chu: Breaking the Wall of Flexible Diamond Membranes
- Shoji Takeuchi: Breaking the Wall of Biohybrid Robotics
- Lilie Chouliaraki: Breaking the Wall of Media and Communication Ethics
- Jennifer Lackey: Breaking the Wall of Epistemic Injustice
- Tim Kohler: Breaking the Walls of Prehistory
- Shee Kupi Shee: Breaking the Wall of Peace Fragility in Disaster Zones
- Myriam Denov: Breaking the Wall of War and its Impact on Children
- Octavio Aburto: Breaking the Wall of Marine Conservation Limits
- Andreas Pondorfer: Breaking the Wall of Misguided Social Norms
- Mira Johri: Breaking the Wall of Exclusion from Child Vaccination
- Leo Speidel: Breaking the Wall of History Hidden in Our DNA
- Emmanuel Letouzé: Breaking the Wall of Humanitarian Action
- Chloe Bensahel: Breaking the Wall of Craft and Technology
- Carla Alcalà Badias: Breaking the Wall of Microbial Prophecy
- Xin Liu: Breaking the Wall of Material Science & Artistic Innovation
- Robertina Šebjanič: Breaking the Wall of Demilitarisation of the Ocean Floor
- Beatie Wolfe: Breaking the Wall of Neurobiology through Art
- Vladan Joler: Breaking the Wall of Empires
