International Fall Gathering 2025

International Fall Gathering 2025: Women's Role in Shaping the Future of Science, Business & Society

Inspiring women leaders from science, business, and society have come together in Berlin for the International Fall Gathering—a vibrant and exclusive event hosted by the Falling Walls Foundation in cooperation with the Elsevier Foundation, Bayer Foundation, Volkswagen Foundation, and German Research Foundation. The event focuses on inclusive leadership, responsible innovation, and the pivotal role of women in shaping the future of science and technology.

The programme began with a keynote address by Catherine Ngila (African Foundation for Women and Youth in Education, Sciences, Technology and Innovation) on “Female Leadership in Science: Why It Matters More Than Ever—Towards Inclusive and Unifying Futures.” She explored how women’s leadership drives equitable and sustainable progress in science and why inclusive approaches are essential for building a resilient global research ecosystem.

A panel and guided conversation, hosted by the Volkswagen Foundation, followed under the theme “Women’s Role in Shaping the Future of AI – Inclusion, Ethics, and Innovation.” This interactive session highlighted women’s contributions to Responsible AI and encourages interdisciplinary dialogue around ethics, fairness, and diversity in technological innovation. Participants from across fields—whether AI experts or newcomers—engage in small-group discussions on how AI affects their work and how inclusion can shape more ethical, human-centred innovation.

In the afternoon, the Bayer Foundation presented an impulse session with Lunia Hara, “Leading with Integrity: Empathetic Leadership in Science and Beyond.” Combining personal insight and practical reflection, this session explored the value of empathy and integrity in leadership.

The Elsevier Foundation then hosted an interactive talk and open clinic with Tracey Brown (Sense about Science) on “Confidence in Research: Evidence, Policy, and Public Trust.” The session empowers participants to communicate research more confidently, uphold scientific integrity, and strengthen public trust in evidence-based policymaking.

The day concluded with a Joint Award Ceremony honouring the Women’s Impact Award Winners alongside the winners of Falling Walls Lab, Engage, and Venture. This year’s honourees—Ângela Gonçalves (German Cancer Research Center), Omneya Attallah (Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport), and Colette Wabnitz (Stanford University & University of British Columbia)—were celebrated for their groundbreaking contributions to science, engagement, and innovation.