Art & Science
Become the Science Breakthrough of the Year 2025 in the Art & Science category and be part of this year's Falling Walls Science Summit
In the Art & Science category, we’re seeking bold, visionary artists whose work is fuelled by the wonders of science. From the humanities to life sciences, technology, and beyond, we’re looking for creations that illuminate the mysteries of our world, tackle pressing societal issues, and celebrate the breathtaking beauty of scientific discovery. This is where art and science collide, not as opposites but as powerful allies in shaping the future.
We want:
- Trailblazing international artists, collectives, and projects that transform scientific breakthroughs and phenomena into extraordinary artistic expressions.
- Innovators who confront global challenges using science-inspired methods, practices, or themes.
- Game-changers at the crossroads of art and science, redefining boundaries with groundbreaking ideas and unmatched creativity.
Your work will not only be evaluated for its impact in this category but also for its potential to ignite interdisciplinary solutions.
SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR 2024 IN ART & SCIENCE
Tiange Wang: Breaking the Wall of Multisensory Data
Tiange Wang, a multidisciplinary designer, created DataWagashi, an innovative project that transforms complex data into multisensory experiences using traditional Japanese Wagashi art. By integrating taste, smell, and texture, Wang's work makes data more tangible and engaging, offering a unique way to experience and understand information.
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 Art & Science.
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 Art & Science 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 30 April 2025. Nominated candidates will be contacted directly and asked to submit further details. Self-nomination is accepted.
STEP 2 – 30 FINALISTS
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 finalists, who will be officially announced on our website in mid-June.
STEP 3 – 10 WINNERS
Our distinguished jury for Art & Science, chaired by Juliet Koss 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 juries will select the Science Breakthroughs of the Year from the winners 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.
