Cystic fibrosis remains one of the most common fatal genetic diseases, as well as the most common fatal hereditary lung disease worldwide. In recent years, medical scientists have made intensified attempts at understanding the disease mechanism at the core of cystic fibrosis, namely the defect in the CFTR protein. In…

Interferometers are instruments that extract information from the interference of waves in order to perform precise measurements. They are widely used in science and industry, with applications ranging from quantum physics to bio-medicine, as well as astronomy, chemistry and optometry. Nathalie Picqué is a research group leader at the Max-Planck…

In the global North, discussions of climate change often carry an undercurrent of fear in terms of anxiety around an “inundation” of rich countries by so-called climate refugees. At the same time, much of the discourse is based on finding financial solutions to the vulnerabilities exposed by climate change, leading…

In our connected world, data is all around us. We generate data, we use data and we store data at an ever-increasing rate. This comes at a price: The data storage industry could soon account for 20% of global energy usage while creating more CO2 than the aviation industry. But…

For refugees around the world, the options to earn an income are often severely limited. Without a work permit, they are often stuck in limbo, displaced and with little money to spare. Yet they have innate talents within them in the form of their language, their story and culture. Aline…

As a scientist, getting a research grant often feels like an odyssey. It involves a lot of red tape and can take years to be approved. While it is a nuisance to all researchers, the process is especially frustrating for environmental scientists, who rely on grants to perform their research…

Nominated by: Rick Hao, Speedinvest Presented by: Simon Groeblacher

Tamlyn Sasha Naidu suggests using waste products from the refining and agricultural sectors to treat mining wastewater, resulting in a nutrient-rich sludge which can be used for hydroponic farming.

Evidence gathered by lay people through forms of citizen science are becoming more and more accurate, reliable and credible as the ‘civic sentinels’ performing environmental monitoring follow scientific protocols, seek advice from experts and confront their results with official measurements. This is a truly constructive form of ordinary people’s engagement…

Science is a Drag is a Science Engagement initiative by and for the LGBTQ2SIA+ community. Taking an intersectional approach, it challenges the cis, white and heteronormative structures in STEM to create a community where people can share and engage with science in a manner that is authentic and welcoming. Inspired…

Biodegradable plastics have existed for several years now and have been marketed as a means to fight the global plastic waste crisis. But even in the best cases, the process of degrading this plastic can be incredibly slow. It would take a typical water bottle 2-3 years to biodegrade in…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Ting Xu. She talked about her role as Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science and Engineering at Berkeley University, her groundbreaking work on accelerating biodegradation of plastics and her hopes for the…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Brooke Smith, jury member of the science engagement category at Falling Walls Science Summit 2022. She talked about her role as Director of Public Engagement with Science at Kavli Foundation, her passion…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Marcus Mall, Falling Walls Breakthrough of the Year 2022 in the category of Life Sciences. He talked about his role as chair of the Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Jeyhan Kartaltepe. She talked about her role as project lead of COSMOS-Webb, the largest James Webb Space Telescope program to be observed in its first year of operations and discussed what we…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Maryna Viazovska, winner of the Fields Medal 2022. She talked about her work on sphere-packing. The interview series provided an intimate personal atmosphere, in which high-level guests, speakers and panelists of the…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Sheila Jasanoff. She talked about her role as Pforzheimer Professor of Science and Technology Studies at the Harvard Kennedy School, the ethics of genome editing and the importance of doing interdisciplinary research.…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Shankar Balasubramanian. He talked about his role as Herchel Smith Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, his pioneering work on genome sequencing and the practical implications of his research.…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Monika Seyfried & Cyrus Clarke, winners of the Falling Walls Breakthrough of the Year 2022 in the category of Art and Science. They talked about their interactive art installation Data Garden which…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Sunil Amrith, Falling Walls Breakthrough of the Year 2022 in the category of Social Sciences and Humanities. He talked about his work as a historian of South and Southeast Asia, his appeal…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Frederick Fenter. He talked about his role as Chief Executive Editor at Frontiers, the role of academic publishing in fostering public trust in science, the importance of open access and open science.…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Anthony Hyman, winner of the Körber European Science Prize 2022. He talked about his research on the role of phase separation in the formation of biological compartments and how it can help…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Arun Majumdar. He talked about his different roles which include Jay Precourt Provostial Chair Professor at Stanford University and holistic sustainability, his interdisciplinary approach to sustainability research. The interview series provided an…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Jane Achan who is part of the Falling Walls Female Science Talents Program. She talked about her role as a Senior Research Advisor at the United Kingdom-based non-governmental organization Malaria Consortium and…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Edward Chang. He talked about his work as Joan and Sanford Weill Chair of Neurological Surgery at the University of California, his groundbreaking research on translating brain signals into highly complex speech…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Nathalie Picqué, Falling Walls Breakthrough of the Year 2022 in the category of Physical Sciences. She talked about her role as a research group leader at the Max-Planck Institute of Quantum Optics…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Simone Schwanitz. She talked about her role as Secretary General of the Max-Planck Society, the role of fundamental science in finding answers to global challenges and the importance of effective science communication.…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Laura Hassink. She talked about her role as Managing Director for STM Journals at Elsevier and the current challenges and developments in academic publishing. The interview series provided an intimate personal atmosphere,…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Oleksiy Kolezhuk. He talked about his role as head of the Scientific Committee of the National Council of Ukraine on Science, Technology and Development and his vision for the future of ukrainian…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Marianne W. Mureithi who is part of the Falling Walls Female Science Talents Program. She talked about her role as Chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology at the University…

In this Falling Walls Breakthrough Conversation, digital participants had the chance to engage in a live conversation with Rachel Kropa, Falling Walls Breakthrough of the Year 2022 in the category of Science and Innovation Management. She talked about her role as co-founder and Managing Director of Nonprofit & Science at…