Martina Schäfer

My project harnessed the power contained in macromolecules; these proteins capture carbon dioxide and produce 10 million molecules of carbonates, fuels, and energy in as little as a second.

The project brings science film experiences to scientists, artists, children and the general public across the world. We have developed a process over the last four years that takes science from the lab and brings it to life with the power of film. Filmmaking events teach scientists, artists and children…

Light-Emitting Silicon: Demonstration of Efficient Light Emission from a new alloy of hexagonal silicon and germanium to obtain photonic chips, which can revolutionize computing. Silicon is a powerful material pervading our everyday lives. Silicon-based microchips are the basis of nearly every electronic device used in our houses, cars, smart gadgets,…

Walls are back in vogue around the world, from Mexico to Hungary, Austria, and Greece. This is a paradox of history as physical and conceptual walls are being torn down unceasingly, driven by technology, business, and people’s quest for a better future. Political elites and large parts of the electorate…

Gravity is one of the four fundamental interactions that exist in nature and is essential for understanding the behavior of the Universe. This research introduces the development of our understanding of gravity. Also the graviton is related to the geometry of the universe which therefore obviously controls the geometry of…

In his talk, “Breaking the Wall of Sustainable Farming”, Thomas Rippel explained how manure – which is a rich natural fertilizer, but also produces large amounts of toxic gases – can be neutralised in an eco-friendly and highly efficient way. With a simple yet brilliant idea Thomas Rippel finds a…

“Community Water Monitoring: diagnosis and collective action plan for the recovery of the Manialtepec river basin. Through observation, recording and interpretation of environmental data (chemical, biological and hydromorphological parameters), middle and high school students of this rural towns, develop a communication strategy to share the results and involve the authorities…

The nominating institution UCLA on the breakthrough:  The production of ordinary portland cement (OPC), the binding agent used in concrete, accounts for 9% of global CO2 emissions. Our breakthrough technology, CO2Concrete, replaces OPC with a reinvented binder that “absorbs” CO2 upon exposure to flue gas waste streams, reducing CO2 emissions.…

Nominated by: Barbara Mehner, XPRENEURS – UnternehmerTUM Presented by: Francesco Sciortino

Destigmatization: How marginalized groups can achieve greater inclusivity In our post-Covid age of extreme inequality, dreams of upward mobility are more unrealistic than ever. Many people ask where to turn for new sources of hope. Agents of change and the non-profit sector are promoting new narratives of diversity, sustainability, and…