Tamlyn Sasha Naidu - 2022 SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGH 1ST PLACE

Tamlyn Sasha Naidu is a chemical engineer and postdoctoral researcher dedicated to advancing sustainable water and chemical process systems.

She is a chemical engineer and postdoctoral researcher based in Copenhagen, focused on designing sustainable water and chemical process systems. Her work centers on transforming complex waste streams into valuable resources through ion exchange, electrochemical technologies, and integrated process design.

With experience spanning academia and industry, she develops treatment trains, process flow diagrams, and mass–energy balances, and supports pilot- to full-scale implementation. Passionate about bridging engineering precision with real-world impact, she translates complex challenges into reliable, scalable solutions—turning waste into opportunity.


Falling Walls Lab: What was the research you presented at Falling Walls Lab about, and what inspired it?

Tamlyn: I presented on something most people would rather not think about: mine water pollution. It’s usually dismissed as a toxic nuisance, but we (the team I am part of) see it as a misunderstood resource. 

Our work explores how this “waste” can actually be transformed into value, not only by removing its environmental and social hazards but also by recovering critical raw materials that the world desperately needs. Our main approach is ion exchange, but we’ve built a toolkit of pretreatment strategies that can be tailored to each site. 

What inspires me most is the possibility that communities living with the daily reality of polluted water could one day benefit from its cleanup, not just through safer ecosystems, but through shared value creation. I also want to say that my involvement in this project has been shaped by the guidance and support of many others: my professors, our industry partners, and the institutions that believed in the work enough to fund and sustain it. Their vision and encouragement have been just as inspiring as the science itself.

Falling Walls Lab: What are you working on today? Are you still active in your research area or involved in science communication?

Tamlyin: I’m still in the thick of it, now as a postdoctoral researcher. The project has grown far beyond the initial lab-scale validation we set out to do. We already have organisations approaching us about piloting the technology, and there’s real momentum toward scaling up. It feels a bit like the project has developed a personality of its own, snowballing into directions we couldn’t have predicted. 

Alongside the technical work, I’m deeply involved in science communication. I present regularly, but I’m lucky to be part of a team that values public engagement, so the responsibility (and the joy) of sharing our work is something we all take seriously. We also have several exciting applications and partnerships in the pipeline to bring these ideas into practice.

Falling Walls Lab: Could you share a memorable moment or anecdote from your experience at Falling Walls Lab?

Tamlyin: Honestly? My most memorable moment wasn’t on stage but off it. Like many socially awkward scientists, I went in dreading the presentation part – bright lights, three minutes, a hundred eyes on you. But by the end of the first day, I realised I’d barely had time to stress. I was too busy being blown away by the sheer brilliance of everyone else’s work. 

Sitting over coffee with people building next-gen medical devices or designing AI for climate adaptation, I realised the real prize was being part of that community. Cheesy, perhaps, but true: Falling Walls is less about competition and more about connection. I’ve stayed involved since, and I can honestly say there’s nothing else like it – so multidisciplinary, so dynamic, and so energizing.

Falling Walls Lab: What were your main takeaways from participating in the Falling Walls Science Summit?

Tamlyn: One big takeaway: no matter how much of an “expert” you think you are, there will always be a room where you’re the least knowledgeable person present – and that’s a gift. 
Being surrounded by people who are brilliant in entirely different ways is incredibly humbling and energizing. I also walked away with friendships and connections that I never would have made otherwise, and those have been just as valuable as the technical insights.

Falling Walls Lab: Has your involvement with Falling Walls Lab influenced your future plans or opened up new opportunities? If so, please elaborate.

Tamlyn: Absolutely. The experience drove home how vital communication is. Yes, the science matters, but if you can’t tell your story in a way that resonates, the impact is lost. Falling Walls made me realise how much I enjoy that part of the work: bridging the gap between complex science and broader audiences. It’s also opened doors: companies, NGOs, and even mining houses have heard about our research through the Falling Walls network, creating opportunities we never expected at this stage. 

While large-scale implementation is still on the horizon, it’s clear that being part of this platform has accelerated our trajectory, and sharpened my sense that my future will always sit at the intersection of rigorous science and meaningful engagement.


For more information, follow Tamlyn Sasha Naidu on LinkedIn.