Falling Walls Lab Competition 2024

Posted on Aug 9 2024 by Jasmin Weatherley

Co-presented by the University of Adelaide (UoA) and the University of South Australia, this year’s Falling Walls Lab competition saw six entrants present innovative solutions to the question, “"As a result of scientific, technological, economic, and sociological breakthroughs, which are the next walls to fall?".

Falling Walls Lab is a global pitch competition and networking forum organised annually by the Falling Walls Foundation, based in Berlin. Presenters have three minutes to share their breakthrough study, research or innovative ideas to a jury panel and audience members, providing them with a unique opportunity to become the next big success story in innovation.

This year’s presenters and topics were:

  • Dr Stephanie Allison-Logan, Co-Founder and CEO, Sprout Materials: Breaking the Wall of Sustainable Plastics
  • Ms Tiffanwy Klippel-Cooper, Owner and Lead Research Consultant, KC Research and Solutions: Breaking the Wall of First Aid in Space
  • Mr Amin Talebian Kiakalaieh, PhD Candidate, School of Chemical Engineering, UoA: Breaking the Wall of Ocean Plastic Pollution
  • Dr Marta Khomyn, Lecturer, Business Analytics, Adelaide Business School, UoA: Breaking the Wall of Emotions in Finance
  • Dr Harshal Patel, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Flinders University: Breaking the Wall of Polymer Waste
  • Dr Asara Senaratne, Lecturer (Teaching and Research), College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University: Breaking the Wall of Virus Dominance

Congratulations to the three South Australian finalists – Dr Stephanie Allison-Logan, Dr Asara Senaratne and Dr Harshal Patel – who will compete at a national event in Canberra on Friday 30 August.

The winner of the Australian event will travel to Berlin for the international final in November. 

Thank you also to our jury members who evaluated this year’s presentations:

  • Professor Jessica Gallagher, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement), UoA
  • Associate Professor Fanke Peng, PhD SFHEA, Professorial Lead and Enterprise Fellow of Product Design, UniSA Creative, UniSA; Deputy Director of the Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments.
  • Dr Louise Smith, Manager, Policy & Performance, Department of State Development, Government of South Australia.
  • Mr Matthew Williams, Honorary Consul for Germany in South Australia; State Manager SA and NT for Consult Australia.
  • Ms Onnie Chan, Chief Student Entrepreneur, ThincLab, UoA; Founder and Director of Women in Creative Technologies.
Tagged in international, falling walls, research