World-class research in just three minutes
Apply now for the Falling Walls Lab Adlershof!
Jitters, a slight stutter, mispronouncing English technical terms – these are things that may be overlooked. The big no-no at the qualifying competition for the Falling Walls Lab in Adlershof is speaking for longer than three minutes. The clock will be relentless on 28 September 2018: 120 seconds, 60, 25, 10, and stop. Young researchers must present complex issues in laymen’s terms, without notes and in just about the time it takes to smoke a cigarette. Members of the expert jury, which include Professor Ulrich Panne, president of the BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, may ask one or two brief questions before it’s on to next candidate, who is one of 100 young scientists eager to qualify for the finale on 8 November.
“We want to give young scientists and company founders a platform to showcase their project as well as themselves, get feedback and engage in interdisciplinary networking,” says Naveed Syed, project head of Falling Walls Lab. The preselection process consists of 87 rounds in 65 countries.
“The applicants from North Germany meet here in Adlershof,” says Ursula Westphal, manager of IGAFA, the Joint Initiative of Non-University Affiliated Research Institutes in Adlershof, who organises the event. Application is open for any young scientist or entrepreneur who meets the requirements (www.falling-walls.com/lab). We look forward to all applications sent to https://falling-walls.com/lab/apply before 15 September.” It is quite difficult to present a complex topic in such little time, says Westphal, but it helps to learn to focus on the essentials and it is very entertaining. She cites the event’s motto: “Great minds, three minutes, one day.” Jürgen Mlynek, physics professor at Humboldt-Universität, praises the Falling Walls Lab in Adlershof: “It fosters interdisciplinary networking and provides young scientists and entrepreneurs with a platform for innovative ideas,” says the Falling Walls Foundation’s chairman of the board.
Such competitive events are increasingly popular. The Adlershof Dissertation Prize lets three researchers compete in 15-minute presentations. “Their dissertations have already been rated very highly. What counts now is performance,” says Westphal, who is a chemist. The jury, who proclaims the winner in the classic Academy Award style, is interested in comprehensibility, creativity and performance.
The winners of the global preselection process will meet at the Falling Walls Lab finale in November, which is expected to be an equally colourful event. The three winners get the opportunity to present their idea at the Falling Walls Conference, where 20 world-class researchers showcase pioneering projects in science, business and technology. The conference has been taking place on the day of the fall of the Berlin Wall every year since 2009. Professor Panne sums up the event’s appeal: “The conference is special because it focuses on essentials. Time and time again, I am impressed by the show of potential at the Falling Walls Lab. The conference attracts many young researchers, who would thrive in the environment Adlershof has to offer.”
By Paul Janositz for Adlershof Journal