Falling Walls Lab Edmonton

Three minutes is all it takes! Falling Walls Lab is a world-class pitch competition where participants showcase their groundbreaking ideas. This global platform connects a diverse mix of students and early-career professionals, encouraging innovation, enhancing communication skills and creating a space for our impactful and sustainable community to thrive.

Hosted by top academic institutions worldwide, these events highlight the ingenuity and dedication of the brightest minds, challenging them to address significant global issues in front of a distinguished jury and live audience.

Winners from each local event earn a spot at the Berlin global finale each year, receive a ticket to the Falling Walls Science Summit and are invited to take part in an exclusive extended programme during their stay.

At the global finale, the international winners compete to become the Breakthrough Winner in the Emerging Talents category of Falling Walls, taking home the title and prize money and receiving the opportunity to pitch their idea once again on the grand stage of the Falling Walls Breakthroughs of the Year.

Learn more about Falling Walls Lab

The 2024 application period is closed.

In your application, you will be asked to provide information about yourself and your studies and to briefly describe your project, the problem it addresses and the solutions it offers. You can also link to a video or project website, if applicable.

Applications are submitted centrally via the Falling Walls Lab Edmonton page.

The Falling Walls Lab team prescreens all applications based on the eligibility criteria and forwards the applications to the international Lab organizers.

The international Lab organizers screen applications and select 15–20 candidates based on the following criteria:

• Individual: Quality of innovative idea, education and academic grade, relevant work experience
• Group composition: Gender balance, diversity (nationality, discipline, etc.).

Undergraduate and master’s students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral fellows (PDF), early-career professionals and entrepreneurs from all disciplines are invited to apply.

Applicants must fulfill at least one of the following formal requirements: 

• They must be currently enrolled in university and/or are currently a PDF
• They received a bachelor’s degree no more than 10 years ago
• They received a master’s degree no more than seven years ago
• They received a PhD no more than five years ago

An MD (medical degree excl. a doctoral dissertation) is considered equivalent to a master’s degree.

A Dr. med. (medical degree incl. a doctoral dissertation) is considered equivalent to a PhD.

The eligibility criteria apply to all international Labs. No exceptions are permitted, ensuring participation is open to students and staff from any university and across various academic disciplines.

Age

Participants must be of full age according to their domestic legislation or older and no younger than 18 years old. Their legal age status must be confirmed by the international Lab organizer before participation.

Multiple Participation

If an applicant presented at an international Falling Walls Lab or at the Falling Walls Lab finale before December 2023, they are not allowed to apply or participate again.

Group Participation

Groups are not allowed to present at a Falling Walls Lab. Only a single person may apply and present. Presenters must outline their own contribution if a project was a group effort.

Date: Friday, September 20, 2024
Time: 5 p.m. MDT
Location: Telus Centre Room 150

Falling Walls Lab Edmonton is an in-person event. 

The organizers are independent partners of the Falling Walls Foundation. 

The jury evaluates based on the following criteria:

1. Breakthrough Factor: How innovative is the proposed idea? (50%)
2. Relevance/Impact: How relevant is the idea for the discipline and beyond? (40%)
3. Structure/Performance: How convincing was the presentation? (10%)

The jury shall decide at its own discretion.

International Lab winners get the opportunity to travel to Berlin, Germany for the finale where they will:

• Compete in the Falling Walls Lab finale to become one of three Breakthrough Winners in the Emerging Talents category of Falling Walls
• Participate in an exclusive extended programme
  • Past programme points have included:
    • A professional pitch coaching session
    • Networking lunch and “Insights into German Research” information session
    • Dinner hosted by the German Research Foundation (DFG)
    • Hangout with Springer Nature on Science Communication & Publishing
• Attend the prestigious Falling Walls Science Summit (November 7-9)
• Network with winners and Falling Walls Science Summit participants
• Increase their project‘s global reach and visibility with a pitch video in the Falling Walls Content Library
• Join the global Falling Walls Lab alumni community

What is the timeline for applying to and participating in Falling Walls Lab Edmonton?

• August 12, 2024 - Application Deadline
• Late August/Early September 2024 - Applications will be adjudicated (applicants may be invited to meet with the judges for a short interview).
• Early September 2024 - 15-20 successful applicants will be invited to present their pitch at the Falling Walls Edmonton Lab.
• September 20, 2024 - The Falling Walls Edmonton Lab will be held at 5 p.m. MDT. The winner will be announced at the Lab.
• November 7-9, 2024 - The winner will deliver their pitch at Falling Walls Lab in Berlin and attend the Falling Walls Science Summit.

Does the winner have to cover the cost of going to Berlin?

Flights to Berlin from Edmonton and back again, as well as accommodation in Berlin for the duration of the Falling Walls Science Summit, will be arranged and covered by event sponsors.

Is Falling Walls Lab Edmonton a hybrid event?

No. Falling Walls Lab Edmonton is an in-person event. Applicants invited to present their pitch will be expected to deliver it in person.

Will applicants invited to present their pitch at Falling Walls Lab Edmonton receive any instruction or coaching?

Yes. There will be an opportunity for applicants who are invited to present at Falling Walls Lab Edmonton to take part in a coaching workshop.

2024 Falling Walls Lab Edmonton Finalists

• Dishan Burad, MSc Candidate
  Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta
• Matthew Dickson, PhD Candidate
  Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta
• Alexandra Gagnon, MA
  Faculty of Law, University of Alberta
• Sara Hassanpour Tamrin, Postdoctoral Fellow
  Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary
• Albin Joseph, Postdoctoral Fellow
  Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan
• Zak Kaal, MSc
  Department of Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Science, University of Alberta (Alumnus)
• Benjamin Kucher, MA Candidate
  Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta
• Pulkit Kumar, MSc Candidate
  Department of Surgery, University of Alberta
• Sushmita Mittra, PhD Candidate
  Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering, University of Alberta
• Luisa Pessoa Soares, MSc Candidate
  Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Alberta
• Abdul Saboor, MSc Candidate
  Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta
• Rajas Shah, Postdoctoral Fellow
  Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary
• Anastasiia Stepanchuk, Postdoctoral Fellow
  Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Calgary
• Priyanka Tirumareddy, PhD Candidate
  Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan
• Lily Zhou, PhD Candidate
  Department of Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging, University of Alberta

2023 Falling Walls Lab Edmonton Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Falling Walls Lab Edmonton!

Abrar Alam

"Breaking the Wall of Bioengineering the Heart"

Rony Pain

"Breaking the Wall of Cancer Spread and Relapse"

Arushi Tandon

"Breaking the Wall of Immobility