Falling Walls Conference 2013 in Berlin

The conference was held for the first time in 2009. On one day, 20 top-class researchers from all disciplines and parts of the world each showcase the breakthroughs they are working on in 15 minute talks answering the question: which are the next walls to fall?

As part of the Green Talents Forum 2013, the winners of the competition had the unique privilege to be invited to the renowned Falling Walls Conference as well as the Falling Walls Lab.

At the Conference 20 top-class scientists from around the world presented their current breakthrough research answering the question “Which are the next walls to fall?”. In 2013, Professor Jagdish N. Bhagwati, the world’s leading expert in international trade, Professor Rolf-Dieter Heuer, director general of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern), Professor Daniel G. Nocera of Harvard University who is on the forefront of research on renewable energy, Professor Eva Illouz, a leading international ociologist at the Hebrew University as well as Professor Jules A. Hoffman, Nobel laureate of 2011 were amongst the attending speakers.

The conference attracted an audience from over 80 nations and was covered by the media globally. It is considered to be one of the foremost places of high-level exchange between science, business and other sectors of society. In 2013, the conference took place for the fifth time.

Short summary of the partcipation at the Falling Walls Conference on 09. November 2013

The day after the award ceremony, the Green Talents were granted the unique opportunity to attend the renowned Falling Walls Conference in Berlin. At the Conference top-class scientists from around the world present their current breakthrough research answering the question “Which are the next walls to fall?”. However, the Green Talents could not only use this event to get inspired by the latest developments in different fields but were foremost able to meet normally unreachable authorities such as Professor Jagdish N. Bhagwati, the world's leading expert in international trade, Professor Rolf-Dieter Heuer, director general of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), Professor Daniel G. Nocera of Harvard University who is on the forefront of research on renewable energy as well as Professor Jules A. Hoffman, Nobel laureate of 2011. Also present at the conference were the Green Talents Alumni that had presented at the Falling Walls Lab the previous day.

With this, two exciting weeks came to a conclusion over a last Schnitzel and Apfelstrudel during a joint dinner that gave room to exchange addresses and numbers before it was time for departure the next morning. Maybe with mixed feelings but certainly with many amazing experiences and long-lasting impressions the Green Talents said “goodbye” to each other and to Germany – for now!