Newcastle researcher wins Falling Walls Lab Australia

Falling Walls Lab Australia winner, Dr Kim van Netten, with Dr Alan Finkel and Professor Brian Schmidt.

Dr Kim van Netten of the University of Newcastle has been selected to represent Australia at the international event Falling Walls in Berlin encouraging links between research, business and innovation.

The inaugural Falling Walls Lab Australia took place on 24 August 2016 at the Shine Dome, hosted by the Academy in partnership with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Canberra, The Australian National University, the German–Australian Chamber for Industry and Commerce, the Royal Society of New Zealand and the Embassy of Germany in Wellington.

Falling Walls Lab Australia provided a platform for 20 Australian and 5 New Zealand excellent young scientists and social scientists, academics, entrepreneurs and professionals from all disciplines to present their research work, business model, innovative project or idea in front of peers and a distinguished audience from academia and business. Each participant had just 3 minutes on stage.

The panel of nine eminent judges from academia, business, government and finance selected Dr van Netten to travel to Berlin to participate in the Falling Walls Conference on 8 November. Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel AO FAA FTSE and Professor Brian Schmidt AC FAA FRS Nobel Laureate presented certificates to all of the participants and announced the winner of the competition.

The event was attended by Academy President Professor Andrew Holmes AM PresAA FRS FTSE and the German Ambassador, Her Excellency Dr Anna Prinz. Professor Hans Bachor AM FAA was the master of ceremonies.

The Academy acknowledges the partners and sponsors for their generous support that made this event possible.

© 2024 Australian Academy of Science

Top