About FWLS

The Falling Walls Lab is an interdisciplinary format to showcase the next generation of top researchers developed and hosted annually by the Falling Walls Foundation in Berlin on 8 November. In 3–minute talks, outstanding talents and innovative thinkers share their research projects, business models and social initiatives with an interdisciplinary audience and jury. Academic institutions worldwide are invited to host their own Falling Walls Lab and to send their winner/s to the Falling Walls Lab Finale on 8 November 2018 in Berlin.

Falling Walls Lab Sendai in Japan

Bachelor and Master students, PhD candidates, postdocs, professionals and entrepreneurs from all scientific disciplines are invited to apply. lf an applicant has a Bachelor's degree, the degree should not date back more than 10 years. If an applicant has a Master's degree, the degree should not date back more than 7 years. If an applicant has a PhD, the degree should not date back more than 5 years. Postdocs and students which are currently enrolled in university are also eligible to apply. Participants have to be of legal age (18 years or older).
The winner of the Falling Walls Lab Sendai will travel to Berlin to attend the Falling Walls Lab Finale and the Falling Walls Conference on 8 November, 2018.

The Falling Walls Lab Sendai will take place on 31 August, 2018 at 3rd floor, Lecture Theater in TOKYO ELECTRON House of Creativity, Tohoku University.

Great minds, 3 minutes, 1 day

The Falling Walls Lab is a new challenging, inspiring and interdisciplinary format for young great minds. It offers the opportunity to excellent young academics and professionals to present their outstanding ideas, research projects and initiatives. Each participant is asked to present his/her work in 3 minutes.

All disciplines are welcome: from agriculture, medicine, economics, engineering to the humanities. A prestigious jury from science and business awards the best participants. The jury is allowed to ask questions or to make comments during your speech. Further discussion will be welcome during the several breaks and reception party.

The jury looks at three different criteria: The “breakthrough factor” indicates if an idea is a real innovation, if it is original and catchy and has the potential to inspire other ideas. Secondly, they will look at the relevance and the scope of impact of your work. Does it make a valuable contribution to progress; does it address an existing or imminent problem or even offer solutions to it? The third category is related to the presenter and presentation itself: Do the participants deliver their presentations well? Do they explain their ideas in a clear and understandable way? Does the presenter show a proof of concept?

Presentation Format

3 minute–presentation, 1 minute–Q&A, and 1 minute–scoring session

Three slides:
1. Your presentation title, name, and affiliation
2. Your breakthrough idea
3. Summary

Many audiences with diverse backgrounds will be in the Lab.

Scoring System

Falling Walls Lab Scoring System
Each presentation is evaluated with a score, based on three criteria

1. Breakthrough factor – 50%
· Does the project have originality and potential for innovation?
· Does it represent a groundbreaking idea, initiative or discovery?
· Could it trigger other innovation processes?

2. Relevance / Impact – 30%
· What is the target (group)?
· Does the idea affect a broad group of addresses or does it have a deep impact on a small group?
· Does the idea have short– term or long–term effects?

3. Structure / Performance – 20%
· Is the presentation well structured? Does it clearly explain breakthrough and impact?
· Does the candidate present a proof of concept / the feasibility of the project?
· Is the candidate able to explain the idea?
· How does the candidate perform?

You can find more information at FALLING–WALLS.COM

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