Women's Impact Award: the shortlist has been announced

For the first time, the Women's Impact Award (Female Science Talents) category is part of the Falling Walls Global Call for the scientific breakthroughs of the year. The three shortlisted winners for 2024 have now been announced, from which a jury will select a project as ‘Science Breakthrough of the Year’ in the ‘Women's Impact’ category. The shortlisted projects:

• Inge Katrin Herrmann (University of Zurich)
  Inge Katrin Herrmann is leading a transformative initiative to close the significant gap in women’s health research. Through her W-HEALTH program, she is pioneering medical material innovations that address critical women’s health issues, from endometriosis to gynecological cancers. Her work aims to overcome the systemic neglect of women's health, offering new hope for improved treatments and better health outcomes.
• Marianna Prokopi-Demetriades (RSL Revolutionary Labs Ltd, Theramir Ltd, Promed Bioscience Ltd)
  Marianna Prokopi-Demetriades is breaking new ground in the field of cancer care through a holistic approach that prioritises patient well-being. Her work across three co-founded biotech companies— Theramir Ltd, Promed Bioscience Ltd, and RSL Revolutionary Labs Ltd—integrates cutting-edge researchto deliver personalised cancer therapies and innovative dermaceuticals. Her efforts are reshaping oncological care, offering comprehensive solutions that enhance the quality of life for patients.
• Antonia Saktiawati (Universitas Gadjah Mada)
  Antonia Saktiawati is driving a groundbreaking initiative to revolutionise tuberculosis screening in Indonesia, with a focus on gender equality and diversity in science. Her interdisciplinary approach brings together experts from various fields to tackle the TB epidemic, particularly in remote areas. By fostering collaboration with stakeholders and industry partners, Antonia’s work not only advances scientific innovation but also empowers communities, making strides toward ending TB and promoting global health equity.

Women's Impact Award

With the Women’s Impact Award, Falling Walls Female Science Talents seek to recognize women in science who are conducting research projects related to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They are looking for exceptional talents who engage in interdisciplinary, ground-breaking research in their respective fields and contribute to gender equality and diversity in science and academia. The Volkswagen Foundation supports the Award together with the Elsevier Foundation and the Bayer Foundation.

The three shortlisted projects, referred to as the Winners, were selected by a distinguished Jury and invited to participate in an in-person Award Ceremony in Berlin on 7 November 2024, as part of the International Fall Gathering hosted by Female Science Talents. Among the three Winners, the Jury will select one final Science Breakthrough of the Year in the Women’s Impact category. The recipient of this award will present on the grand Breakthrough stage at the Falling Walls Science Summit on 9 November 2024.

Falling Walls Summit

Since its inception in 2009, Falling Walls Science Summit has become a leading international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral forum for scientific breakthroughs and dialogue between science and society. The event takes place every year from November 7 to 10 in Berlin, commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall. It brings together global leaders from academia, business, politics, media, and civil society to debate the potential of scientific breakthroughs to solve grand challenges and shape a sustainable future.