Meet the Minds Shaping the Future: Falling Walls Announces the Science Breakthrough of the Year Laureates for 2025

Berlin, Germany, 16 September 2025. The Falling Walls Foundation proudly announces the Science Breakthroughs of the Year laureates in the five categories Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Social Sciences & Humanities and Art & Science. Each category’s expert jury has selected these laureates based on their outstanding potential to advance humanity and create positive change for the global community.

All laureates are invited to present their work on 9 November during the Falling Walls Science Summit, which takes place from 6–9 November in Berlin.

The laureates are:

SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR IN
LIFE SCIENCES

Melina Schuh – Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, DE

Breaking the Wall of Invisible Ovulation

Melina Schuh has developed the first live-imaging platform to visualise ovulation in real time at the cellular level.
Her breakthrough reveals the molecular mechanisms of this process, opening up new paths in fertility research, women’s health and the development of non-hormonal contraceptives.

Read our interview with Melina Schuh, here.

SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR IN
PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Jian-Wei Pan – University of Science and Technology of China, CN

Breaking the Wall of Practical Satellite QKD

Jian-Wei Pan and his team have developed the world’s first quantum microsatellite for real-time quantum key distribution (QKD) using mobile ground stations. This innovation overcomes the limitations of terrestrial QKD and enables secure global communication networks for the future.

Read more about Jian-Wei Pan, here.

SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR IN
ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Lu Fang – Tsinghua University, CN

Breaking the Wall of High-Power AI Needs

Lu Fang has paved the way for photonic AI with the “Taichi” chip—a breakthrough architecture offering extreme energy efficiency and computational power for AI. Her approach transforms the shift from electronic to photonic data processing, laying the groundwork for a sustainable, intelligent future.

Read our interview with Lu Fang, here.

SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR IN

SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES

Myriam Denov – McGill University, CA

Breaking the Wall of War and Its Impact on Children

Myriam Denov breaks the silence surrounding children born of sexual violence in war. Her participatory approach involves affected youth as co-researchers and develops strategies for policy and practice that strengthen their rights and present new opportunities.

Read our interview with Myriam Denov, here.

SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR IN
ART & SCIENCE

Marco Barotti – Studio Marco Barotti, DE

Breaking the Wall of Ecological Healing Through Sound

With Coral Sonic Resilience, Marco Barotti merges art and science: 3D-printed, solar-powered sculptures emit the sounds of healthy coral reefs into damaged ecosystems to support their regeneration. This project transforms art into an active tool for environmental protection.

Read our interview with Marco Barotti, here.

MORE THAN 1500 SUBMISSIONS SHOW URGENT NEED FOR SCIENTIFIC SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL CHALLENGES

“With more than 1500 submissions from 290 of the world’s leading scientific institutions and universities in 123 countries, we have received more nominations than ever before. Science is and remains vital to tackling the big societal challenges of our time. These Science Breakthroughs of the Year demonstrate fantastic approaches to making a change in the world for the better”, says Dr. Andeas Kosmider, Managing Director of the Falling Walls Foundation.

For interview requests regarding our Science Breakthroughs of the Year please contact us at press@falling-walls.com.
For press accreditation requests please contact us at press@falling-walls.com.