Falling Walls winners announced

Posted on 23 June 2017

The University of York's Falling Walls Lab has announced the 2017 winning applicants who will progress to the international competition in Berlin.

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The York Falling Walls Lab is desgined to showcase the next generation of top researchers through three-minute talks that present how projects aim to break down the barriers in resolving important global challenges.

The 2017 winner will progress to the Falling Walls Foundation competition in Berlin on the 8 November, where they will compete with international researchers.

First prize was awarded to PhD student, Jet Sanders, Department of Psychology, for 'Breaking the Wall of Risky Decisions'. Second prize went to postdoctoral researcher, Christian Schuster, Department of Physics, for 'Breaking the Wall of a Nuclear Decommissioning Crisis.' Both will progress to the competition in Berlin.

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Jet Sanders said: "It was an amazing opportunity to present my work to so many people alongside a group of truly excellent candidates. All the talks were truly inspiring; the makings of a brilliant, yet nerve wracking, day.

"It has been a dream of mine to present at Falling Walls and now I will be able to. I am absolutely honoured to be representing York."

Jet's work focuses on finding patterns that can be used to change behaviour for social benefit, in particular how risk taking can vary depending on the construction of the working week.

In third place, with a £75 Amazon voucher, was PhD student, Viswadeep Sarangi, Department of Electronic Engineering, for 'Breaking the Wall of Medical Diagnostics and Recovery.'

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Rowena Kasprowi, Department of Education, was named the People's Choice for 'Breaking the Wall of Grammar Learning', and was awarded a £50 book token.

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For more informaiton on the competition rounds so far visit: https://www.york.ac.uk/research/in-focus/falling-walls/