Falling Walls Lab Australia is a fast-paced and exciting event that provides a platform for young researchers to share their ideas for solving grand challenges to help shape a more sustainable future. Falling Walls Labs are held in locations across the globe, with five state heats taking place in Australia in 2025.
On Monday 1 September 2025, the Australian Academy of Science will host the 10th Falling Walls Lab Australia Finale at the iconic Shine Dome in Canberra.
Winners of the five state labs will compete, each giving a three-minute presentation on their research or innovation idea. The jury of eminent judges, chaired by Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Tony Haymet, will select the most promising ideas, with three winners being chosen to represent Australia at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin on 7 November 2025.
Finale event details
Date: Monday 1 September 2025
Time: 2.30pm to 6.00pm AEST
Registrations open and lunch available: 1.30pm
Event starts: 2.30pm
Afternoon tea during jury deliberations: 4.00pm
Announcement of winners: 4.45pm
Cocktail Reception: 5.00pm–6.00pm
Venue: The Shine Dome, 15 Gordon Street, Canberra
This year's finalists
Mabel Day, University of Adelaide, Breaking the wall of forever chemicals
Dr Auriane Drack, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute/University of Melbourne, Breaking the wall of heart failure
Dr Houda Ennaceri, Murdoch University, Breaking the wall of microalgal biofuels
Dr Harriet Goodrich, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, The University of Tasmania, Breaking the wall of fishing and climate change
Yonglin Mai, The University of Tasmania, Breaking the wall of hidden water pollution
Sreshtha Malik, University of Adelaide, Breaking the wall of herbicide-resistant weeds
Khoi Nguyen, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Breaking the wall of antimalarial discovery
Dr Kit Prendergast, Curtin University and University of Southern Queensland, Breaking the wall of native bee recovery after bushfires
Farrel Separgo, University of Technology Sydney, Breaking the wall of diagnostic thermometres
Chundu Tamang, University of Southern Queensland, Breaking the wall of profit over planet: Recycling polymer waste from oil and gas industries
Dr Jacob Thorstensen, Bond University, Breaking the Wall of Muscle Weakness
