Two weeks until 2024 Falling Walls Lab Aotearoa New Zealand

Coming from as far away as Fiji, participants will have the opportunity to showcase their innovative research, scientific idea, or evidence-based initiative, and how it could make a difference for society in a three-minute presentation.

The winning pitch will have the chance to represent the region and compete at the Falling Walls Lab Global Finale in Berlin.

View 2024 Falling Walls Lab Aotearoa New Zealand programme to learn more about the event and the participants:

This year’s participants and their topics for Falling Walls Lab Aotearoa New Zealand are:

Alice Sai Louie, Lincoln Agritech Ltd / University of Canterbury
Breaking the Wall of Hidden Waters
Shallow groundwater flooding, exacerbated by climate change, threatens many low-lying, cities globally. We lack a high spatial resolution method to measure shallow groundwater over large areas. By repurposing existing, dark strands of fibre optic telecommunications networks with Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS), measuring temperature could enable real-time groundwater monitoring of shallow groundwater dynamics across extensive regions, allowing for improved water management.

Baadsha, Fiji National University 
Breaking the Wall of Judicial Insights
Judicial independence and accountability in Fiji are not well understood or studied, potentially compromising the rule of law and public confidence in the legal system. When these elements are compromised, they create barriers to justice. My research aims to break down these barriers, much like the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Carol Martinez Camacho, University of Canterbury           
Breaking the Wall of Definitions of Life
Through Ana-dialectic methodology, we’ll implement the design of pluriversal school spaces to problematise the definition of the fundamental unit of life (the cell), introducing indigenous ethics and metaphysics, as well as methodologies and knowledges, into the substantive content of science education. We seek to understand the impact on students' onto-epistemological orientations of science education as a site of socio-political struggle.

Daiana Yedgey, University of Auckland
Breaking the Wall of Dementia Diagnosis
We are attempting to find a new early and minimally invasive way to diagnose dementia. Currently, the only way to diagnose dementia is by extensive brain imaging, assessment of symptoms and post-mortem staining of brain tissue. We are studying the human olfactory system where the first signs of dementia can be detected.

Ejovi Abafe, Sustainable Nutrition Initiative®, Riddet Institute, Massey University     
Breaking the Wall of Micronutrient Malnutrition
I aim to break the wall of micronutrient malnutrition by identifying and promoting the production of nutrient-dense crops. This approach targets global food systems, ensuring they provide essential micronutrients, particularly to vulnerable populations, through sustainable agricultural land use practices.

Evelyn Wen, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi / University of Canterbury  
Breaking the Wall of Public Transport Access
I seek to break the wall of inadequate access to public transport by solving the first- and last-mile challenge. Proposing paid park-and-ride and free carpooling facilities at train stations could boost connectivity, increase daily train commuters by 1500, and generate $6.7M annually. This revenue could enhance peak-hour services and optimise resource allocation without challenging the existing funding model much.

Hadi Vatankhah Ghadim, University of Canterbury
Breaking the Wall of Trans-Tasmanian Isolation
Energy systems in Australia and New Zealand face severe bottlenecks and storage issues, hindering their clean energy transition. A proposed trans-Tasmanian subsea power cable can boost energy security, aid decarbonization, and create jobs, strengthening the strategic alliance of Kiwis and Aussies.

Jack Scanlan, School of Social Work, Massey University     
Breaking the Wall of Racism in Youth Justice
South Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand, globally, has the largest Polynesian population and is home to a recent study that revealed Samoan practitioners in dominant white spaces experience feelings of marginalisation, bullying, and exclusion. Named, "Ululaau—The power of transformation to curb Samoan youth offending" sought to understand effective ways to reduce Samoan youth offending from former Samoan youth-at-risk turned social practitioners. 

Jeff Lang, Lincoln Agritech Ltd    
Breaking the Wall of Earthquake Forecasting
We seek to test a new method of reconstructing prehistoric earthquake records, based on chemical signals of earthquakes encoded in stalagmites. Current paleoseismic methods are limited in record length and dating accuracy, whereas stalagmites, often tens of millennia in age, can be dated precisely. Longer records of past earthquakes will lead to improved seismic hazard assessment and earthquake forecasting.

Joseph Balfe, University of Otago
Breaking the Wall of Asthma
Every day, the lives of more than 1000 people are cut short because of an asthma attack, and most of these deaths are preventable due to a simple delay in obtaining inhaled medications during the final attack. Because of this, we are developing a smart, wearable, bronchodilator device that can detect and rapidly intervene during asthma attacks using advanced neuromodulation technology.

Mahya Tavan, Sustainable Nutrition Initiative®, Riddet Institute, Massey University 
Breaking the Wall of Diet Sustainability
My research is focused on developing a ground-breaking dietary optimisation tool, The iOTA Model®, which is designed to integrate all facets of diet sustainability. Using advanced mathematical modelling techniques, I have utilised national dietary data to simulate diets that not only adhere to nutritional guidelines but also champion environmental sustainability.

Mamehgol Yousefidashliboroun, AgResearch / University of Canterbury
Breaking the Wall of Agriculture Systems
We envision future farm assistants/advisors to support efficient and sustainable agricultural practices. Our goal is to design an intelligent interface able to process information and support decision-making with intuitive, natural language explanations. We are developing an agentic workflow to be used as an information source or decision support system, enhancing the farmer’s decision-making process and seamlessly integrating with it.

Nikki Barrett, Te Ngira: Institute of Population Research, University of Waikato       
Breaking the Wall of Childbirth Education
Hapū Wānanga, a Māori childbirth education class, is the catalyst for positive birthing and parenting experiences, yielding economic, health, social, and cultural benefits for mothers, babies, and wider society. By integrating traditional Māori birthing knowledge with Western medicine, Hapū Wānanga has significantly boosted attendance rates. Participants enthusiastically endorse and promote the programme for all expectant parents.

Patricia Soh, Sustainable Nutrition Initiative®, Riddet Institute, Massey University
Breaking the Wall of Unbalanced Vegan Diets
Vegan diets have comparatively lower protein quality than diets that include animal-sourced foods. Advanced tools in machine learning can identify complex eating behaviours and protein intake across meals. This allows us to study how vegan dietary patterns influence protein intake and protein quality throughout the day, thus unveiling the optimal food combinations for healthy vegan diets.

Petera Whaiao Hudson, Te Pūtahi a Toi, School of Māori Knowledge, Massey University
Breaking the Wall of Western-dominated AI
The overrepresentation of Māori exhibited in poor statistical rates is now evolving in imperial-dominated algorithms and is proving to amplify biased stereotypes in AI systems. We sought to identify mātauranga and tikanga Māori that have the potential to inform next-generation AI systems, which promote cultural well-being for our whānau and their futures. 

Sarah Lockwood, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa           
Breaking the Wall of Maternal Equity in Crises
My research project examines the experiences of pregnant women during a climate crisis and uses this information to build a practical framework for health and crisis practitioners to utilise in the attainment of maternal health equity. This responds to the increased occurrence of climate crisis events in Aotearoa and worldwide, whereby pregnant women are considered among the most vulnerable populations. 

Shalini Guleria, Liggins Institute, University of Auckland     
Breaking the Wall of Early Immunity
Maternal breastfeeding delivers essential nutrients and immune factors, like regulatory T cells (Tregs), to newborns, aiding in immune tolerance and reducing allergy and autoimmune disease risks. We aim to investigate how breast milk-transferred Tregs contribute to immune tolerance in babies, potentially identifying new Treg molecules for treating immunological issues and preventing future allergies and autoimmune disorders.

Thomas Gillman National Centre for Research on Europe, University of Canterbury 
Breaking the Wall of Access to Sports Facilities
The Smaller Island States of the Pacific have limited access to quality sports facilities that could provide community wellbeing, economic opportunities through sports tourism and professional roles associated with sport, and in a climate-friendly manner. A climate neutral high performance training facility could provide income and professional opportunities, while also supporting sustainable development ambitions of the country it is located.

Yasas Sri Wickramasinghe, HIT Lab NZ, University of Canterbury     
Breaking the Wall of Loneliness through Play
We are focused on using Augmented Reality (AR) to break the wall of loneliness and create meaningful connections through play. Existing technologies for connecting with others fall short in providing a sense of presence and meaningful interactions. We have developed a technology that fosters engagement, connection, and brings people and places together. 

The winners will be selected by the Falling Walls Lab Aotearoa New Zealand jury:

• Professor Phil Lester, Insect Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington (Jury Chair)
• Associate Professor Riz Firestone, Senior Research Officer, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University
• Associate Professor Alex Gavryushkin, Biological Data Science Lab, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Associate Dean of Research for Engineering, University of Canterbury
• Associate Professor Tamasailau Suaalii-Sauni MNZM, Criminology Programme, School of Social Sciences, University of Auckland
• Veronika Meduna, New Zealand Editor for The Conversation
• Monique Surges, CEO of the German-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce (GNZCC)

Media and members of the public are invited to attend the event in person or via livestream.

More about Falling Walls Lab

Falling Walls Lab events are held in numerous countries worldwide.  The winners of these Lab competitions are automatically admitted to the Falling Walls Lab Finale in Germany in November each year where they will again pitch their idea to a jury of distinguished academics and businesspeople.

The Falling Walls Foundation is a non-profit organisation in Berlin, dedicated to the support of science and the humanities. It was established in 2009, 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. At its heart is the question ‘Which are the next walls to fall?’ because of scientific, technological, economic, and sociological breakthroughs.

Visit https://www.falling-walls.com/lab