Slovak innovators present their projects at Falling Walls Lab Slovakia
Bratislava, 1 October 2021: Slovakia will be represented in the international finale by a project which innovatively simulates the transformations of solids. Matej Badin from Comenius University Bratislava won the national round which took place on 30 September 2021 online.
The jury, consisting of scientists and experts from various disciplines, looked at the projects’ breakthrough factor, potential impact and form of presentation. It chose the project of Mgr. Matej Badin from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics of Comenius University Bratislava and SISSA Trieste. The project introduces an innovative method of simulating transformations of solids under pressure.
"Not all substances around us are in equilibrium. One example is the diamond in an engagement ring, which should not even exist at room temperature and pressure - it should revert back to pencil lead – graphite. Both forms are just different representations of the same element – carbon. In my presentation, I attempted to explain a new computational method developed by me and my tutor, which allows - among other things - to look for other such substances which are out of equilibrium. They could have a huge potential for practical use, like a diamond has," says the prize winner Matej Badin.
The second place was awarded to Mgr. Olivier Monfort, PhD. from the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Comenius University Bratislava, whose project focuses on the use of photochemistry in wastewater treatment. The jury awarded third place to MVDr. Marek Ratvaj from the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice for his project of an innovative probiotic feed which could replace the use of pharmaceuticals in fish farming.
Falling Walls Lab Slovakia is a part of an international format that gives recognition to projects of exceptional young innovators from various scientific fields. The winner of Falling Walls Lab Slovakia 2021 will represent Slovakia in the international finale at which 100 participants from the whole world will compete in the category "Emerging Talents". They will present their research, initiative or business model in front of a jury composed of top scientists, innovators and business people. The winner will receive "The Breakthrough Winner" award coupled with a financial prize and, above all, the opportunity to present their entry on the main stage of the prestigious Falling Walls Conference which takes place on 7 November in Berlin.
For the fourth year, the Slovak finale was organized by Comenius University Bratislava in cooperation with the Learned Society of Slovakia (www.learned.sk) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD, www.daad.de). Academic partners included the Slovak Academy of Sciences, the Slovak University of Technology, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, the Technical University in Košice, the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, the University of Žilina and the Technical University in Zvolen. The event was held under the auspices of MUDr. Ľudovít Paulis, PhD., MPH, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic.
Watch the finale FWLS on YouTube (link).