The falling walls lab competition was held virtually on Friday, 25th September 2020. The competition was hosted by the Training Center in Communication Africa (TCC Africa). Falling Walls Lab is an international forum for the next generation of early career innovators, trailblazers, creators, and visionaries. Its aim is to promote exceptional ideas and connect promising scientists and entrepreneurs from all fields on a global level. Participants, also known as Labsters, are given the opportunity to present their research, business model, or initiative of peers, a high –caliber jury from academia and business, and the general public –in just 3 minutes.
Ms. Joy Owango, the Executive Director TCC Africa, who was the moderator, welcomed everyone to the competition. She later welcomed the Director General NACOSTI. Prof. Walter Oyawa – Director General, National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI), thanked TCC Africa and the sponsors for the initiative. He explained NACOSTI’s mandate and its partnership with TCC Africa. He also congratulated the participants and wished them the best stating that they are all winners.
Ms. Joy introduced the judges as follows: Prof. Eucharia Kenya – Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Planning, Administration and Finance, at University of Embu, Mr. Julius Sigei, Deputy News Editor, Daily Nation, Mr. Otula Owuor – Founder and Managing Editor of Science Africa, Dr. Susan Musembi – Lecturer Kenyatta University and Dr. Margaret Karembu – Director ISAAA AfriCenter.
The participants and their topics were as follows:
- Mr. Caleb Wafula – protracted conflicts
- Mr. Timothy Kinoti – student empowerment, education engagement and economic support
- Mr. Mutembei Kariuki – democratizing artificial intelligence
- Mr. Yohanssen Obanda- indigenous and scientific knowledge
- Mr. Joseph Kimwami – molecular biology and informatics
- Ms. Daisy Isiaho – digital healthcare in Africa
- Mr. Antony Okungu – inclusive insurance
- Mr. Boniface Jiveri – air pollution and malaria menace
- Dr. Annette Busula – ape malaria pandemic
- Ms. Winnie Okoth – urban heat island effects in cities
- Mr. James Mwangi – access to life-saving medicine
- Ms. Caroline Nyaga – monotonous science learning
- Mr. Hesbon Ayub – power generation
- Dr. Daniel Korir – low livestock production and climate change
- Mr. James Kimani – maternal and infant health through breastfeeding
- Ms. Suzanne Njuki – water-borne bilharzia
- Ms. Lydia Ogonda – inefficient lignocellulose processing
- Mr. Weldon Tonui – virtual practical teaching and learning
- Mr. John Gift – crop production (Novel organic fertilizer)
- Dr. Remmy Shiundu – ECDE in Kenya
Ms. Joy thanked all the people present in the meeting, noting that the winner will represent Kenya in Berlin, the results of the competition would be announced later and that in future the competition would be bigger and better.