Balik Scientist Dr. Deborah Tangunan is among the 15 candidates who will compete for a spot at the global Falling Walls Lab Finale in Berlin, Germany, and become the “Breakthrough Winner of the Year”.
The Department of Science and Technology's Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST PCIEERD) announced in a Facebook post on Thursday, Sept. 30, that Tangunan is set "to showcase her passion on Past Climates in a world-class pitch competition."
Organized independently by the European Commission in conjunction with the Falling Walls Lab Foundation, Falling Walls Lab Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) is a world-class pitch showcasing the quality, diversity and passion of the most innovative minds taking part in the MSCA.
Tangunan, a Marie Curie Research Fellow at Cardiff University (UK), is among the MSCA fellows who will make a three-minute presentation about their research topic, innovative project, social initiative, business model, or idea to address some of the most pressing global challenges.
“She is an experienced geologist specializing in micropaleontology, biogeochemistry, pale oceanography, and paleoclimatology,” read DOST-PCIEERD's Facebook post on Thursday, Sept. 30.
"With outstanding contributions in her field of expertise, Dr. Tangunan became part of the prestigious DOST Balik Scientist Program, a brain gain program that encourages overseas Filipino science and technology (S&T) experts to return to the country and share their expertise,” it added.
The virtual competition is set today, Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. (Berlin time, 9 p.m. Philippine time).
The jury is composed of distinguished experts from academe, business, last year’s winners of Falling Walls Lab MSCA and the European Commission and Parliament. It is chaired by Themis Christophidou, director-general for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the European Commission.
They “will assess all candidates on the basis of the breakthrough factor and potential impact of the presented work.”