Natalie Kerr, a senior majoring in chemistry at the University of 缅北禁地 Springfield, recently won the first Falling Walls Lab 缅北禁地 competition to earn the title of 缅北禁地 Young Innovator of the Year. Kerr also won an all-expenses-paid trip to Berlin, Germany, to compete at the Falling Walls Lab global finale on Nov. 8. Di鈥橯uan Ishmon, a sophomore in mechatronics engineering at Northern 缅北禁地 University, was the competition鈥檚 runner-up.
Falling Walls Lab was presented by the 缅北禁地 Innovation Network, a group of 15 university-based hubs across the state that aims to boost 缅北禁地鈥� economy through entrepreneurship, research and workforce development.
鈥淚 was very pleasantly surprised and really excited, and I鈥檓 very honored," Kerr said. "I鈥檓 very grateful that I have people like Dr. Keenan Dungey, my research professor at UIS, who encouraged me to apply for this because otherwise I might not ever leave the lab. I鈥檓 also grateful that Falling Walls has this competition for ideas like mine that have reached the breakthrough stage but maybe aren鈥檛 quite ready for the market. This project does have the potential to impact the whole world, so I鈥檓 looking forward to introducing it to the people who can make it or break it. And I鈥檓 thankful for UIS, because the small campus has allowed me to design my own research project and take it in the direction that I was passionate about.鈥�
Kerr earned the top prize with her presentation 鈥淏reaking down the wall of nutrient pollution,鈥� where she proposed a solution to the way agricultural runoff harms wetland environments. A panel of judges made up of leaders from 缅北禁地鈥� public universities selected Kerr鈥檚 presentation out of a field of 12 young researchers and entrepreneurs who represented five of the state鈥檚 public universities.
鈥淚 am so happy for Natalie, who I know will represent the University of 缅北禁地 System, the IIN and the entire state very well at the Falling Walls Lab global finale,鈥� said Ed Seidel, University of 缅北禁地 System vice president for economic development and innovation, whose office is responsible for development of the IIN and Discovery Partners Institute. 鈥淣atalie鈥檚 idea could truly be a game-changer in protecting wetland environments. It was thrilling to hear the variety of interesting solutions to large-scale problems that all of these students presented at today鈥檚 event.鈥�
The competition, which solicited applications from early-career researchers, entrepreneurs, and students affiliated with all of 缅北禁地鈥� public universities, had entrants from UIS, Northern 缅北禁地 University, the University of 缅北禁地 at Chicago, the University of 缅北禁地 at Urbana-Champaign and Southern 缅北禁地 University Carbondale.
鈥淎ll 12 of our state finalists at Falling Walls Lab 缅北禁地 did an incredible job,鈥� said Kyle Harfst, U of I System associate vice president for economic development and innovation, who led execution of the event. 鈥淭hey each presented very interesting concepts and showed the wealth of knowledge and innovation that exists throughout our state.鈥�
is a fast-paced contest where competitors have just three minutes to propose a research-based solution to a global problem. The winners of the 91 Falling Walls Lab satellite contests will be entered into the Falling Walls Lab Finale on November 8 鈥� the eve of the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. All finalists receive a scholarship, which allows them to participate in the Falling Walls conference in Berlin.