Chalmers Professor Jessica Jewell has been named the 2026 Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year in Social Sciences & Humanities. Her research on the political and societal conditions shaping energy transitions was selected in a competition involving around 2,000 submissions nominated by 474 academic institutions and universities worldwide.
“It’s an honour and honestly a bit surreal. I hope it helps move the field toward studying the ‘political will’ to face climate change with the same rigour we bring to studying the technical and economic aspects”, says Jessica Jewell.
Jewell is one of six recipients of the Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2026. She receives the award for “Breaking the Wall of Apolitical Climate Futures”. The research addresses a central question for energy transitions: knowing which technologies are technically feasible and economically competitive is not enough. To understand how quickly a transition can actually take place, political, institutional and societal conditions also need to be taken into account.
From technical potential to feasible transition
Using historical data on the adoption of energy technologies, Jessica Jewell has developed an approach for understanding and projecting how low-carbon technologies develop and are scaled up. The framework identifies four distinct phases and can be used to assess where a technology is in its development and what may help it scale up further.
“Leaving politics and society out of the picture makes any climate target look feasible, if the technology exists and money is there. But social and political change has its own pace and its own limits. Accounting for that gives us a much more realistic picture of what’s achievable, and by when”, says Jessica Jewell.
International recognition of the research
Lena Neij is Head of the Department of Environment and Energy Sciences, where Jessica conducts her research. Lena sees the award as significant international recognition of Jessica Jewell’s research.
“I’m delighted that Jessica’s research on the conditions needed for the energy transition has received this prestigious award. She is a brilliant researcher, and her work is highly relevant to some of the major challenges facing society today, says Lena Neij.
Jessica Jewell’s research is also part of Chalmers’ broad, interdisciplinary research on energy transitions.
“This is another example of Chalmers’ ability to foster interdisciplinary research that receives international recognition. Jessica Jewell is a leading researcher in the field of energy transitions,” says Tomas Kåberger, Director of the Chalmers Area of Advance Energy.
One of six Science Breakthroughs of the Year
The Falling Walls Foundation names Science Breakthroughs of the Year in six categories. In addition to Jessica Jewell, this year’s selected research includes work on autoimmune diseases, quantum technology and hydrogen fuel cells.
Jessica Jewell and the other awardees will present their research on stage on 9 November at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin. Previous Breakthrough speakers include 21 Nobel laureates.
Facts: Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year
The Falling Walls Science Summit was launched in Berlin in 2009, 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and is held annually in Berlin since then. Inspired by that historic event, the initiative asks the question “Which are the next walls to fall in science and society?” and highlights research with the potential to drive major scientific and societal breakthroughs. It brings together researchers and representatives from politics, industry and society from around the world. Science Breakthroughs of the Year is part of the programme and recognises research and projects in six categories.
Läs mer:
Jessica describes her research in a new interview on the Falling Walls web site: Breaking the Wall of Apolitical Climate Futures.
In a 2026 study, Jessica and Avi Jakhmola describe what they call a computational “time machine” – a model that outperforms existing forecasting methods by using AI to analyse historical growth patterns across different countries.: Computational “time machine” shows solar and wind on track for 2°C target but not for 1.5°C.
Earlier news about Jessica's research:
Major boost in carbon capture and storage essential to reach 2°C climate target (2024).
The phasing out of coal is too slow - the world is moving towards 3 degrees of warming (2023).
Contact:
- Full Professor, Physical Resource Theory, Environmental and Energy Sciences