Eight of The University of Queensland’s top research students will have three minutes each to explain their work to the public during a contest at the University’s St Lucia campus on Tuesday 17 September.
The competitors won their faculty, Institute and wildcard finals to earn their places in the UQ Three Minute Thesis (3MT) final.
Developed by the UQ Graduate School in 2008, 3MT challenges research higher degree students to communicate the significance of their projects to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes.
Now in its sixth year, 3MT’s popularity has spread internationally and has been adopted in more than 110 universities across 13 countries.
The winner of the 3MT UQ final will be awarded a $5000 travel grant and will represent UQ at the Trans-Tasman final hosted by the University of Western Sydney on 18 October.
The Trans-Tasman final attracts competitors from more than 40 universities across Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the South Pacific.
UQ Graduate School Dean Professor Alastair McEwan said 3MT was designed to develop skills that would give students an important career advantage once they completed their studies.
“UQ provides world-class experts and facilities to ensure successful project outcomes, but it is also important to develop the transferable skills that employers are searching for,” Professor McEwan said.
“It is a reality that many research higher degree students will need to communicate their ideas and results to people who may not necessarily have expertise in their field, but will still control funding and other decisions.
“3MT develops the ability of students to communicate the significance and outcomes of a project in a short space of time.”
The eight competitors for the 3MT UQ final are:
• Haiyan Liang
(School of Languages & Comparative Cultural Studies, Faculty of Arts)
• Michael Thai
(School of Psychology, Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences)
• Karishma Mody
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation (QAAFI), representing UQ’s Institutes
• Emil Juvan
School of Tourism, Faculty Business, Economics & Law
• Anthony Kung
School of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture & IT
• Adam Culvenor
School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences
• Sarah Sweet
School of Mathematics and Physics, Faculty of Science
• Timothy Brennan
Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
More information on 3MT is available here.
The event is supported by Alumni Friends, the Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education, The Co-op and Bluestar Go.
Media: Carly Stokes, UQ Graduate SchoolRHD engagement and development team, (07) 3346 0510 or 3mt@uq.edu.au
