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A patch to repair your heart, eco-friendly food packaging, the challenges of teaching children with ADHD, and the debate between criminal responsibility and free will, are just some of the concepts battling it out for top Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) honours at a free public event on Wednesday 23 September.

A record 24 PhD candidates from across the University will pitch a bite-sized, three-minute summary of their research to a panel of judges for a cash prize and the honour of representing UNSW at the 3MT Trans-Tasman final.

The competition highlights some of UNSW’s most exciting doctoral research and is an event not to be missed, says Professor Laura Poole-Warren, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Training) and Dean of Graduate Research.

“This is our largest event yet, and provides a wonderful way for the general public to hear about the terrific research that is happening at UNSW,” said Professor Poole-Warren.

The candidates’ research explores new frontiers in medicine, business, science, law, engineering, the built environment, social sciences and the arts with fresh insights into better housing design for the elderly, sanitation solutions for developing countries, cognitive criticism and moral philosophy in literature, and understanding bushfires using statistics.

The winner will receive a $3,000 cash prize; the runner-up $1,500 and the recipient of People’s Choice award, as determined by the audience, will receive $1,000. An additional $500 has been set aside for the Aspire prize awarded by school students.

The overall winner will go on to represent UNSW at the Trans-Tasman competition at the University of Queensland as well as the international U21 final – a virtual event with judges watching video presentations.

Presentations will be judged by Dean of Arts & Social Sciences Eileen Baldry, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Brian Boyle, ABC science communicators Robyn Williams and Wendy Zuckermann,  and Macquarie Dictionary Editor Susan Butler.

What: Three-Minute Thesis Competition

When: 4.30-7.30pm, 23 September 2015 – free public event

Where: Leighton Hall, John Niland Scientia Building, Kensington campus

RSVP here.