Managing water resources from space, understanding the cognitive impacts of stress, manifestations of the self in gothic horror, and whether metadata retention is a breach of privacy, are just some of the concepts battling it out for top UNSW Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) honours at a free public event on Thursday 8 September.

Twenty-three PhD candidates from across the University will give a bite-sized, three minute pitch 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,” Professor Poole-Warren says.

The candidates’ research explores new frontiers in medicine, business, science, law, engineering, the built environment, social sciences and the arts with fresh insights into curing cancer, giving a voice to victims of environmental crime, teaching children with ADHD and quantum computing.

The winner will receive a $3,000 cash prize; the runner-up $1,500; third prize $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 represent UNSW at the Asia Pacific competition at the University of Queensland as well as the international Universitas 21 final – a virtual event with judges watching video presentations.

This year’s 3MT will be judged by CEO of UNSW Press Kathy Bail, acclaimed Australian photographer William Yang, Science and Technology editor of The Conversation Tim Dean and Science, Health and Medicine curator at the Powerhouse Museum Tilly Boleyn.  

What: Three-Minute Thesis Competition

When: 4.30-7.30pm, 8 September 2016 – free public event register here

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

For a full list of thesis topics contact Miriam Greenbaum, UNSW Graduate Research School, 9385 4032, m.greenbaum@unsw.edu.au