Cooling cities through vegetation, gender equality in Australian schools, saving endangered languages, multiple identities in times of transition, and precision medicine approaches to psychoactive drugs are just five of the concepts battling it out for top Three Minute Thesis (3MT) honours at a free public event on Wednesday 13 September.

Twenty-two PhD candidates from across UNSW Sydney 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 Asia Pacific 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 event provides a wonderful way for the general public to hear about the terrific research that is happening at UNSW.” 

The candidates’ research explores new frontiers in medicine, business, science, law, engineering, the built environment, and the social sciences with fresh insights into combatting climate change, drug control in sport, disability-inclusive development planning, and autonomous systems planning.

The winner receives a $3,000 cash prize, the runner-up gets $1,500 and third prize is $500. The recipient of the 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 the Sydney Festival’s Head of Programming Fiona Winning, Producer of Radio National’s The Science Show David Fisher, award-winning journalist and Digital Storytelling editor of The Conversation Sunanda Creagh, Eureka Prize Winner, ARC Future Fellow and UNSW alumnus Matthew Hill, and UNSW Scientia Fellow and NHMRC Research Fellow Simon Rosenbaum.

For a full list of thesis topics contact Bianca Azar, UNSW Graduate Research School, b.azar@unsw.edu.au.

What: Three Minute Thesis Competition

When: 13 September, 4.30-7.30pm

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

Registration: Event is free, register here