Meet the 3MT 2021 Finalists
This year’s 3 Minute Thesis competition was huge, with 72 competitors taking part from all four graduate schools. Before the final on 24th March, we asked our 2021 Finalists some quickfire questions about their experience of this year’s competition, and why you should consider taking part next year…
Sara Bartlome, MVLS
Eat. Sleep. Divide. Repeat.
(Twitter: @sbartlome1)
Why did you decide to enter 3MT this year?
It’s a fantastic opportunity to practice telling everyone who isn’t in my field why my PhD is exciting. Quite often my friends and family think that what I do is too difficult for them to understand and I wanted to show them that its not.
What was your favourite thing about the heats?
The encouragement from the other participants and the welcoming hosts made it a really enjoyable experience.
Why should people tune in for the final?
My experience from the heats taught me that you can easily learn one new thing from every talk; quite often something you may have thought you would never be able to wrap your head around!
What would you say to PGRs who are thinking about entering next year?
It’s a great excuse to sit down and think about your research in a different way. I believe it will help everyone who enters to find new motivation for their research.
Rita Ibrahim, MVLS
Diet and genes: one size does not fit all
(Instagram: @rita.i9)
Why did you decide to enter 3MT this year?
As a first year PhD student, I felt a little overwhelmed with all the knowledge I acquired in the first few months. I saw the 3MT competition as an opportunity to organise my ideas and break down any complex concepts into simple explanations. I also saw it as a chance to practice science communication with a wide variety of audiences and communicate the impact of my research.
What was your favourite thing about the heats?
It is so hard to choose one thing. I enjoyed listening to my peers' talks and I was fascinated by all their topics. I found myself saying multiple times: "that is such a great topic!!! I want to know more". I also absolutely loved the enthusiasm after every talk, where we all added to the chat what we liked about the presentation and the topic. It is such a supportive environment. Last but not least, the DANCE breaks! The amazing organisers Charlie and Joanna picked some classic tunes!
Why should people tune in for the final?
The question is: why wouldn't you!! It will be exciting, competitive, and captivating. The talks in the final range from Geology to Genetics and they have all been designed in a way to grab your attention and make you interested in the project. This final is an opportunity for everyone to learn things outside their area of expertise and will open your eyes to areas of research that you never thought of before.
What would you say to PGRs who are thinking about entering next year?
You will not regret doing it, I promise!! I was a little nervous while signing up however after attending the heats I realised how friendly, supportive, and uplifting the environment was. All the other students genuinely show so much excitement towards your work, which personally boosted my confidence. This competition has been the highlight of my 1st year and I totally encourage you to do it. Sometimes we forget the impact our research will eventually have, and this competition is a great reminder.
Kenechi Omeke, CoSE
Saving Nemo: data-driven ocean rescue
(Twitter: @kenechi_omeke, Instagram: @kaycee_omeke)
Why did you decide to enter 3MT this year?
I am passionate about technology and public engagement and I want to be able to explain my research in such a way that my family and friends can understand what I am doing.
What was your favourite thing about the heats?
The passion and energy of the presenters. Everyone is working on really cool stuff and is clearly excited about their research.
Why should people tune in for the final?
To have their minds blown by awesome research - and the incredible people doing it!
What would you say to PGRs who are thinking about entering next year?
Just do it! I was reluctant to take part at first, worrying that my accent might make it hard for people to understand me (in 3 minutes!). But I am glad I took part - it has given me new perspectives for my research. And the audience is super-supportive!
Kate Haining, MVLS
Boosting brain power through cognitive training
(Twitter: @K8Plate, Instagram: @k8plate)
Why did you decide to enter 3MT this year?
Since I first heard about the 3MT competition, I've been eager to give it a go myself. I wondered if it was really possible to condense my research into an engaging 3 minute talk, suitable for a non-specialist audience. I'm now in the final year of my PhD and I certainly didn't want the opportunity to pass me by.
What was your favourite thing about the heats?
It was impressive to hear about the incredible and varied research being undertaken across the University. My fellow competitors, the judges and the host were all extremely supportive which created a really friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
Why should people tune in for the final?
If the heats are anything to go by, the final is going to be a fast-paced extravaganza of engaging speakers showcasing their outstanding research.
What would you say to PGRs who are thinking about entering next year?
Go for it and take on the challenge! It's a short and snappy way to practice science communication and it's certainly worthwhile to step outside your own research bubble from time to time. You'll make your research more accessible to a wider audience and make new connections.
Desi Arabadzhiyska, MVLS
How does your brain decide who to trust?
(Twitter: @Desislava_Ar)
Why did you decide to enter 3MT this year?
I have always been afraid of public speaking, so I thought that this might be a good opportunity to desensitize myself to giving talks. Besides, the event always seems like loads of fun.
What was your favourite thing about the heats?
Getting to hear about the fantastic research that's being done at UofG in an accessible and interesting way.
Why should people tune in for the final?
You'll get to hear some really good talks by people who are really enthusiastic about their research.
What would you say to PGRs who are thinking about entering next year?
It's far less scary than you might think!
Tor-Ivar Krogsæter, Arts
‘One sins in the mind, not the body’: the emergence of suicidal shame
(Twitter: @cannedman)
Why did you decide to enter 3MT this year?
It was an exciting way for me to get involved in academic life as early as possible. Also, my ultimate goal is to engage the public, so it only made sense for me to take part in a competition such as this and practice disseminating my research.
What was your favourite thing about the heats?
The support from Charlie (the host).
Why should people tune in for the final?
You’ll get a chance to see what new research is being done at UofG by some very enthusiastic budding researchers.
What would you say to PGRs who are thinking about entering next year?
Go for it! The process of finding the very essence of my research turned out to be very useful – it gave me a much clearer understanding of what it is I need to do.
Becky Cummings, CoSE
Argon through the looking glass
(Twitter: @becky_rbc)
Why did you decide to enter 3MT this year?
I know someone who entered it a few years ago and went along to the final then. I thought it looked like fun and a good challenge.
What was your favourite thing about the heats?
Hearing all the different research going on at UofG, and how friendly and supportive everyone was in the chat after each presentation.
Why should people tune in for the final?
To get an idea of the range of research going on at the University, all presented in a very engaging manner.
What would you say to PGRs who are thinking about entering next year?
It is a really good way to work out how to distill your research for a lay audience, and public speaking practice is always good for PGRs, especially in such a supportive environment!
Faye Davies, CoSE
Using achondrite meteorites to explore lost worlds
(Twitter: @FayeADavies, Instagram: @davies_faye)
Why did you decide to enter 3MT this year?
With my course only being 12 months I wanted to take up as many opportunities as possible that are available to PGRs and make the most of my time at the university- there is so much on offer. Additionally, I wanted an opportunity to share my research and improve my presentation skills.
What was your favourite thing about the heats?
Getting to hear so many great research projects from across UofG and being able to learn so much in the space of an hour.
Why should people tune in for the final?
It will be super interesting getting to hear all the talks, and it will give you the chance to feel more involved in the wider UofG community in the online world.
What would you say to PGRs who are thinking about entering next year?
Do it!! Don't think twice about getting involved, it is a fun and different way to share your research with the wider university community. You get to know other PGRs as well as really getting to know your own project in a new way, gaining confidence when talking about it to others. There really are no negatives to getting involved.
Victor Ochoa-Gutierrez, CoSE
Race bias in healthcare and its solution
(Twitter: @VictorJalil, Instagram: @VictorJalil)
Why did you decide to enter 3MT this year?
Friends of mine encouraged me to participate; saying that it could be a great experience for me, since I’m towards the end of my PhD and that my research topic could resonate with many people.
What was your favourite thing about the heats?
Sharing my experience with my supervisor, postdocs and PhD colleagues, getting involved in the chat and having fun while improving my communications skills.
Why should people tune in for the final?
You will learn about the world class research that is currently happening at UofG, straight from this new generation of researchers.
What would you say to PGRs who are thinking about entering next year?
Get out of your comfort zone and be ready to make mistakes- at the end you will be improving your skills day by day. We’re the future of science communication afterall!
Issa Mshani, MVLS
Blood shadow and artificial intelligence for malaria parasite detection
(Twitter: @IssaMshani1, Instagram: @mshaniology3391)
Why did you decide to enter 3MT this year?
Working as a research scientist requires collecting necessary skills such as experimental design, data management & analysis, writing, and presentation/communication skills. I took part in 3MT to learn and practice the best way of communicating complex topics in a simple way that could be understandable to both experts and non-experts.
What was your favourite thing about the heats?
All the participants were energetic, enthusiastic, and well prepared. It was amazing when the participants managed to explain the important details of their topics within three minutes. There were some complicated topics, but the participants managed to explain them all in a really interesting way.
Why should people tune in for the final?
If you have never understood how artificial intelligence works, please tune in and I promise you within three minutes of my talk you will capture all important concepts!
What would you say to PGRs who are thinking about entering next year?
I highly recommend to all PGRs to join 3MT next year. Public speaking and communication are significant skills for a researcher; not only in sharing your findings with experts but also with non-experts. 3MT is one of the best platforms to practice and build confidence speaking in front of a large audience.
