UNSW 3MT

3 Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic competition that showcases UNSW’s innovative PhD candidates, who have just 3 minutes to explain their world-changing research and why it is important.
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Event photographer: Isabella Moore

Congratulations to the UNSW 2025 3 Minute Thesis Winners!
First Prize: Tiana Wang
The Kirby Institute – RNA Drugs: Our New Superhero Against HTLV-1
Tiana will progress through to the Asia-Pacific 3MT and Universitas 21 competitions
Runner Up: Rachel Gray
School of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications
Effective Target Detection in Practical Environments
Third Prize: Mohamed Hanafy Kotb Ibrahim
School of Risk & Actuarial Studies
Using Smart Driving Data and AI to Set Fair Car Insurance Premiums
Honourable Mention: Fei Wu
School of Psychology
Why We Eat Comfort Food
Honourable Mention: Natasha Naidu
School of Global & Public Law
The People of the Agreement
People's Choice Award: Kaining Shen
School of Built Environment
Giving Buildings a Voice to Reach Net Zero
The Founders Award: Marcus Miljak
School of Materials Science & Engineering
Extraction of Oxygen from Moon Rocks with X-ray Science

Event photographer: Isabella Moore

2025 UNSW 3MT Highlights
Read more about the 3MT finals
Watch all the presentations

2025 Judges
Alex Vynokur headshot
Alex Vynokur
Founder and CEO
Betashares
Dialog
Alex Vynokur headshot
Alex Vynokur headshot

Alex Vynokur

Founder and CEO
Betashares

The passion in the PhD candidates and their ability to translate complex topics into simple language is incredibly inspiring.

Freya Campbell headshot
Freya Campbell
Director Communications
ABC
Dialog
Freya Campbell headshot
Freya Campbell headshot

Freya Campbell

Director Communications
ABC
Andy Symington headshot
Andy Symington
Director
Human Rights and Social Impact, KPMG Australia
Dialog
Andy Symington headshot
Andy Symington headshot

Andy Symington

Director
Human Rights and Social Impact, KPMG Australia

Tonight’s standard was sky high with representatives from all faculties.  However, to be able to present to non-discipline people is so valuable and fosters collaboration, fosters investment and fosters impact.  

Penny Martens headshot
Professor Penny Martens
Deputy Dean of Graduate Research
UNSW Sydney
Dialog
Penny Martens headshot
Penny Martens headshot

Professor Penny Martens

Deputy Dean of Graduate Research
UNSW Sydney

The quality of this year’s candidates was amazing!  They’re having such great impact, and can communicate that impact so fluently and so clearly that everybody in the audience could understand.  I was just blown away by the quality of this year’s event.

VC Atilla Brungs headshot
Professor Attila Brungs
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President
Dialog
VC Atilla Brungs headshot
VC Atilla Brungs headshot

Professor Attila Brungs

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President

Watch all 3MT talks here

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