
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.
Our three judges, internationally acclaimed Physician-Scientist Dr Sonu Bhaskar, innovator and strategist Zina Kaye, and UNSW’s Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs, had the difficult task in awarding a number of prizes on the night:
Audience members also had the chance to vote for their preferred presentation. The People’s Choice Award went to Junjun Muhamad Ramdani, Is Self-Reflection Enough?
A final prize was awarded by UNSW Gateway Program high school participants for the presentation that resonated best with them. This year’s winner was Merryn Baker, awarded by students from Red Bend Catholic College, Forbes NSW.
For the Three Minute Thesis Competition we chose Breath Analysis for Early Disease Detection. In this thesis, [Merryn] communicated her research in an understandable manner, had a clear statement of solution and application of how it can be applied out in the real world and had clearly presented evidence. The problem was presented in an understandable way that made it easy for us to understand and it was well presented.
What an exciting time for research in Australia. So many amazing thesis projects. The passion of our researchers to provide innovative responses to societal challenges shows me that we are in the hands of competent and thoughtful future leaders.
It’s always a privilege to hear tomorrow’s intellectual talent. The science is there, and so is the passion. But there is also the argument, WHY this is important! From the politics of energy to the understanding of the sense of touch, from veggies on verges, to the handling of E-waste.