Faculty of Science and Engineering's inaugural 3 Minute Thesis competition

The Faculty of Science and Engineering recently held the final of its inaugural Three Minute Thesis (3MT™) competition at City Campus.

Twelve of the Faculty’s higher degree research students accepted the challenge to present their work to a non-specialist audience in three minutes, using only one slide. They were allowed only to speak (no singing or rapping!) and the slide had to have no animations.

The competition was judged by a panel; Dr Ruth Shiner, Associate Dean Academic, Dr Phylomena Badsey, Faculty Research Administrator and Professor Patrick Ball, chaired by organiser Dr Hana Morrissey, Reader in Clinical Pharmacy.

Nine contestants presented in person and three students presented by Skype™; Brian Lynden Johnston, Samaira Kauser, Amardeep Singh, Morgan Hughes, Haddy Jallow, Sukhtaj Singh, Ngoka, Chukwuka Marcellinus, Nora Mohamed Zaid, Fatimah Buba, Olutayo Arikawe, Nasreem Bibi and Sewwandi Subasinghe).

The prizes were Amazon Vouchers, £150 for the winner, £50 for second place and £50 for the audiences' choice.

The standard was extremely high with projects from all the research areas of the Faculty giving the judges a real challenge in choosing the winners, but after an interesting and stimulating morning and careful deliberation the decision was:

First Prize: Hewa Walpole Amila Sewwandi Subasinghe who presented her work on: 'Development and validation of a country-specific prediction tool to screen postmenopausal women for osteoporosis or high fracture risk'.

Second Prize: Brian Linden Johnston who presented his work on 'Fantastic Bioplastic'.

People’s Choice: Morgan Hughes who presented on: 'Tough Little Bats on the Urban Fringe'.

The Faculty sends its warmest congratulations to all who took part for the very high standards demonstrated in this competition. Well done everyone!