Succinct science is key

The ability to communicate science concisely and in a user-friendly manner to a non-specialist audience is a key skill for any scientist, especially those beginning their research career, and three Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC PhD students have shown off their communications skills by making it to their three minute thesis university finals.

With an 80,000 word thesis estimated to take nine hours to present, the three minute thesis completion challenges PhD candidates to effectively explain their research in just 180 seconds. 

Emma Phillips (Risk Frontiers, Macquarie University), Rachael Quill (University of NSW Canberra) and Caroline Wenger (The Australian National University) each progressed through their school and faculty three minute thesis competitions to showcase their CRC science at their university finals.

Importantly, along with other CRC PhD students, each had received speaker training from the CRC, and had presented their three minute thesis at the annual Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and AFAC conference in early September.

“I don't think I would have had the confidence to do the Macquarie University 3MT competition if I had not presented in a similar format at the CRC and AFAC conference,” said Emma.

“The training from the CRC really helped me create a good three minute script. I won the Faculty of Science and Engineering heat, was voted People’s Choice winner, and made it all the way to the Macquarie University 3MT finals.

“I didn't place in the finals, but it was a great experience, and the first time I have given a talk with no notes,” said Emma.

“The 3MT is something that I thought I would never put my hand up to do. I am glad that I did it and I think it should be compulsory for all PhD students to undertake at least once during their candidature.”

Emma Phillips presenting her 3MT. Photo by Macquarie University

The important skill of explaining research clearly was also a key point for Rachael.

“The act of condensing a whole PhD project into three minutes was extremely valuable at the half way stage of my PhD,” Rachael said.

“It was great to take that huge step back from the details of data or analysis and focus on the key issues I am trying to solve, and consider the broader impacts of my work. It has helped me to regain the initial enthusiasm I had for my project at the beginning and build momentum going into my third year. I can almost see some light at the end of the tunnel now!

“It was also a chance to socialise and network with students and academics with whom I may not have met otherwise, as well as perhaps consider future research pathways or collaborations. I know of previous contestants and winners who use their 3MT video on their resumes, and have developed new contacts by the accessibility of their work.

“It was tiring at times, but I think it was all worth it.”

Caroline echoes similar benefits to both Emma and Rachael, from the broader experience factor, to the many unexpected opportunities of taking part in a 3MT.

“I was motivated to give more exposure to my research,” Caroline said.  

“I remember being told about someone in a previous competition who didn’t win but had her speech uploaded on the internet, which led to a job offer from a well-known firm in her field. One of the other finalists in my group was asked if he would agree to do a documentary film of his work.

“The 3MT is a fantastic experience and potentially opens up unexpected opportunities,” she said.

To help others undertake a 3MT, Caroline has documented her thoughts, along with step by step hints, in a handy guide to help other students take the plunge. Access Caroline’s ‘Why you should do a three minute thesis presentation’ here.

Caroline feels that the 3MT has given her the confidence to perform on the big stage.

“I feel I’ve increased my ability and confidence to give an engaging presentation relying not only on a good script, but also using movement and gestures. The 3MT has given me the knowledge that if I need to, I can get up and perform to a crowd of around 1000 people,” she said.

Caroline is exploring the ability of Australia’s flood policies able to cope with climate change. Her PhD is titled ‘Flood management in a changing climate: integrating effective approaches’. 

Emma’s PhD is developing a better understanding of infrastructure and critical services network behaviour, interconnectedness and exposure to potential natural hazards, and is titled ‘Network disruptions during long-duration natural hazard events’.

Rachael is investigating wind characteristics over complex terrain to improve bushfire modelling, and her PhD is titled ‘Spatial-statistical Characterisation of Wind Fields’. Watch her 3MT below.