3 Minute Thesis - 2022 finalists

My name’s Demi and I’ve just started the second year of my PhD. My research focusses on a understanding the function of a protein that we think is really important for maintaining a healthy pregnancy, with the hope that it will one day lead to new therapeutic strategies for pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia. Participating in the 3MT has been such a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it. When people used to ask me “so what’s your research about?” I would stumble through a confusing explanation as I watched them quickly lose interest. Now, I can explain my research in a much more engaging and understandable way, which is such an important skill as a scientist. It has also been fantastic learning about all the amazing research being conducted at Flinders. Overall, such a worthwhile and enjoyable experience!

My name is Alison Nuske. I am currently in my final year of my PhD candidature exploring the experiences of transition to, and first year of university for autistic students. This is my second time participating in the 3MT as I have been completing my PhD studies part-time. The 3MT has been a fantastic opportunity for me to not only develop my confidence and ability to present my research, but has also provided me with the perfect chance to pause and reflect on my research from a broader perspective. This is something that is often difficult to do when you spend so much of your time focused on the detail of your research. I also really love the opportunity the 3MT provides us to not only hear about other students’ research, but to support each other in developing our research dissemination skills. The 3MT has been such a valuable experience in my candidacy and I highly recommend it to anyone undertaking their PhD candidature!!

My name is Alycia, and I am in my 3rd year of my PhD candidature in Clinical Psychology. My research centres on the development of delusions in clinical disorders such as schizophrenia, with a particular focus on the psychological processes underlying feelings of conviction. My future will likely involve working closely within the fields of both scientific research and clinical practice, meaning that the ability to effectively communicate research and ideas across both worlds will be an essential skill in my career.

The 3MT has been invaluable in helping me develop my skills in this area, as well as enabling me to gain a solid understanding of my research and its implications thus far. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to take a step back and to remember the importance and value behind my research, as well as to be able to share it with friends and colleagues. The skills I have gained through this process will prove invaluable in my future work with clients in clinical practice, and serve me well in my endeavours to communicate scientific research effectively in the wider community.

My name is Anita Lymn. I am a senior cardiac nurse in my third year of my clinical doctorate. My PHD is about building excellence by creating a culture between doctors and nurses that work together to deliver high quality patient care. This 3MT explains my pilot study that made structural changes to the ward round, to improve situational awareness amongst the nurses and doctors so that efficient decision making influenced the timely delivery of patient care. A nurse in the room made a positive difference to medication delays and other key clinical activities.

I went into this competition to improve my presentation skills, learn how to focus on my research and deliver a succinct explanation of my work. The 3MT has given me the opportunity, to express my passion for patient care, and disseminate the vital role nurses have in advocating for their patients, and ensuring we maintain high quality and safety standards.

My PhD focuses on the global need for a Strategic Response Framework in the construction industry in times of crisis. I am an Australian Chartered Accountant with a strong passion for applied research which looks to help industry practitioners in strategically dealing with unpredictable events coming from “leftfield”. The Australian Construction Industry is experiencing such a crisis right now and I am fortunate to be working in partnership with South Australian construction company, G-Force Building and Consultants, as part of this research.

The 3MT is an excellent opportunity to communicate not only the importance of my research but also to understand the powerful impact of research being undertaken right across Flinders University. I have enjoyed and am extremely grateful for this opportunity and the coaching support that the University has provided as part of the competition.

My name is Rebecca Carpenter-Mew and I am in the final year of my PhD candidature. My research explores the ways in which literary fiction has problems with its depiction of older women. I have a vested interest because I am one and was aghast at the picture of ageing that lay ahead of me. I discovered some authors reinscribe pejorative stereotypes through narrative voice, plot endings, conflating declining spaces with an ageing body and character construction through clothing. These literary traps reveal embedded ageist attitudes; they go undetected but perpetuate narrow cliches. 

Distilling research into three minutes for a general audience is a challenge however there is a positive domino effect that extends further than the competition. My ‘flag in the sand’ has been clarified which in turn has refined the overarching story thread of my thesis. I have been amazed at how many times I’ve used sentences and phrases from my three-minute speech in general conversation, in online meetings and at dinner parties. The 3MT process helps bridge the gap between being so deeply immersed in academic scholarship and making my study accessible to the wider world. The opportunity to connect with other postgrads from different colleges and disciplines in the workshops have been valuable because we got to test and trial ideas in a supportive environment. Perhaps best of all, after listening to my 3MT, my husband commented it was the first time he actually understood the essence of what I’m doing!