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The Three Minute Thesis competition has become highly popular at UWS. Winners of divisional and institutional competitions proceed to compete in the University-wide competition, and the winner of that level proceeds to Trans-Tasman level.
Tracey Steinrucken Wins The HIE Three Minute Thesis Competition
12 July 2013
Winner of the divisional Three Minute Thesis, Tracey Steinrucken
In the space of just a few years, the Three Minute Thesis competition has become a popular and fascinating snapshot of the varied and diverse topics being undertaken by PhD students at the University of Western Sydney.
Presenting students face the challenge of condensing their detailed and intricate work down into just three minutes, with an absolute timeout imposed. For added effect, many presenters have the clock ticking on the screen behind them, adding to the nerves and adrenalin of the experience.
Almost without fail, however, students and the audience come away inspired, excited and energised by the experience.
This may lead to commercialised biocontrol products that we can actively use to control woody weeds - Tracey Steinrucken
Tracey's presentation focused on the curious issue of dieback in Parkinsonia as part of her project working with the CSIRO and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) in Brisbane. Tracey explained that, although dieback in a weed might not be seen as a problem, it could present an opportunity to find biological controls that might also control not just Parkinsonia but perhaps also Mimosa and other invasive woody weeds.
"If we can find out what causes dieback in Parkinsonia, it may lead to commercialised biocontrol products that we can actively use", explains Tracey.
"Parkinsonia is a big problem in Australia as it covers around 1 million hectares of land and forms impenetrable, spiny thickets over huge areas. It is so dense that stock get lost and it means reduced grazing land."
Other presentations of note include Jessica Mowle and Tim Sutton. Jessica presented her thesis titled 'Unique Partners For a Unique Tree', outlining the unique microbial environment that has allowed the Wollemi Pine to survive almost unchanged for millions of years. Jessica's work is contributing to our understanding of the kinds of soil environments that need to be fostered to enable Wollemi Pines to thrive within conservation settings.
Third place went to Tim Sutton, who outlined his thesis titled 'Is Sharing Really Caring? Local adaptation and its implications for a keystone mutualism'. Tim's work explores the very specific interaction between figs, fig wasps that pollinate fig flowers and the tiny parasitic wasps that parasitise fig wasps. This work is building our understanding of how species have co-evolved and has implications for understanding how plants and ecosystems develop over time.
Runner-up winners Tim Sutton (left), Dr Ben Moore and Jessica Mowle (right)
"The quality and breadth of these Three Minute Theses had everyone in the audience captivated", says Professor Ian Anderson, Director of the Hawkesbury Institute.
"In just three minutes, the students presented an accessible, complete overview of the challenges, methods and outcomes of each of their projects, always with style, creativity and humour", Ian says.
More information on the Three Minute Thesis at UWS is available.
