International 3MT competition popularises scientific research
Three Minute Thesis (3MT), which is organised by Tampere University for the second time now, is an academic competition where doctoral candidates have three minutes to present their dissertation topic to the general public as clearly and interestingly as possible. The aim is to communicate research and its results and significance in a manner that enables non-experts to understand what it is all about.
“A researcher who speaks skilfully and clearly about his or her research can reach audiences and partners outside the academic community more easily,” emphasises Matias Nurminen, Senior Specialist in Tampere University’s Innovation Culture development programme who is coordinating the competition.
Good communication skills increase awareness of research
The 3MT final will be held as part of the Tiedon valoa event on Saturday, January 29, 2021. The finalists will perform live at Tampere Hall, and the audience can watch the performances online. The language of the competition is English.
Five researchers from various faculties at Tampere University made their way to the finals. Ropafadzo Mzezewa and Paula Puistola from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Prabudeva Ramu from the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Yoshito Mizukawa from the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, and Yelyzaveta Glybchenko from the Faculty of Management and Business will perform in the finals. The finalists and their research topics are presented at the end of this main page news item.
Tampere University’s experts from the Doctoral School and Research and Innovation Services have coached the competitors.
”Doctoral researchers have embraced different formats and genres of communicating about their research. They understand how important it is to have community involvement in research consumption ¬–that’s research impact and societal interaction. Plus it helps massively in crystalizing what is the essence of the doctoral dissertation,” praises Ira Virtanen, the Specialist from the Doctoral School who has coached the finalists.
The members of jury of the 3MT competition in Tampere are Professor of Communication Sciences Pekka Isotalus from Tampere University, Vice-president of Innovation and Venturing Anne Jalkala from Fortum as well as José Frantz, who is the Deputy Vice Chancellor responsible of research and innovation at University of the Western Cape. The winner of the Tampere competition will receive a travel grant.
The 3MT competition was founded by the Australian University of Queensland (UQ) and it is now held in over 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide. In Finland, the University of Turku has organised the 3MT competition since 2017.
The virtual event takes place on Saturday 29rd of January starting at 14 o'clock. It can be followed without registration. The remote connection link will be updated on the event site. The remote connection link will be updated to the programme.
Contact person
Matias Nurminen
Project Manager
Matias Nurminen
Paula Puistola, MET: The world we see is 3D. So must our artificial tissues be.
Paula Puistola is a doctoral student in Eye group in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology. Her thesis focuses on 3D bioprinting human stem cell derived cornea. In the future, the goal is to fabricate whole human corneas to help patients suffering from corneal blindness.
Prabudeva Ramu, ENS: The future with solar gadgets.
Prabudeva Ramu is a doctoral researcher at Optoelectronics Research Centre, Photonics laboratory at the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Tampere University. Ramu’s research focuses on process development of high efficiency multi-junction solar cells. These solar cells are manufactured in thin-film configuration and new functionality such as flexibility. This approach opens new possibilities for wide range of applications like solar gadgets and any portable electronic systems including satellites. The advanced solar cell technology promises sustainable energy solutions for the future.
Ropafadzo Mzezewa, MET: How to model epilepsy outside the brain?
Ropafadzo Mzezewa works as a doctoral researcher in Neuro Group at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology at Tampere University. Her research is focused on developing novel platforms to model seizure-like activity using Human pluripotent stem cell derived neurons, integrated with microelectrode array technology. These in vitro human models aid as preclinical tools in studying different biological and gene specific pathologies known to contribute to epilepsy.
Yelyzaveta Glybchenko, MAB: Imaginary Reconstitution of Security: Digital Art for Peace.
Lisa Glybchenko is a full-time PhD researcher in International Relations, working on her project “Visual Peacetech: Digital Visual Images as Security-Building Tools”. Lisa is interested in both digital and visual qualities of images and is researching the ways in which thoughtfully designed participatory image-transformations could support peace processes. In her research, Lisa draws on her experience in grassroots peacebuilding – in particular a visual art-for-peace project “Color Up Peace” she started in 2016.
Yoshito Mizukawa, ITC: Vibration Suppression and Energy Harvesting for Battery-free Devices.
Yoshito Mizukawa works as a doctoral researcher at the Electromechanics Research Group at the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences at Tampere University. Mizukawa’s research focuses on the modeling and optimization of magnetostrictive energy harvesters based on energy efficiency and vibration suppression performance. These devices can be used as both a vibration suppression device and a power source for electrical devices.
