A research student from the University of Queensland has won the Universitas 21 Three Minute Thesis competition for discussing his work on a treatment that can heal child burns victims three days faster than conventional antimicrobial dressings.
Cody Frear’s thesis focuses on a vacuum treatment which removes rogue cells and promotes growth of new cells and blood vessels.
Entrants were challenged to present their thesis to a non-specialist audience with a three minute video, in a bid to win a top prize of $2,500.
“The calibre of each and every presentation was superb”
“I was thrilled and not a little shocked to learn that I had won. The calibre of each and every presentation was superb, so it was an honour even to be placed in the same category as the other finalists,” Frear said.
“After spending a good chunk of my life recruiting patients, collecting data, and stumbling my way through statistics, it has been phenomenally rewarding to see this work resonate with so many people.”
The competition was judged by a panel of education industry professionals including associate professor Caroline Daley from the University of Auckland and The PIE’s deputy editor Kerrie Kennedy.
“Cody Frear’s presentation was a perfect example of what the 3MT is all about. Incredibly important research on paediatric burns was explained to the judges, and the general audience, in an engaging, lively and at times humorous way,” said Daley.
Kennedy praised the overall calibre of entries to the competition.
“It is encouraging to know that there is an abundance of fascinating and potentially vital research being conducted by students of various backgrounds and disciplines all around the globe,” she said.
Second place was given to Emma Elliott from the University of Glasgow’s Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, whose research addresses how we assess memory and thinking problems after a stroke.
The People’s Choice Award was won by Chidinma Raymond from the University of Nottingham’s School of Life Sciences. Raymond’s research is designing new detection tests to combat the Hepatitis B virus.
