Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) University Final was a truly unforgettable event - a celebration of research, creativity, and the power of storytelling. Developed by the University of Queensland, Australia, 3MT® challenges doctoral researchers to present their thesis and its impact in just three minutes, using only one static slide, and for a non-specialist audience.

Winners

Matthew Putland - University 3MT® Champion

After a series of powerful and engaging presentations, Matthew Putland was crowned the University 3MT® Champion. He impressed the judges with his clarity, structure, and audience connection while delivering his presentation titled: ’Running Wild: The Benefits of Green Exercise’. Matthew represented Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences.

Matthew Putland receiving the winner's certificate
Matthew Putland - University 3MT® Champion

Nirosha Ushettige - Runner-Up & People’s Choice Award

Nirosha Ushettige was awarded Runner-Up and also received the People’s Choice Award, reflecting both the judges’ recognition and the audience’s enthusiastic support for her impactful talk titled: ‘Spray, Set, Heal: A low carbon solution for repair industry’. Nirosha represented Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering.

Nirosha Ushettige receiving a certificate
Nirosha Ushettige - Runner-Up & People’s Choice Award

3MT® finalists

This year, over 90 doctoral researchers took part in the School-level heats, showcasing an incredible breadth of talent and passion across disciplines. From this impressive pool, just nine finalists emerged to compete in the prestigious University Final:

  • Siyuan Li (Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering)
    How to make Autonomous Vehicles decide like a Human Driver?’
  • Nirosha Ushettige (Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering), 
    ‘Spray, Set, Heal: A low carbon solution for repair industry’ 
  • Bahar Moraligi (Business), 
    ‘Don’t Judge a Leader by Their Reluctance’ 
  • Ben Keyser, (Design and Creative Arts),
    ‘Barriers to repair: Exploring social-economic, accessibility and awareness factors to engagement with product repair in a throw-away culture’  
  • Aisy Irwan (Loughborough University London) , 
    ‘Behind Every Smart Tool Is a Smarter Human’ 
  • Henry Priestley (Science),
    Computational Modelling and Testing of Inverse Compton Scattering Sources for Medical Applications
  • Lucy Brennan (Social Sciences and Humanities),
    Drawing Feminism Ulysses’ 
  • Matthew Putland (Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences), 
    Running Wild: The Benefits of Green Exercise
  • Shuxin Meng (Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering),
    Knitting Biomechanics into Clothing: A New Technology for Universal Healthcare’ 

Competition

The atmosphere on the day was nothing short of electric. The room buzzed with anticipation and excitement, and the support from the audience was overwhelming. Cheers, ‘drum-rolls’ applause, and heartfelt encouragement filled the space, creating a powerful sense of community and celebration. Every finalist was met with thunderous support, making it clear that this was more than a competition - it was a moment of shared pride and admiration for the dedication and brilliance of our researchers. 

3MT® judging criteria & panel

Our expert judging panel: Professor Nick Jennings, Professor Steve Christie, Ffyona Baker, and Dr Joanne Jennings - had the incredibly tough task of selecting a winner. They evaluated each presentation based on the official 3MT® judging criteria, which focus on:

  • comprehension,
  • content,
  • engagement,
  • and communication. 

 

Summer showcase 2025 presentation. The image shows the audience and two presenters in front of screens

Thought-provoking presentations

The best thing about the event was the quality and relevance of the presentations. They were not only informative but also thought-provoking, encouraging critical thinking and offering practical ideas that I can apply in my teaching.”