Samantha Muir, a part time, postgraduate researcher from the Music and Media Department, has won the 2020 University of Surrey Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) and was crowned winner at the finale of the Doctoral College Conference – New Horizons. Sam will represent the University in the national 3MT semi-finals this summer, competing for her place at the national finals, which will take place live on 16^th September.We’ll keep our fingers crossed for you, Sam!

For the first time ever, the University’s Three Minute Thesis competition was conducted virtually. With the initially briefings, training and coaching sessions run via zoom and all entrants submitting their recordings online. The Associate Deans for the Doctoral College along with Dawn Duke completed the first stage of judging with 7 PGRs selected for the final stages. The recordings of these 7 finalists were available for viewing resulting in over 100 viewers voting for their favourite presentation in the People’s Choice category which was won by Sophie Duong from Department of Mechanical Engineering Sciences who also picked up the Judges’ Runner up prize!

The 3MT is an annual international academic competition that challenges doctoral students to describe their research within three minutes to a general audience. 3MT celebrates the discoveries made by research students and encourages their skill in communicating the importance of research to the broader community – an all-important transferable skill.

This year’s final was judged by a panel consisting of:

• Professor David Sampson, Vice-Provost, Research and Innovation
• Dr Kate Gleeson, Director of the Doctoral College
• Dr Helen Kingstone, Surrey Research Fellow, School of Literature and Languages, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
• Dr Tiffany Russell, Research Fellow, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine.
• Gavrielle Untracht, University of Surrey 3MT Winner and People’s Choice winner, 2019.

The judging panel commended all the finalists for the high quality of the final submissions which made judging very difficult, however, in the end, the panel were captivated by Sam’s clear, well rounded presentation; The Search for the Classical Ukulele, with David Sampson saying, “it was like hearing music itself!”

All the Finalists’ presentations can be view here

1. Danielle Cox-Pridmore  Electronic Scaffolds: Creating Heart Tissue
   1. Daniella  Jones – Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
   1. Sophie Duong –Metal to Ceramic Interfacial Bonding
   1. Sam Muir – The Search for Classical Ukulele
   1. Chris Rees – Radiation Risk Assessment & Management for Space Tourism & Very High-Altitude Aviation
   1. Jo Trewern – Centre for Environment and Sustainability
   1. Annabel Watson – Sam’s Story – Using the voices of service users to improve outcomes for looked after children in Surrey

Many congratulations to Sam and Sophie and all the finalists for their superb efforts.

If you would like to know more about the Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) please contact Emma Francis, Careers and Employability Consultant for Postgraduate and Early Career Researchers.