PhD plain speak in 3 minutes

Distilling years of research and thousands of words of writing into a three-minute talk takes focus, keen judgment – and few trial runs.

‘‘I have a big fan club of family and friends you’ve heard my presentation probably a hundred times," PhD student Rachel Nepia said after picking up the $1500 first prize at the 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) final at Waikato University on Wednesday.

The 3MT competition challenges PhD students to explain their research in only three minutes using one static slide.

After a series of heats,10 finalists were chosen, with Nepia winning the top prize as well as the People’s Choice Award.

For the past three years, Nepia has been studying how honeybees interact with native plants and pollinators.

Her metaphor of the New Zealand forest as a dinner table resonated with the audience – and judges.

‘‘New Zealand has a stunning array of native species that have had a seat at this table for centuries.

‘‘Honey bees were invited more recently for crop pollination and honey production,’’ Nepia said.

‘‘I’m here seeing what everyone is getting up to, making sure they’re all getting along, and checking that there’s enough food to go around.’’

Nepia will now represent Waikato University at the AsiaPacific 3MT Competition in Brisbane on September 27.

Professor Kay Weaver, dean of Waikato University’s school of graduate research, said the ability to communicate was the most important skill a student could acquire.

‘‘If we can’t communicate, to explain to people the significance of the research that we do, and why we do it, then the following outcomes of that research will not see the light of day,’’ Weaver said.

Hamilton Boys’ High School headmaster Susan Hassall helped judge the final and said all students demonstrated a love for learning.

‘‘If this is the quality that we see in our people graduating with doctorates in New Zealand, then we know the future of our country is in very safe hands,’’ Hassall said.

Nepia planned to use the $1500 prize to help fund DNA testing for her studies.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF Waikato University PhD student Rachel Nepia receives the Professor John D. McCraw Memorial Trophy by carver Wiremu Puke.

Truely Harding examined the facilitators and barriers of implementing health interventions with Ma¯ori communities.