PhD student from AU participated in the international Three Minute Thesis in Bologna

The concept is as strict as ever in the PhD competition Three Minute Thesis. A jury from the Coimbra Group has selected three finalists, all of whom have won the local Three Minute Thesis competitions at the 35 universities that are part of the Coimbra Group.

Among the three finalists is Aarhus University's very own Uffe Kjærgaard, who with great gestures and sharp punchlines earned his victory back in March in Stakladen. It was the same punchlines and theatrical movements with which Uffe Kjærgaard tried to sell his liver research at the final in Bologna. But with less elbow room.

"I only had two meters to move around on, so I just had to adjust to that," says Uffe Kjærgaard.

The rules are the same for the international final: Three minutes, one slide on the screen, and no notes or props. Therefore, the finalists must supplement the spoken word with analogies, gestures and sharp prioritisation.

It has been about a month since Uffe Kjærgaard got the news that he had advanced to the final. As one of three finalists chosen from 28 PhD students representing 19 of the Coimbra Group’s 35 member countries. It was an international jury that chose the international winner.

"I practised my presentation thoroughly before the 3MT competition in Aarhus, so fortunately it was second nature. I haven’t kept it up since, but I’ve been practising again in the weeks leading up to the final," he says.

However, first place went to Almudena Moreno Borralo from Trinity College in Dublin.

She spent her three minutes presenting her research on a new method of chemotherapy.

However, Uffe Kjærgaard does not only go home with the experience, as he and his fellow finalist, Bianca Brandl from the University of Graz, both win a cash prize of 1500 euros. Almudena Moreno Borralo has won the title and 2000 euros.

"It has been a huge experience having to narrow my research down to an analogy and explain it to an audience with no professional knowledge of it," Uffe Kjærgaard says.

"I'm also happy that my research has gotten some exposure," he says.

After the competition, there will be a gala dinner for all participants.

Here, Uffe Kjærgaard hopes to be able to taste a little of the Italian culture before heading home to Denmark on Friday morning. He has to go home and finish writing his PhD thesis before it is due in three months' time.

This text is machine translated and post-edited by Cecillia Jensen