24 May 2013 Big problem in little time: Lincoln University Thr3sis winner

PhD candidate Roché Mahon has won the Lincoln University Thr3sis Grand Final for 2013, receiving $1,000 in prize money and a trip to Sydney, Australia in October to represent the University in the trans-Tasman competition.

Thr3sis is a competition with growing global appeal which requires Master’s and PhD students to answer the question ‘What are you researching?’ in three minutes or less. As well as the time constraint, competitors are only allowed one presentation slide and cannot use any additional aids.

Competitors are judged on communication style, comprehension and engagement.

Roché’s presentation was entitled ‘Small islands, big problems’ and focused on the growing impact climate change is having on small Caribbean islands heavily dependent on beach tourism.

Among other things, her research explores the thinking behind why hoteliers continue to develop dangerously close to the coast in the face of the increasing risks brought on by climate change: problems such as rising sea levels and increasingly destructive storms.

Through her research, Roché is providing policymakers with the evidence they need to develop effective policy interventions that address the core factors behind why hoteliers engage in this risky behaviour.

“Awesome!,” was how Roché described her win, going on to thank a receptive and engaging audience and vowing to do her best to make the University proud in Sydney.

After a series of recently held heats, seven postgraduate students competed in the Grand Final, with the runner-up being PhD candidate, Peter Cheong, for his presentation ‘Beauveria bassiana: My precious’, which extolled the ‘trojan horse’ qualities of the fungus Beauveria bassiana as an agent to control a number of insect pests and microbes.

Lincoln University Chancellor, Tom Lambie, thanked the candidates, finding it “inspirational to hear each competitor’s research communicated in such a meaningful way” and concluded with the hope that the event inspires other budding researchers in the audience.