PhD student Cameron Marshall’s three-minute research presentation about breeding environmentally friendly cows won the grand prize in Lincoln University’s recent Three-Minute Thesis grand final.
The annual 3MT competition challenges postgraduate students to describe their research to an intelligent but non-academic audience in only three minutes, using just one powerpoint slide.
Cameron’s research, which has previously received national media attention, indicates that some dairy cows are genetically predisposed to excrete less nitrogen into soil through their urine. This discovery could have major implications for farmers.
“It’s time we started seeing the animal as the solution, rather than the problem,” Cameron said during his presentation. “By focusing on animals with a low breeding value for the gene that produces nitrate in urine, farmers can start breeding for cleaner, greener dairying.
“Advances in genetics mean designing animals that are environmentally friendly and cost effective.”
As the grand final winner, Cameron will represent Lincoln University at the 2020 Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition on Thursday, 1 October.
The top-placed Master’s student was Alana Thurston, whose research involves finding a solution to kauri dieback by investigating the role fungicides might play in treating the disease.
“There aren’t many of these that work and the majority have no effect,” she said. “But recently four new fungicides were developed, although they’re not available in New Zealand.
“I was able to order small quantities to study in the lab and all four inhibited the pathogen that causes kauri dieback. It was a very exciting result.”
Alana will represent Lincoln University at the national 3MT Masters Inter-University Challenge on Thursday, 20 August.
Following the announcement of the 3MT winners, Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Bruce McKenzie praised all the finalists for participating in the event.
“The calibre of the presentations was extremely high and the competition offers a wonderful way to celebrate the diverse range of research carried out here at Lincoln,” he said.
“Relative to size, Lincoln University produces more world-class research than any other university in New Zealand. Our research has the potential to solve many real world problems.”
