The ‘3 Minute Thesis’ (3MT) competition once again challenged CCMAR PhD students to present their research in just three minutes - and for João Monteiro and Javier Peña, the experience was much more than just a competition.
João Monteiro, a researcher in the Ecology and restoration of riverine, estuarine and coastal habitats group, took part for the second year running. For him, 3MT is a valuable opportunity to improve scientific communication and, of course, a chance to win the prize:
"I really enjoy science communication and having the chance to compete again and win the prize would be great. What's more, I already had the speech minimally constructed from last year, so it wasn't so much work - and trying doesn't hurt!"
The accumulated experience also showed in the presentation: "I was way less nervous. Based on the comments, workshops and tips we were given, I feel I've improved a lot. Being on stage and speaking in public is only good for you: over time, you really do improve your communication skills."
For Javier Herrero, from the Marine Plant Ecology Research Group, this was his first time at the competition, but the experience has had an immediate impact on the way he communicates his work: "I think communicating science clearly is essential, and this competition is an excellent opportunity to improve that ability. It also challenges us to synthesise our research and make it accessible to a wider audience."
Javier also highlights the human and collaborative side of the competition:
"It was very enriching to exchange experiences with other researchers from different fields and discover new approaches to communicating science. This experience challenges us to get out of our comfort zone and opens doors to new opportunities and collaborations."
The 3MT competition continues to prove that communicating science in a clear, concise and engaging way is an essential skill for researchers in all fields - and one that is always worth practising.
Watch the direct broadcast of the researchers' presentations via the videos below.
