How do you communicate an extremely complex research topic such as the impact of the P2Y₂ receptor during sepsis", or if microbes can help us reduce antibiotic consumption, in just three minutes and with a single PowerPoint slide as back up?

For PhD student and medical doctor at the Department of Cardiology at Aarhus University Hospital, Omeed Nehabat, the solution was to zoom in on the essence of his research. This deals with the use of a newer scanning technology, where a small, light-based scanner takes almost microscopic images inside the heart, which can then be used to make diagnoses and tailor balloon angioplasty operations to the individual patient.

"I boiled it down to 'I’ve got a camera that can look into the heart, see how the heart works and how we can prevent narrowing in the arteries, so that we can detect diseases and improve treatments'," says Omeed Neghabat.

Together with 17 other PhD students, he took the stage on 17 March at Aarhus University's "Three Minute Thesis" competition in Stakladen. The competition is an exercise in research communication and dissemination, which involves the PhD student presenting his or her research project in front of a broad audience. Boiling down several years of research into just a presentation lasting only a few minutes was both a fun and difficult challenge, says Omeed Neghabat.

"It’s certainly the most difficult academic presentation I've made. It’s much easier to do one lasting fifteen minutes or half an hour. I also think it's important that researchers not only communicate to their peers, but make sure they communicate more broadly. That’s a discipline I want to practice, so of course, it’s a huge pat on the back that I’ve managed to communicate in an understandable and engaging manner."

Winning the Three Minute Thesis competition also earns a travel scholarship of DKK 35,000 and the opportunity to join the field at this summer’s European competition in Padova, Italy. But even without winning, the competition is a great experience, he says.

"It's a cool set-up and it's fun to hear what the others are doing. It's really great to see how much exciting research is actually taking place at the university."

THE THREE MINUTE THESIS COMPETITION

• Annual competition.
• Originates from Queensland University, Australia.
• The competition currently takes place at more than 900 universities in 85 countries.
• Participants in the European competition are selected on the basis of video material from the local competitions.
• The final will be held in Padova, Italy 7-10 June 2022.
• For more information, please see: https://phd.au.dk/for-current-phd-students/3mt

Contact:

Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 69
8200 Aarhus N
E-mail: omeed.neghabat@clin.au.dk