Issue 1
Science & IT students take on the Three Minute Thesis
Thursday June 7, 2012
The University of Newcastle has kicked off its Three Minute Thesis competition where higher degree students across all faculties bravely take to the stage and explain their area of study. Thirteen students from the Faculty of Science & Information Technology recently took up the challenge and explained their thesis to a non- specialist audience, condensing years of study into just a three minute presentation, aided by only one presentation slide.
The research topics ranged from developing a chemical process that creates solar paint, through to how different models of psychology will impact the health behaviours of people. Students remained under pressure as the audience asked questions following each presentation, sparking discussions that included political discourse and the possibility of creating a sustainable energy source.
Four finalists were selected to compete in the University final being held on September 14 and each received a Westfield gift card. Michael Rose, MPhil Mathematics, came in first place followed by Jessica Swain, PhD Psychology, Vincent Candrawinata, PhD Food Technology and Michael Glenn, PhD Chemistry. They’ll compete with other faculty finalists for $3,000 in total prize money and the overall winner will be entered in the National competition held at the University of Queensland later in the year.
The competition is now in its third year and helps students convey their ideas and research effectively to the wider community. For more information and images, visit the Three Minute Thesis website.
In focus: Professor Mario Minichiello, School of Design Communication and IT
There is a new face walking the halls of the Design building and making a true English pot of tea in the kitchen. Since joining the University just three months ago, Professor Mario Minichiello is leading the discipline and research of the School of Design, Communication and Information Technology as well as focussing on raising the profile of the University. "We're working strategically to become the first choice place for students and to be internationally regarded as a key research centre for Design thinking," he said.
Mario has brought a large personality and years of experience to the School, with a background that includes working for the BBC, Guardian News group as well as universities such as Loughborough and Birmingham. From studying a Bachelor of Graphic Design at Leicester, Mario went on to work in the Design industry, where his many years of experience led him to study and attain his PhD from Loughborough University. His work has often sparked controversy and debate but has been published or broadcast throughout the world.
His concerns in the field of visual communication were first sparked from a young age by the sense of injustice he felt at the powerful influence that the press had in the modern world. "They appeared to exploit the vulnerable, the Murdoch press in particular appeared to me to not merely be sexist and racist but to openly undermine democracy and then boast about it" he said. "I wanted to develop a different political view. I wanted to make a change for the better and still do."
The desire to make a change to the University is one of Mario's key objectives and he continues to stress the importance of design to other disciplines. "Without design other disciplines can only do so much. This is a brilliantly positioned University with some of the best medicine people in the world and a fantastic School of Communication, Design and IT. Our focus is to get design to be the glue that helps to construct a bigger sum of the parts – such an innovation would be massively disruptive of the status quo in this sector," he explained.
During his short time at the University of Newcastle, Mario has helped secure research funding, helped his team with their research activities including a research visit by the director of Ikon Gallery based in Birmingham, UK to the 'Look Hear' festival. The gallery is a potential international partner with a strong focus on stimulating public interest and explaining contemporary art and design. Mario says that international collaborations with trusted leading institutions will be an integral part of the future. "These are exciting times for design and the future will be a collaborative one" he said.
Students who study a Bachelor of Visual Communication Design are taught by academic staff with first-hand experience and knowledge of the industry, such as Mario, and will graduate with a professional design portfolio. The University of Newcastle also offers state-of-the-art facilities including sound and television studios along with editing suites to fully equip students for a number of career opportunities, including animation, graphic design and media production.
For more information about a Bachelor of Visual Communication Design, PhD studentships or to get involved as a business in research, visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/future-students/.