Women in STEM QUB’s Presentation Evening

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition challenges doctoral researchers to present their research in a clear, concise, and accessible way to a non-specialist audience within just three minutes. Barbara Bray participated in the Women in Stem 3MT night in February 2024 to communicate her research on healthy ageing diets to a new audience. Her presentation was titled, “Women in Stem 3MT Night: A Journey into Healthy Ageing Diets”. Barabara reflects on her experience below:  

Healthy Aging Diet Research:

My focus is on optimising the diet of individuals aged 65 and older to improve their health spans. Specifically, I explored age-related changes in food behaviour through a descriptive qualitative study using interviews.

Crafting the Ideal Talk:

Competing in the 3MT is an academic ambition of mine, and this smaller event provided the perfect opportunity to hone my presentation skills. I chose to discuss my qualitative study, distilling complex concepts into a 3-minute talk. Although it’s challenging to put across in 3 minutes, the exercise was incredibly useful in helping me prioritise the key elements.

Showcasing Diverse Research:

The Women in Stem 3MT night featured 18 women researchers from QUB, each sharing a diverse range of topics. From optical health to astrophysics, parasitology, and nutrition, the event highlighted the breadth of research conducted at Queens University Belfast.

Visual Storytelling:

To engage a lay audience, I used a PowerPoint slide to visually depict my research journey—from the initial question to study design, data collection, and findings evaluation. Simplifying complex ideas was key.

Recommendation and Reflection:

I highly recommend Women in Stem events for anyone eager to learn from others and gain a broader understanding of scientific disciplines. The experience enhanced my communication skills and reinforced the importance of science outreach.”

Barbara Bray