Dr Anne Johnstone, Head of School, joined the guest judging panel for the University of New South Wales’s prestigious annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition on Monday 31 August at the University’s Leighton Hall, Scientia Building.
The prestigious competition challenged 20 of UNSW’s most inspiring PhD candidates from seven faculties to distil years of research into just three minutes. The competition celebrated the breadth and impact of UNSW’s doctoral research while showcasing the importance of communicating complex ideas with clarity, confidence and purpose.
Dr Johnstone was invited to join the panel by Mr Warwick Negus AM, Chancellor of UNSW and a valued member of the Cranbrook community as a former Chair of the Cranbrook Foundation and member of the Cranbrook School Council.
In extending the invitation, Mr Negus recognised Dr Johnstone’s ongoing contribution to education, leadership and student wellbeing, as well as her dedication to supporting students to communicate their ideas with confidence and impact.
Dr Johnstone was one of five members of the judging panel, alongside Non-Executive Director and Auditor Pippa Downes, (also a member of the Cranbrook Community as a valued past parent), Research Engineering Fellow at Orica Dr Armineh Hassanvand, UNSW Deputy Dean of Graduate Research Scientia Professor Fiona Stapleton and UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise) Professor Bronwyn Fox AO.
This year’s finalists presented research, spanning medical breakthroughs, robotics, safer schools, immigration law and sustainable grain drying. Benjamin Wu, from the School of Biomedical Sciences, took first place with his research into reversing the ageing of human eggs. Alongside a $3,000 prize, he will now progress to the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition at the University of Queensland and the Universitas 21 3MT final.
Dr Johnstone and the Cranbrook community congratulate Benjamin on his outstanding achievement, as well as all the finalists who shared their innovative research with clarity and poise. The event was an inspiring celebration of the importance of intellectual curiosity, confidence and connection in turning ideas into meaningful impact, qualities we champion deeply at Cranbrook.
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