The first SENG RPg Communication Competition for the School's research postgraduates was held in Spring 2014, with then PhD student Peng Wang, Civil and Environmental Engineering, named the champion, PhD student Rashi Bhushan, Civil and Environmental Engineering, awarded the first runner-up place and PhD student Khawar Sarfraz, Electronic and Computer Engineering, securing the second runner-up position. 

 

Contestants used a combination of humor, analogies, and diagrams to illustrate their research, following the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) format, which boosts research postgraduates’ capabilities to explain the significance of their studies in a very short space of time. They also demonstrated their ability to articulate thoughts and think on their feet in a non-technical one-on-one debate. 

 

The judging panel consisted of School of Engineering faculty members and communication professionals. The then Associate Dean of Engineering Prof Christopher Chao, on behalf of the judging panel, congratulated contestants for their great performances. He said that the panel was impressed by the logical thinking and effective communication skills demonstrated.