Daria Bal-Madej is the winner of the 8th Silesian edition of 3MT®
Daria Bal-Madej, a PhD student of the Silesian University of Technology, won the final of the 8th Silesian edition of the three Minute Thesis® competition. In a 3-minute story about her PhD, she shared her research on city design from the perspective of 10 thousand steps.
Intriguing research and thought-provoking projects included in 3-minute speeches – this is how we can summarize the final of the 8th Silesian edition of the three Minute Thesis® competition, which took place on Friday, November 28 in Gliwice. 10 Young Scientists: Angelika Auguścik (Silesian University of Technology), Daria Bal-Madej ( Silesian University of Technology), Izabella Biesiada (Silesian University of Technology) , Sandra Binek (Jan Długosz University in Czestochowa), Anna Hepa-Banasik (Medical University of Silesia in Katowice), Mateusz Janecki (Silesian University of Technology), Maria Lukosek (University of Silesia in Katowice, Adam Mazurski (Medical University of Silesia in Katowice), Anna Mrukwa (Silesian University of Technology) Wojciech Sawicki (University of Silesia in Katowice) performed in front of the audience, talking about the topics of their doctoral theses.
The final of the 8th edition was inaugurated by the organisers: Sandra Grabowska (deputy director of the Science Popularization Centre) and Jan Maroszek. The director of the Doctoral School, Prof. Krzysztof Fujarewicz and a representative of The University Self-Government Council of the Doctoral Students’ - MSc Eng. Iga Przytuła wished PhD students good luck in the speeches.
Among the 10 finalists, the jury composed of: Dr Katarzyna Sujkowska, Prof Of University of Silesia, Prof. Dr Hab in Med. Sciences, Tomasz Francuz (Medical University of Silesia) and Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Robert Michnik (Silesian University of Technology) , Dr Hab. Eng. Andrzej Katunin, Prof. SUT (Silesian University of Technology) has selected three finalists of the main awards, the winner of the engineering award and the winners of the awards for the best presentations on experimental works. During the three Minute Thesis®, the audience gathered in the Library of the Silesian University of Technology also voted for the best speech.
The winner of the first place was Daria Bal-Madej, a doctoral student at the Silesian University of Technology, who presented a speech entitled “The City from the Perspective of 10 000 steps. Innovative tools supporting planning and designing walking conditions in urban space walkability) in the context of user group behaviour patterns.”
- I would like to understand the city from the perspective of a human step. What we see, feel and experience as we walk. Today we are talking about pedestrian-friendly cities. However, unfortunately – in Poland we still design from the perspective of cars. I would like to create a tool that will help analyse how we choose roads and pedestrian paths – because it turns out that each of us chooses differently – explained Daria Bal-Madej during the speech.
The second place was taken by Adam Mazurski, who completed his PhD at the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. His presentation – “Secrets of the Secrets – to Rescue the Liver” – concerned new technologies used in liver treatment. The liver detoxifies our entire body. It extracts toxic substances from other organs and neutralizes them. We expect our liver to always handle everything, and if anything, unexpected happens - it will fix itself. Unfortunately, this is not always the case… – explained Adam Mazurski during his speech. - When the liver is overloaded, for example, if we eat too much or drink too much alcohol, or become the target of attacks by liver viruses or parasites, it can capitulate.
The third place was taken by Wojciech Sawicki from the University of Silesia in Katowice, who introduced viewers to issues related to law and constitution in a presentation entitled “Is the Constitution for everyone? Who can apply it?”
- The research I am conducting is to help me create a new comprehensive theory of constitutional control, taking into account the sense of legal certainty - said Wojciech Sawicki.
The winners received the awards from the hands of the Vice-Rector for Science and International Cooperation of the Silesian University of Technology, Prof Sebastian Werle.
The Audience Award, i.e. gift cards funded by the “Forum” Shopping Centre, was given to Izabella Biesiada from the Silesian University of Technology. The Engineering Award, funded by EMT-Systems, was received from the hands of a company representative Agata Buchcik, by Sandra Binek from the Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa.
Two distinctions for the best presentations concerning experimental works, funded by the Foundation “Science and Society,” were awarded to PhD students of the Silesian University of Technology: Mateusz Janecki and Angelika Auguścik.
The sponsors of the cash prizes are WIELTON S.A., WASKO S.A. and JAS FBG S.A. The prizes for the winners were funded by The University Self-Government Council of the Doctoral Students'. The book awards were sponsored by the HELION Group.
Every year, during the three Minute Thesis® we find that even the most complex research projects and doctoral theses can be presented in a clear way – and in addition only in 3 minutes! The finalists showed great communication skills and presented a wide range of activities that are implemented at Silesian universities.
The competition was organized by: Science Popularization Centre, The University Self-Government Council of the Doctoral Students,’ Doctoral School of Silesian University of Technology. Patronage over the event was taken by: Council for the Dissemination of Science of the Polish Academy of Sciences and EURECA-PRO, and media patronage: Science in Poland. The partner of the event is Pro Science. The competition is held under license from the University of Queensland in Australia.
Text and photos by Aleksandra Wojaczek
