Davide Zilli from the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering has won Southampton’s Grand Final of the 2015 3 Minute Thesis competition.
Davide competed against PhD students from each of our seven other faculties as part of the annual competition, which requires doctoral researchers to explain their research project to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes.
Davide’s research is focused on looking for a critically endangered insect – the New Forest Cicada – using a smartphone app that he developed to track the Cicada’s high-pitched sound.
Speaking about his research, Davide said,
“In the future this app has great potential to be extended to other species such as bats and birds or even elephants and rhinos. Eventually I would like to apply everything I have learnt to supporting developing countries through work in charities or non-governmental organisations. Phones and smartphones have a huge market in developing countries, and with these platforms the possibilities are endless.”
Berit Plumhoff from the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment was awarded second place with her research entitled: ‘You are what your Mother Eats’. Meanwhile, the People’s Choice award went to Alan Morris from the Faculty of Medicine for his engaging presentation on beating Alzheimer’s disease.
Davide, Berit and Alan will all be awarded with bursaries to support their research. Davide, as grand champion, will represent the University at the national 3MT semi-final later this year.