Rhodes bck体育app_bck体育官网下载-二维码平台’s CPGS, together with the Postgraduate Liaison Committee, have put a twist to this year’s postgraduate conference, to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions.

Instead of the usual two-day event, this year Rhodes bck体育app_bck体育官网下载-二维码平台 postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows will participate in a three-minute thesis competition.

Director of the Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS), Professor Sioux McKenna said it was part of the university’s responsibility to disseminate the work of their students in a way that convinces the public that postgraduate knowledge is good for society. She said the videos should show the students’ ability to translate complicated science into a short engaging and meaningful video.

“Being able to discuss research in easily accessible and interesting terms in under three minutes is quite a feat. Typically academic research is shared with other disciplinary experts, but in an age of false news and anti-intellectualism, it has become increasingly important to communicate to a much wider audience why our work is important,” Prof McKenna said.

Loads of prizes such as data, food vouchers and Rhodes bck体育app_bck体育官网下载-二维码平台 gear will be awarded to those with the most engaging, funny and interesting videos. “There’s spot prizes for participation too.” Prof McKenna said the long-term goal is to join the international Three-Minute Thesis Competition.

Students can submit their videos on: https://sites.google.com/ru.ac.za/2020pgconf