Functional Grains Centre PhD student Michelle Toutounji has competed in the Asia Pacific Final of the Three Minute Thesis 3MT competition, presenting her research on low GI rice.

The competition is designed to hone students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills.

Competitors must explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience and they are allowed only one PowerPoint slide.

Michelle earned her spot after taking out the Charles Sturt University final in July. Her presentation ‘White Rice: Naughty or Nice?’ explains research to alter the starch structure in white rice, using heat and pressure treatments, to produce a diabetic friendly product.

FGC students shone at the Charles Sturt final, accounting for half the finalists.

FGC Deputy Director Associate Professor Dan Waters said, “All students engaged in the 3MT challenge relished, delivering excellent and engaging talks which entertained the audience.”

Shiwangni Rao and Esther Callcott spoke about their work which has shown how coloured grains improve markers of human health while Stephen Cork explained how new chickpea flakes will expand the healthy options in the convenience breakfast food market.

“Although each individual conceived and constructed their own talk, FGC students worked as a team, practicing their presentations together and providing tips and advice on how each presentation could be improved,” Professor Waters said.

“Along with claiming the Charles Sturt University 3MT title Michelle also picked up the People’s Choice Award. Esther was awarded runner-up completing a FGC clean sweep of the prizes on offer and confirming the value of the great teamwork our students bring to all they do”.

Photo caption: Michelle at the Asia Pacific Finals in Brisbane

Photo caption: The finalists at the Charles Sturt 3MT