Sydney Engineering Researcher wins Bright Sparks Competition

On Tuesday 4 June  at The Basement in Circular Quay, Sydney - a selection of Australia’s brightest PhD researchers had 150 seconds to convince a panel of judges why their research deserves AMP's $5000 funding. Beyond the judging panel these researchers are pitching to the hearts and minds of an audience brimming with seed-funders and collaborators.

The program invites PhD researchers to collaborate with performance coaches to transpose 'geek speak' into an easily understood and entertaining pitch.

Kate McDonell, Sydney-based Civil Engineer and PhD candidate won the Bright Sparks PhD competition where 19 finalists from around the country communicated their PhD in a 2.5 minute performance as part of the AMP AMPlify festival. She mimicked the self healing behaviour of carbon nanotubes under electron irradiation by throwing balls at her friends. Outside of her academic career, Kate spends her time as Vice President of Engineers without Borders in the Sydney Region including talking to high school students about the significant influence that engineering has on our quality of life and basic human rights.

UTS Women in Engineering & IT Program would like to congratulate Kate for all her achievements and wish her all the best for the rest of her studies and work with Engineers without Borders Australia!

Please find some photos of Kate's research pitch as part of the Bright Sparks competition below.

Photographer: Phillip Qin