The annual Three Minute Thesis competition, organised by the Bristol Doctoral College, challenges postgraduate research students to present their research topic and its significance in less than three minutes, using only one slide.
The competition was conducted virtually for the second year running, and the final was broadcast on the University of Bristol's Facebook page. The final was introduced by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hugh Brady.
Mayra Rivera Lopez, who is supervised by Professor Ian Hamerton and Professor Fabrizio Scarpa, gave an engaging talk titled 'Exploring space with novel composite materials'. In her presentation she described what composites are, and explained why they could be the future of space structures. She described how new composites are being developed in the laboratories to be more resilient to withstand the harsh conditions in space. Her newly developed cyanate ester composites have been patented and are scheduled to fly on the International Space Station in an European Space Agency mission in 2022.
Mayra was crowned the winner of the People's Choice Award after her presentation received over 1,300 votes.
Mayra, who competed against five other finalists, said: "I am very grateful to have had this amazing opportunity to share my research in this unique 3-minute format to such a wide audience, and for receiving such great support."
The 3MT final was recorded, and you can watch Mayra's presentation as part of the final on the University's Facebook page.
The Bristol Composites Institute has an impressive track record in the 3MT competition. In 2020, ACCIS CDT student David Brigido won the competition and the People's Choice award. In 2019, ACCIS CDT student Konstantina Kanari took home the People’s Choice Award, and CDT students also made it through to the finals in 2018, 2016, 2015 and 2014.