SGS Research Showcase winners announced

The Science Foyer was buzzing with excitement last week, as staff, students and supporters gathered to explore the fascinating research on display for the School of Graduate Studies Research Showcase 2022.

Prizes were awarded to the top-scorers and People’s Choice winners in the three categories: Academic posters, research images and Pecha Kucha presentations.

Nelson-based doctoral candidate Trevyn Toone took out the coveted first prize in the academic posters category, for his research on restoring New Zealand’s wild intertidal mussel reefs. As this year’s Asia-Pacific Three Minute Thesis winner, Trevyn continues to impress audiences from around the world with his research communication skills.

“I'm passionate about these research communication competitions for two reasons. First, I'm based in Nelson so these competitions have been a great way to stay connected to the broader postgraduate community and see what other kinds of research are happening on the main campus. Second, they challenge me to develop clear and compelling summarisations of some pretty complex research for an average audience member which actually helps me understand my own work better."

Yin-Chi Lee, who is studying for a PhD in Dance Studies, won the research image category with a captivating image, Hiraeth, representing nostalgia, longing, and grief for the lost places of a soul’s past. As a dancer, Yin-Chi says working creatively and collaboratively allows her to look into social and political issues through practice.

“I was encouraged by my friends to enter the SGS Research Showcase. Knowing my work involves photography, they believed that by sharing it might help encourage some interesting conversations and awareness – and it did! I hope that through my creative output and research writing, marginal stories can be shared creatively, and Taiwanese and migrant conversations can be encouraged in Aotearoa.”

First place in the Pecha Kucha category went to Judith Glasson, who is working between the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering and the Department of Ophthalmology on the improvement of artificial corneal technology. 

Judith's research focus is inspired by her keen interest in the field of the field of regenerative medicine, and her dream is to develop functional grafts that patients can receive to restore vision and improve quality of life. She was recently awarded the P J Smith Travelling Fellowship for a collaboration with Universities of Sydney and Wollongong in February 2023.

She says that exploring the submissions from the other finalists from across the University was a highlight of the SGS Research Showcase.

“I really enjoy science communication, and finding fun new ways to explain my area of interest to my peers and the public. I had never tried a Pecha Kucha format before, so it was a nice challenge.

"It was also wonderful to see all the other submissions and get a bite-sized taste of so many research topics. Although I didn't participate in it, I adored the research image section. As someone in a field dominated by numbers, graphs and cell counts, seeing artistic representations of research was very inspiring.”

Click the button below to explore the SGS Research Showcase exhibition online.