It all started two million years ago, with a tree and a bolt of lightning 鈥� a moment that led to Matthew Taylor from the 51萝莉 winning the Three Minute Thesis competition.
Matthew, a PhD student from Te Kura Mata-Ao School of Engineering, competed against nine other doctoral candidates in the contest鈥檚 final last week, where each was tasked with presenting their complex research to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes.
Beginning his speech by describing what the first human encounter with fire might have been like, Matthew鈥檚 talk titled Hybrid Renewable Steam Systems: Rething How We Boil Water covered his PhD research undertaken with University decarbonisation research centre Ahuora.
Matthew Taylor took out the 3MT title from nine other students.
"My specific work focuses on the industrial boiler aspect of decarbonisation, targeting fossil fuel boilers in different sites.鈥�
He said New Zealand already has the technology to switch to renewable energy options, and big companies like Fonterra have done so. However, smaller sites can struggle because it鈥檚 expensive 鈥� even though they know it would lower emissions, they simply can鈥檛 afford to switch.
That鈥檚 where Matthew鈥檚 research comes in.
鈥淭he goal is to make decarbonisation more affordable. Instead of replacing boilers, what if we just change how they are used? Usually, it鈥檚 a choice of biomass or electricity. But I suggest using both.鈥�
Biomass, a renewable energy source, is organic material that can be burned to create energy. 
Electricity prices in New Zealand fluctuate depending on the energy supply.
鈥淲e can take advantage of this by using electricity when it鈥檚 cheap and switching to biomass when it鈥檚 not. This hybrid system helps balance costs and makes it more affordable than relying on one energy source.鈥�
The Three Minute Thesis competition is one Matthew believes is valuable for everyone, not just academic researchers.
鈥淲hether you鈥檙e confident with public speaking or not, it鈥檚 a great skill to be able to summarise your key points clearly. It鈥檚 not just for PhD students 鈥� I think anyone in a professional career could benefit from explaining what they鈥檙e doing, why it matters, and the fundamental principles behind it.鈥�
The competition also allowed him to see what other students are doing with their research.
鈥淚 feel like this was one of the strongest years they've had for a while. There was a whole bunch of different topics. Everyone that presented brought their A-game. We were all saying backstage we would be happy if anyone won.鈥�
Next, Matthew will record his talk to represent the University in the 2025 Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition.
"I'm going with the approach of 鈥榠f it ain't broke, don't fix it鈥�. So, whatever I had was the winning formula, so I'm just going to push repeat and hope I don't forget it between now and then.鈥�
3MT runner-up Tui MacDonald
As host of the evening Professor Iain White says he enjoyed listening to the 10 finalists and learning about the research they are undertaking.
鈥淗earing the students talk passionately and succinctly about their research, in plain, accessible language, was so inspiring 鈥� the future is in safe hands.鈥�
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Gary Wilson agrees, saying it鈥檚 important to encourage emerging researchers to share their ideas and discoveries, not just amongst themselves but with the wider community too.
鈥淎s a university, we pride ourselves on our research. The more people who know about it, and importantly, the more people who can understand it, the better.鈥�
Runner-up in the finals was Tui MacDonald (Ng膩puhi, Ng膩ti Ranginui, Te 膧tiawa, Ng膩ti 笔腻oa) who gave a talk titled Celebrating our superheroes - W膩hine M膩ori entrepreneurs and business growth.
While Tui admitted the competition was daunting, she says it was a great way to synthesise her research.
鈥淚t's a good exercise to communicate your work, and I use many of my 3MT points when sharing my topic with wh膩nau and colleagues.鈥�
Tui is currently writing her discussion chapter and hopes to have completed her thesis early next year.
The People鈥檚 Choice Award went to Natalie Prinz and her talk Taonga in the Tides - Using Cockles to Restore Coastal Health.
