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UWA Business School
Postgraduate business students Zelda Okatch and Jue Wang displayed impressive academic talent and personal flair to win the 2011 UWA Business School Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition.

The 3MT is an academic competition developed by the University of Queensland for research by higher degree students. It challenges students to deliver an oral presentation that explains their research in just three minutes, and with the use of just one supporting slide.

Students from Economics, Marketing, and Management and Organisations competed in the Business School heats, with topics ranging from the adoption of electric vehicles through to the motivations that drive farmers to adopt lamb survival strategies.

Zelda Okatch's winning presentation asked whether tax reforms can help fight poverty and inequality in Botswana. Because the introduction of new taxes leads people to change their behaviour, Zelda explained, economic modelling is needed to determine the impact of possible tax reforms.

Jue Wang's winning presentation examined airline revenue management. In her PhD, Jue is using historical data and stated choice experiments to create an individual passenger choice model and determine the ideal pricing of airline tickets.

Robyn Oliver, from the UWA Business School Research Office, said that the 3MT helped research students to develop their oral communication skills. ‘An added feature that evolved out of this year's competition was participant feedback by Winthrop Professor David Plowman following completion of the two heats,' she said. ‘Everyone benefited from David's wonderful advice, in particular the participants who progressed to the Business School Final.

‘Thanks to all supporters, our wonderful contestants, and a huge thanks to our judges, who had the difficult task of selecting the finalists.'

Competitors are judged on the criteria of communication style, comprehension and audience engagement. Judging of the Business School rounds was conducted by Dean of the Business School, Winthrop Professor Tracey Horton, Winthrop Professor Ken Clements, Winthrop Professor Sharon Parker, Winthrop Professor David Plowman, and Heather Merritt, Director of External Relations.

The inaugural 3MT, held in 2010, was won by Barlaka Banerjee, a UWA PhD student studying lung transplants. The 2011 finals will now be held at UWA in July, with competitors expected from over 30 universities across Australia and New Zealand.

Zelda and Jue will represent the Business School in the UWA Semi-Final on 21st July.

Media references

Heather Merritt
Director, External Relations
UWA Business School
T: +618 6488 8171
M: 0419 950 027
E: [email protected]

Verity Chia
Communications Officer
UWA Business School
T: +618 6488 1346
E: [email protected]