Showcasing Legal Minds: UCL Laws Hosts Faculty Heat of the 3MT Competition

On the afternoon of 5 March, UCL Laws hosted its inaugural heat for the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, where PhD students had just three minutes—and a single static PowerPoint slide—to present their research in a way that was accessible to non-specialists, highlighting its impact and significance.

Seven PhD students – Lara Blecher, Gal Cohen, Todd Davies, Kristianus Isyunanda, Siân McGibbon, Edward Perez and Diksha Sanyal – gave presentations. 

Presentations were judged by Dr. Isra Black, Dr. Anna Donovan, Dr. Mark Dsouza and Faculty of Laws Communications and Marketing Manager, Priya Khindria. Additionally, the audience had the chance to cast their votes for a public choice winner.

Todd Davies, with a presentation entitled, ‘Who’s Squirrelled Away All the Acorns? The Application of Ecological Theory to Competition Law’ was judged to be the winner of the competition by the panel of judges. 

Diksha Sanyal was named the panel’s runner-up for her presentation ‘Navigating Legal Borderlands: Love, Law and Live-in Agreements in India’.

Both Todd and Diksha were the joint-winners of the public vote, with 35% of the vote each. 

Following their success in the Faculty heat, both Todd and Diksha now have the opportunity to compete in the UCL ‘3 Minute Thesis’ competition taking place later in 2025. 

UCL Laws Director of Research Studies, Professor Jane Holder, remarked “It was wonderful to see an array of research topics described in this engaging format, and we are grateful to all who attended and made it such a successful event, but in particular to the seven students who stepped up to make their presentations.  Congratulations to all.” 

UCL Laws Vice Dean (Research), Professor Colm O’Cinneide, added “It was important to showcase postgraduate research through this event, and emphasise how proud we are of postgraduate researchers’ contribution to the Faculty.” 

Photography provided by Pacifico Eric Calderon.