In 2021, Yohann Thenaisie presented his research on a Parkinson’s therapy in three minutes and won the competition. | Image: Screenshot Youtube

Three minutes to present your research: this is the concept of the French-language competition Ma thèse en 180 secondes (trans. ‘My thesis in 180 seconds’), set up in Switzerland in 2016. The sociologists Stéphane Le Lay and Jean Frances have investigated the scheme, and in an interview given to the newspaper Le Monde, they point out its ambivalence.

The original idea was to encourage young scientists to popularise their work. By taking part in the competition, they learn about public speaking, escape their laboratories and broaden their skillsets. However, in the context of a game, “you are not popularising your work”, they say. Because in order to win, the risk is that you skirt around difficulties and errors, or even tell lies. An attitude that can ultimately cause suffering.