#2

3 minutes of my life…

Late last year a new friend told me about the annual “Disastrous Doctorates” 3 Minute Thesis event. Despite being really new to the PhD programme she encouraged me to enter. So before I could get cold feet I sent away my application. I am so glad I did – what an experience!

This event hosted in a different New Zealand location each year brings togather PhD students studying topics related to disaster management. This 2025 event is the 18th! This year 29 PhD students including myself presented their research to date or if new like me, their research outline. I presented “No.8 Wire: Protecting frontline volunteers in the aftermath of disasters.” Despite initial nerves I’m really pleased with how my presentation delivery went and the questions and feedback I got back from the audience. It felt like a memorable milestone to mark the start of my journey.

To the DD2025 cohort who attended and presented – wow. I learned so much from you all and enjoyed hearing the stories of your research journey as much as I enjoyed hearing about your research. Such a broad range of work being done yet all connected to increasing disaster resilience. We spoke of science but amongst it there were words of tribute, of loss and of trials, but mostly of purpose and desire to improve life for people and communities. l will remember this first DD event always. I am very grateful to have had this opportunity.

Thank you to The University of Waikato and the DD2025 organising committee for hosting all of us and the wonderful hospitality we received, our three keynote speakers, and the sponsors Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake and Te Hiranga Rū QuakeCoRE who made this event possible.