Verónica Salgado wins "Your thesis in 4 minutes" with a research on using the patient's own blood to heal skin wounds

Verónica Salgado, a doctoral student on the Medicine and Biomedical Sciences programme at UVic-UCC, was the winner of the sixth edition of the University's "Your thesis in 4 minutes" competition, which took place in the Aula Segimon Serrallonga on Friday 12 May. Salgado holds a bachelor's degree in Basic and Experimental Biomedicine from the University of Seville, and a master's degree in Biology and Clinical Cancer from the University of Salamanca, and she is currently carrying out her research in the TR2Lab (Tissue Repair and Regeneration Laboratory) group. Her doctorate focuses on the use of a biological therapy for healing complex skin wounds, which is determined by the characteristics of each individual patient's blood. Dr Marta Otero and Dr Ramon Oller are her thesis supervisors.

The jury awarded her the prize as she was able to explain a complex subject to a non-specialist audience; for having constructed a narrative in which she set out a problem in response to a clear and understandable question, to which she gave a thorough but understandable answer, and for having conveyed enthusiasm in her presentation, throughout which she was able to maintain the audience's attention. Salgado received a prize of 1,000 Euros and the right to represent UVic-UCC in Catalonia's "Present your thesis in 4 minutes" competition, which is organised by the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation, and supported by the Inter-University Council of Catalonia, with the participation of all Catalan universities. This year's competition will take place on 22 June at the CaixaForum in Lleida.

Ipan Hidayat receives the Audience Award

The audience that watched the competition, both at the event and in streaming format, also cast its vote to decide the Audience Award of 200 Euros, This year the Award went to Ipan Hidayat, for his presentation "Cheesy Peasy", based on his doctoral thesis on the recovery and reuse of nutrients from processing waste from dairy products that he is preparing at the BETA Technology Center, within the framework of the REFLOW project and the doctoral programme in Experimental Sciences and Technologies. Hidayat is an environmental biotechnologist, and holds a master's degree in Environmental Science and Technology from Wageningen University & Research, and his thesis supervisors are Dr Laia Llenas Argelaguet and Lídia Paredes Barro.

The criteria for judgement for the presentations used by the jury are divided into two sections. The first, which scores 70%, focuses on understanding and

content, and assesses aspects such as a clear presentation of the background and the results, the structure of the narrative in a clear and logical sequence, and appropriate communication for a non-specialist audience without using scientific jargon. The second part (30%) takes into account commitment and communication, and covers aspects such as enthusiasm in the presentation, the ability to maintain the audience's attention, stage presence, eye contact and vocal range.

The "Your thesis in 4 minutes" competition, which is organised by the UVic-UCC Doctoral School with support from the Scientific Dissemination Unit, is aimed at the University's doctoral students, who have to explain their research to the audience in a short and understandable presentation. The jury for the prize consisted of Llorenç Comajoan, a professor in the Faculty of Education, Translation, Sports and Psychology, and the coordinator of the doctoral programme in Educational Innovation and Intervention; Jordi Villa, a professor and the coordinator of the doctoral programme in Bioinformatics; Anna Fàbrega, the coordinator of Biomedical Sciences at the Manresa Campus and a professor in the Faculty of Medicine, and Eva Funoll, the director of Corporate Communication and Institutional Relations at UVic.

Communication with high standards in a non-scientific environment

The director of the Doctoral School, Marta Otero, hosted the event, which she began by recalling that one of the tasks of the centre is to "train students to develop in a scientific environment, as well as in another social environment, in which they have to make their research available to everyone" and she recalled that "you can avoid scientific language, but be thorough and robust in the presentation as well." The vice-rector for Research and Knowledge Transfer, Eva Espasa, brought the event to a close by reminding those present that "communicating research is a job for everyone and all the institutions involved in one way or another," and that "we must always communicate, in a way that is appropriate to each context, with high standards and seeking to engage our audience."