News : 2023, December 11

Shivaprasad Nageswaran wins 2023 National Three Minute Thesis Competition at Council of Graduate Schools’ Annual Meeting

Shivaprasad Nageswaran, Director of the ARC Program at the AU RFID Lab and a spring 2023 PhD graduate from the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, won the National Three Minute Thesis, or 3MT™ Competition, hosted by the Council of Graduate Schools at their Annual Meeting on Dec. 10, 2023, in Washington, DC. Among 12 contestants from the US and Central America, Nageswaran received the top award at the national level, the People’s Choice Award.

The 3MT competition is an academic showcase that challenges graduate students to condense their research into a three-minute presentation to a non-specialist audience and is hosted annually by universities around the globe since its inception in 2008 by the University of Queensland, Australia. Auburn University held its first 3MT in 2013, and Nageswaran is the second competitor to represent Auburn at the national level after winning the regional competition at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools in March.

Dr. Shiva Nageswaran, national 3MT winner

Nageswaran’s winning presentation, titled “Investigating Seat Belt Safety in Rollover Accidents,” is about improving seatbelts to reduce the force needed to release oneself from a buckled seatbelt in the event of a rollover car accident. Current standards remain unchanged since the 1960s, and Nageswaran’s research aims to change those standards for overall safety and for improved outcomes for his fellow humans.

“Shiva demonstrated an exceptional ability to communicate complex research findings into a concise and relatable narrative effectively. His achievement reflects his dedication to advancing knowledge but also highlights the robust research environment fostered in the Graduate School and the College of Engineering,” said Emeritus Professional Development Director, Dale Watson, who led Auburn’s 3MT program for nearly a decade.

George Flowers, Dean of the Graduate School, added, “This award is a significant milestone in Dr. Nageswaran’s academic career, and underscores how we live the Auburn Creed everyday with hard work that impacts the lives of others in our state, our nation, and our world. Mr. Watson’s unwavering commitment to the growth and development of emerging scholars profoundly impacted Shiva’s journey.”

Sheena Stewart, Director of Professional Development in the Graduate School accompanied Nageswaran to the national competition. Stewart witnessed first-hand Nageswaran’s witty humor and audience engagement during his presentation, but also his ability to communicate the significance of his seat belt safety research to a wider audience. “We are immensely proud of Shiva’s achievement and believe it sets a high standard for future generations of graduate students,” Stewart said.

The Council of Graduate Schools is an organization of approximately 500 institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada engaged in graduate education, research, and the preparation of candidates for advanced degrees. The organization’s mission is to improve and advance graduate education, which it accomplishes through advocacy in the federal policy arena, research, and the development and dissemination of best practices.


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Last Modified: Feb 28, 2024 @ 1:08 pm