From left to right: Myriam Teklé (1st prize), Hiba Zein (2nd prize), and Jean el-Khawand (3rd prize). (Credit: AUF.)
Three minutes, not one more, and a single static slide for support: this was the challenge posed to the nine doctoral candidate finalists from USJ, UL, and USEK, during the national final of the "My Thesis in 180 Seconds" competition, held on Wednesday, June 19, at the CNRS headquarters in Bir Hassan.
Organized by the Middle East Office of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), the National Council for Scientific Research in Lebanon (CNRS-L), and the National Observatory of Women in Research — partners of this competition for eight years — this international scientific dissemination contest aims to make science accessible to the general public while helping doctoral students enhance their work by developing communication skills to explain a complex subject simply and effectively.
Selected from about twenty candidates from various scientific and literary disciplines, the finalists presented their research to a jury composed of Jean-Noel Baleo, regional director of the AUF Middle East, our colleagues Suzanne Baaklini and Roula Azar Douglas, coordinator of the National Observatory of Women in Research, as well as Hiba al-Hajj, a teaching-researcher at the American University of Beirut (AUB).
Addressing themes in disciplines as varied as human resources, musicology, translation, agronomy, nutrition, and sociology, the doctoral candidates took turns presenting their thesis subjects in a concise, clear manner and in French — a language that was often not their native tongue.
At the end of this fiercely contested competition, it was Myriam Tekle from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik who impressed the jury with "her talent as an orator, the clarity and scientific dissemination of her subject, and her smile that did not leave her throughout her performance," as highlighted by Hajj. She will go on to represent Lebanon at the international final scheduled for early October in Bucharest. Hiba Zein from Saint Joseph University of Beirut took second place, and Jean al-Khawand from USJ — the only male candidate — secured third place.
The ability to communicate has become essential
"This competition, while promoting the French language, primarily aims to highlight the next generation of scientists in all disciplines by encouraging young people to popularize their research," noted Baleo. "But today, expertise, the accumulation of scientific skills, creativity are no longer sufficient. The ability to communicate has become essential," he added.
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"And that is the whole challenge of this type of competition," affirms Roula Azar Douglas, reminding that "the fundamental objective of scientific research is to advance society" and that "this impact is impossible if science remains confined to a closed circle of experts."
This conviction was vividly embodied during this final, where the candidates managed to go beyond the academic framework to make their research accessible to all. From the first candidate, Christelle Boulos (USEK), to Cynthia al-Hajj (USEK), through Khawand (USJ), Marianne Fahed (USEK), Abla Ghattas (USJ), Claire Khoury (USEK), Tekle (USEK), Hiba Zein (USJ), and Imane Taha (UL), the ideas flowed before a jury won over by the richness and diversity of the studies presented.
The young researchers were very impressive and met the challenge of stepping out of their academic "bubble" to present their work to the general public. To succeed in this demanding exercise, the candidates benefited from specific training, first in the art speaking out loud, to help them overcome their stage fright, master their gestures, overcome their shyness, and especially manage their stress.
Furthermore, they received valuable advice on writing and scientific dissemination of their presentation, provided by CNRS-L and the Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas), the organization behind the contest.
This article was originally published in French by L'Orient-le Jour.
