Congratulations to Wendy Le Mouëllic: An outstanding ambassador for IPBS and French science!
Organized by the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), in partnership with members of the International Strategic Committee, the 10th international final of the MT180 science communication competition took place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on November 21, 2024. The event was held under the high patronage of the Vice President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, the presidency of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the sponsorship of the Minister of Culture and Francophonie. During an evening filled with color, music, and emotions, finalists from 20 Francophone countries competed, presenting their thesis topics clearly and concisely in three minutes to a jury of experts and the general public.
Ms. Wendy Le Mouëllic, winner of the 1st Jury Prize in the French competition, brilliantly represented France on the international stage. In a captivating and inspired presentation, she showcased her thesis research on sulfur metabolism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, highlighting work of great scientific and societal significance.
The entire staff of IPBS warmly congratulates Wendy on this exceptional performance. She has proudly carried the banner of the laboratory and the French scientific community, embodying with brilliance the excellence and passion that define our collective commitment to research.
Bravo, Wendy! We are proud of you!
“An extraordinary competition where young Francophone researchers present their thesis work in a concise, engaging, and accessible way for everyone. The AUF, the world’s largest university network, has contributed to the international reach of this oratory exercise and the promotion of scientific Francophonie, to the point that it is organizing the national competition in twenty-five countries this year.”
Prof. Slim Khalbous, Rector of the AUF
Since 2017, the MT180 competition organized by the AUF has accounted for 130 national editions, 50 participating countries, 7,000 candidates in national finals, 13,500 in-person attendees, and 550,000 online participants.
The “My Thesis in 180 Seconds” competition was created by the Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas) in Quebec in 2012. It was inspired by the “Three Minute Thesis” (3MT) competition, which was first held in 2008 at the University of Queensland in Australia. In 2014, Acfas collaborated with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and France Universités in France, the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) in Morocco, and the University of Liège in Belgium to enable these institutions to organize the competition in their respective territories. These collaborations led to the first international final of the competition, held in September 2014 in Montreal, Canada.
The AUF joined the MT180 International Committee in 2015. Each year, the AUF, through its offices in around 60 countries, actively participates in promoting the competition by organizing national finals in Francophone countries. Following this process, the top candidates compete in the international final.