January 11, 2024 saw the launch of the 11th edition of the Ma thèse en 180 secondes (MT180) competition for Aix-Marseille Provence Méditerranée PhD students.
Reading time: 5 minutes
21* PhD students from all disciplines at the Universities of Avignon, Corsica and Aix-Marseille have embarked on the MT180 adventure this year. Rendezvous at 9:30 am at the Espace Fernand Pouillon in Saint-Charles for this first day of training, where the Doctoral training team awaits them.
A month and a half of preparation
Over a cup of coffee, everyone gets to know the rest of the class, with whom they'll be spending the next month and a half preparing for the regional final on February 23. Speaking of getting to know each other better, it's time for the first group exercise proposed by the trainers: Chloé Landry from the scientific culture unit of the Direction de la recherche et de la valorisation, and Olivier Chabrol, coach and 3rd prizewinner on the jury of the national final in 2017.
"Who's wide awake this morning? Who has already explained their thesis to their grandmother? Who's feeling anxious? Who already has an idea of what they'd like to do?" In turn, everyone stands up and sits down in response to the various questions. Little by little, we discover the similarities, differences and, above all, the motivations of each other. Here, each candidate will receive the best possible support, depending on his or her goal.
While some are keen to "bring it home", other reasons for taking part emerge: taking a step back from your research, feeling more at ease when speaking in public, integrating a popularization section into your thesis defense...
After a reminder of the instructions for taking part in the competition and a presentation of the training schedule, it was soon time for the first event: the drawing of lots to determine the running order for the semi-final. Although Olivier reminds them that "there's no such thing as a good place", there's still a certain amount of tension. With a sigh of relief (or not), the die is cast, and they move on to the projection of the 2023 national finals to analyze the performances.
Taking part in MT180 means knowing what to give up
Some of them, having spent time looking at past passages before coming to the training, say they recognize an "MT180 style", with the hook and the punchline responding to each other, for example. It's also an opportunity to realize the place of subjectivity in this competition, where not everyone is sensitive to the same things. While some may feel that "she's lucky, her thesis subject is easier to popularize ", they realize that every subject has its own difficulties. They also discover that no attitude or gesture is left to chance, that it's all a question of choices. And it's clear that there are going to be choices when Chloé announces that "taking part in MT180 means knowing what to give up". Certain elements of your thesis, she adds. After all, you can't tell the whole story of several years' work in just 180 seconds.
"What do you do with boring words? " asks a PhD student. The first training tips begin as the candidates increasingly project themselves into the exercise: personifying complex elements, choosing a register that suits you, writing and rewriting your text, and so on. And who better to give advice than those who have gone before us? Thomas Valerio and Margot Cassayre, finalists in the 2023 edition, as well as Baptiste Kergaravat, 1st prize of the jury of the 2023 regional final, agreed to come and share their experience with the newcomers. "Doing MT180 is a breath of fresh air during your thesis", or "one motto: enjoy!" Exchanges abound on style choices, questioning the relationship with the stopwatch, group dynamics, the evolution of the text... In the course of the conversation, someone has the courage to ask "what happens when you screw up?". One of the 2023 candidates testifies knowingly and explains that, despite the disappointment felt personally, the audience is extremely benevolent and supported them when they chose to start again from scratch. The opinion about the audience is unanimous: the people who attend Ma thèse en 180 secondes enjoy the show and always give a warm welcome to each performance. It's a moment to enjoy, because "it's always too short!
Building confidence and learning from others
After a well-deserved lunch break, and taking of the portrait photos that will accompany the candidates throughout their MT180 journey, it's time to get up in front of the group to test their first draft. Some have come with already drafted texts, others are going for it on a whim - who cares! The important thing is to take part, to gain confidence and benefit from as much feedback as possible during these three days of training. Whether it's breast cancer, George Brassens or alternative solutions to pesticides, for a few hours it's a chance to think about the message you want to get across, share draft texts, try your hand at metaphorical storytelling and, above all... learn how to do it in 180 seconds!
The regional final of the Ma thèse en 180 secondes competition will take place on Friday February 23 from 6pm at the Théâtre Antoine Vitez in Aix-en-Provence. Registration to attend in person is possible via Eventbrite (subject to availability).
*They will be joined by two candidates from the University of Toulon in the semi-finals on February 22.
Article written by Fanny Trifilieff and published on Monday, January 29, 2024.
Photo credits : Eléa Ropiot - Aix-Marseille Université
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