The national round of the MT180 (My Thesis in 180 Seconds/ Ma thèse en 180 secondes) competition was held for the eighth time this year, jointly organized by the French Institute of Hungary and Eötvös Loránd University. The audience prize was awarded to our Francophone PhD candidate, Theodora Bernitsa, who captivated listeners with her presentation on the food-safety challenges of meat substitutes.

What makes this prestigious international competition unique is that doctoral candidates must present their dissertation research in French using only a single slide and within just three minutes. Both the jury and the audience reward the most impactful and engaging presentation, regardless of academic discipline.

In addition to promoting the French language, the initiative encourages researchers to communicate their scientific work in a clear and accessible way. Participants are given the opportunity to summarize their research before a broader audience—an increasingly important skill for their future academic and professional careers.

The event is organized as part of the Month of Francophonie and has been held in nearly 30 countries since 2012. This year’s national final took place on March 23 in the Council Room of the Faculty of Humanities at Eötvös Loránd University. Alongside Theodora Bernitsa, the prize winners included doctoral candidates Lidia Haffaressas and Zsolt Gömbös-Pamper.

The three laureates will represent Hungary at the regional final in Vienna on June 15. The event will be organized by the French Institute of Austria and the Vienna University of Economics and Business in cooperation with the French Institutes of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

We warmly congratulate them on their achievements so far and wish them every success in the final!