It was a case of short and sweet for PhD student Bridget Haire, who will represent Sydney Uni at this week’s finals of the Trans-Tasman Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

The 3MT competition challenges postgraduate research students to present their research topic in just three minutes to an intelligent, non-specialist audience in an engaging way. Bridget won the University of Sydney’s stage of the competition last month with a presentation on her research on HIV treatment trials. She questions whether it is ethical to issue trial participants with a placebo in order to test the effectiveness of an established treatment.

Read the full story | Watch some of the Sydney finalists

Children aged 8 to 17 years who do not suffer from problems with anxiety are needed to participate in a research study. We are also looking for children who experience obsessive or compulsive symptoms.

Children will be asked to complete a short interview and a simple sorting task. One parent will also be asked to complete a short telephone interview. Children will receive a $20 movie voucher for participating.

For further information please contact Sharlene Mantz from the School of Psychology on 0416 890 595.

Volunteers will be asked to participate in a brief social interaction with another person, and to complete some short questionnaires and computerised tasks.

The study takes place over one hour on Camperdown Campus, and participants will be compensated for their time. For more information and to register, please complete this School of Psychology survey.

Professor Kerry Brown, Executive Director of the China Studies Centre, will discuss the era of Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao drawing to a close.

Event details
When: 6 to 7.30pm, Tuesday 16 October
Where: Foyer, New Law Building, Camperdown Campus
Cost: Free, online registration required

To register or for more information, visit the Events website.

How do we understand the imperceptible?

Renowned feminist scholar Professor Liz Grosz returns to campus for a lecture addressing the complex relationship between Francis Bacon and Giles Deleuze, who wrote one of the most sympathetic books on Bacon's paintings, Francis Bacon: The Logic of Sensation.

Event details
When: 6 to 7.30pm, Thursday 18 October
Where: Lecture Theatre 101, New Law Building, Camperdown Campus
Cost: Free, no registration required

For more information, visit the Sydney Ideas website.

How do we keep the conversation going about agriculture?

Global issues like food security and climate change suggest a tough road ahead. Speakers include celebrity gardening expert Costa Georgiadis. Discounts are available for Sydney students and alumni.

Event details
When: 9.30am to 4pm, Friday 19 October
Where: New Law Building, Camperdown Campus
Cost: $75, University of Sydney alumni $60

To register or for more information, visit the Events website.