A SLIIT Alumni Wins Curtin University 3MT 2025 Competition
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The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition challenges doctoral candidates to present their research in a clear and compelling manner to a non-specialist audience within just three minutes. Originating at the University of Queensland, the competition has now grown into an international platform with participation from leading universities across Asia-Pacific and beyond.
This year at Curtin University, Shanelle Tennekoon, a PhD candidate (2nd year – Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering) and Sessional Academic, EECMS, Curtin University, an alumna of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Faculty of Engineering, secured first place at the university-wide 3MT final. Her victory is particularly noteworthy as she became the first student from Curtin’s Electrical and Electronic Engineering discipline to achieve this recognition.
Her doctoral research is a timely topic that focuses on developing vision-based intelligent navigation systems for assistive wheelchairs. Her work integrates dynamic object detection, doorway alignment, hazard awareness, and user-preference–based route planning, with the goal of enabling safer and more autonomous mobility for people with disabilities. By successfully translating complex technical concepts into an accessible and impactful presentation, she demonstrated both the academic value and broader relevance of her work.
The Curtin 3MT competition followed a rigorous selection process. Candidates initially submitted written summaries, followed by faculty-level heats across engineering, medicine, business, law, and other disciplines. From each heat, three competitors were selected to progress. A total of ten finalists competed in the university-level final, from which three winners were chosen.
By winning the top prize, Shanelle will now represent Curtin University at the Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition, hosted by the University of Queensland, bringing together outstanding doctoral researchers from across Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other countries.
Reflecting on her achievement, Dr. Nimsiri Abhayasinghe, Senior Lecturer, School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences (EECMS), Curtin University, acknowledged the encouragement of her co-supervisor, Dr. Nimsiri, a lecturer at Curtin University and former Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at SLIIT. His guidance and support were instrumental in motivating her to participate in the competition.
Shanelle said, “My doctoral research at Curtin University focuses on developing intelligent vision-based navigation systems for assistive wheelchairs, enabling safer and more independent mobility for people with mobility impairments. Winning first place at Curtin’s university-wide 3MT final was a milestone I deeply value, as it was no easy task to convey years of complex research in such a short time and in an impactful way. The strong academic foundation and research culture I gained at SLIIT played a pivotal role in shaping me into a confident researcher. SLIIT nurtured my curiosity, critical thinking, and resilience, and I am proud to carry that legacy onto the global stage.”
Dr. Nimsiri also added a few thoughts on her achievement “Shanelle is a remarkable researcher whose dedication and perseverance have been evident since her undergraduate days at SLIIT. She has a unique ability to approach complex technical challenges with creativity while maintaining clarity in communication, a skill that was showcased through her winning performance at Curtin University’s 3MT competition. I am proud to have mentored her both as a SLIIT student and now as her co-supervisor at Curtin. Her achievement not only highlights her personal excellence but also reflects the strength of the academic training at SLIIT, which continues to produce globally recognised researchers.”
As she advances to the Asia-Pacific stage, Shanelle carries with her the recognition of Curtin University, the pride of SLIIT, and the example of how well-prepared Sri Lankan graduates can contribute to advancing research that has both local and global significance.
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