What happens when cutting-edge doctoral research must be made understandable to everyone—in just five minutes? On the occasion of the University of Macau’s 45th Anniversary Open Day, the answer was provided by the Centre for Tourism and Integrated Resort Development and the Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management through a “PhD Research Impact Challenge” organized by Prof. Amy Siu Ian SO, Assistant Dean (Business Engagement and Alumni Affairs), Director of Centre for Tourism and Integrated Resort Studies.
This competition aims to inspire doctoral students to refine the core value of their research and transform academic findings into impactful narratives that can be understood and appreciated by the public. The event unfolded in two stages, balancing originality, clarity, and social relevance.
01 Online Selection
The first stage was a closed-door online selection held in December 2025, which narrowed the field down to five finalists. The preliminary round was judged by Prof. Huiling HUANG and Prof. Danni SUN.
02 Live Final Competition
The final competition took place on 11 January 2026, during the University of Macau Open Day. Participants delivered five-minute dynamic presentations to showcase their research, evaluated through a dual-judging mechanism: professional judges scored based on originality, clarity, and presentation skills, while live audience votes were proportionally converted into scores. The final jury comprised Prof. Faye Feier CHEN, Prof. Soey Sut Ieng LEI, and Prof. Danni SUN.
Before the award ceremony, Prof. Amy Siu Ian SO delivered a speech emphasising, “Translating doctoral research outcomes into meaningful social impact is crucial. This is precisely the core competency that this competition seeks to cultivate.”
In the end, PhD students Hu Ling’en claimed the championship, with Zeng Xinyi and Huang Yaru securing first and second runner-up positions respectively. They demonstrated not only rigorous academic proficiency but also compelling public communication and engagement skills.
This was more than just a competition; it was a testament to the University of Macau’s commitment to fostering impactful research and facilitating dialogue between academia and society. When knowledge steps out of the ivory tower, research truly shines with the power to transform reality.
