PhD student Caroline Wenger from the Fenner School of Environment and Society is overcoming her fears to compete in the ANU grand final of the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

Caroline Wenger might be representing the ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment at the 3MT grand final, but she says she’s used to feeling “a bit like the odd one out” amongst other scientists.

“I’m speaking about policy—how to encourage flood policies able to cope with climate change—and I think a lot of people don’t quite understand what that has to do with the science colleges.

“I think I've made 'policy' as interesting as I can. I start off telling an ancient story and then use that as an analogy for two opposing policy approaches that are both labelled 'resilience' by politicians, and ask, which one is 'true' resilience? I find the topic both relevant and engrossing, but others may not find it as exciting as exploring distant galaxies!”

Caroline says her presentation, called ‘Immovable oaks and unbreachable dykes’, is "about improving flood management on the ground”.

“Exposure to floods is actually an important part of the process, building flood walls to keep them out only makes us more vulnerable in the long run,” she says.

“That means communicating my ideas to the general public, policymakers, engineers, local decision makers, insurance agencies, emergency managers and floodplain managers. There is no reason for me to do this research if it is only read by other researchers.”

But it’s also part of a personal mission for Caroline to overcome “a dread” of public speaking.

“The PhD has provided me the opportunity to gain skills and overcome that fear. The 3MT is a stage along that journey.”

Now a grand finalist in one of the toughest public speaking gigs around, Caroline’s journey has taken her to the right destination.