Gabriel Venet, winner of the jury's first prize in the heSam University final, has been selected for the national final. This doctoral student, who is a fan of role-playing games, is ready to talk about his thesis even in verse...
What is the challenge for you with My Thesis in 180 Seconds?
This is my second time participating. The first time, it took me a while to figure out what ideas to convey. This year, what took me a long time was writing my text in alexandrines... A personal challenge. I like this very different way of talking about what I do, talking about my thesis, talking about what is important to me from a perspective other than that of a researcher.
Engineers from Arts et Métiers, how did you decide to pursue doctoral studies?
When I was thinking about my career path, those around me emphasized my profile as a researcher and my enjoyment of explaining things. Not having a particular subject in mind, I decided to pursue a doctorate, not for the subject matter, but for the supervision. I called some professors I liked to discuss it. That's how I ended up applying to do a thesis with Cyril Baudouin at the Design, Manufacturing, and Control Laboratory at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Metz. I liked the field and was interested in the experiments.
You work on simulations of the forging process...
In simulations, every model must be as close to reality as possible. This reality is derived from experiments conducted on very expensive specialized machines. The aim of my thesis is to explore the possibility of conducting these experiments using resources that are more similar to those available to industry.
What do you enjoy about doctoral studies?
The way of approaching a problem. There is a difference between the way an engineer thinks and the way a researcher thinks. Today, I'm not afraid to say "I don't know." This research work is an opening; it teaches you how to approach any problem.
And then, I really like being independent. I'm given a problem, and I proceed as I see fit. I can move forward on my own, ask my thesis advisor... Finally, I enjoy being able to teach. Explaining is like telling a story. And the pleasure is twofold because I'm telling a useful story.
What would you say to an engineering student considering doctoral studies?
The real question to ask yourself is, "Am I prepared to work on the same subject for three years?" If so, don't hesitate—there are few opportunities to push your knowledge of a subject this far.
