What is the Three Minute Thesis?

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition challenges research-based master’s and PhD students to present their research to a layperson audience in three minutes or less. Students are allowed one slide, but no props and no notes.

This year, we are excited to announce Laurier's Undergraduate Three Minute Thesis competition. Undergraduate students at Laurier who are completing a research-based thesis, major research paper or directed studies project under faculty supervision are welcome to register for the undergraduate competition.

The competition, first established in 2008 at the University of Queensland, offers students the opportunity to improve their communication skills, network with fellow academics, win thousands of dollars in prizes and, most importantly, share their important research with the world!

3MT at Laurier 

The 3MT® competition has been gaining momentum at Laurier since 2012, with a growing number of students competing over the years. The 3MT® provides all participants with the opportunity to develop a range of skillsets, while highlighting some incredible research. Laurier will be hosting both competitions on March 27, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The winner of the graduate student competition will proceed to the provincial competition at McMaster University on April 17, 2019.

Finalists 

Graduate 

First: Mariam Elmarsafy, Resurrection Ecology: Determining Water Flea Tolerance to Salinity 

Second: Scott Donald, Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport After Injury  

Honorable Mention: Victoria Parker, Diverging Definitions: The Consequences of Defining “Feminism” Differently

Participants Choice: Kendra Hardy, Profiles of Social Wellbeing Within the Transgender Community in the Region of Waterloo

Undergraduate

First: Leah Mindorff, Spilling the Tea on Toxicity Predication Models 

Second: Brampton Dakin, The Importance of Improved Water Balance Methodologies in a Changing Arctic 

Meet Our Judges  

Meet our expert panel of judges for the 3MT® Competition. 

Catherine Thompson, MIPP | Reporter, Waterloo Region Record

Eden Hennessey, PhD | Research and Programs Director, Laurier Centre for Women in Science

Heidi Northwood, PhD | Dean of Liberal Arts and Senior Executive Officer, Wilfrid Laurier University (Brantford)

Shelley Martin, BBA | Interim CEO, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

Tarique Plummer | Students’ Union President & CEO

Tristan Long, PhD | Associate Professor, Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University