The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic competition that challenges graduate students to present their research concisely and effectively in three minutes to a broad audience. First developed by the University of Queensland in 2008, the competition has since gained international recognition. UBC has been hosting its own 3MT competition since 2011, with individual faculties and departments holding preliminary heats usually between February and March. Winners from these heats advance to the UBC-wide semifinals, culminating in the grand finale in March.
On March 5, 2025, the Materials Engineering Graduate Student Association (MTRL GSA) and the Civil Engineering Graduate Student Society (CEGSS) co-hosted this year’s 3MT heat at the Frank Forward Building. Graduate students were given three minutes and one slide to communicate their research to a diverse audience. Following each presentation, audiences had the opportunity to ask one or two questions to engage further with the participants’ work.
“This competition really provides a great platform for graduate students to refine their communication skills, which are essential both in academia and in the workforce. It’s a great way to learn how to explain and break down complex research to peers from different academic backgrounds,” said one of the organizers.
The competition ended with scores so close that judges had to resort to standard deviation calculations to determine the winners! Congratulations to this year’s MTRL winner – Kevin Oesef, for his presentation, “Enhancing Cellulose Nanofibril Compatibility with Epoxy Resins through a Water-Based Surface Hydrophobization Strategy”. Kevin will advance to the UBC 3MT semifinals on March 12 at the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, come and support your peer!
A special thank-you to MTRL GSA and CEGSS for organizing this successful event and to CEGSS for providing delicious refreshments. We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to the judges for their time and thoughtful evaluations – this event would not have been possible without your support!
For more information about 3MT at UBC, please visit the official website.