In a lively forum, graduate students at Trinity Western shared the story of their research through short and engaging three-minute talks.
Held on April 4, the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition featured the work of six graduate students from multiple disciplines. Each 3MT participant presented on their areas of research in front of an audience of faculty, staff, and academic peers. Research topics included issues in human rights, history, counselling psychology, and linguistics.
The 3MT competition is an annual event, organized by the Office of Graduate Studies, which provides opportunities for graduate students to share their research discoveries with others and exercise confidence in communication and public speaking.
Students participating in TWU’s 3MT are challenged to distill their academic work into a brief and engaging presentation to inform general listeners. To excel in the competition, students must deliver a clear, compelling, and captivating story on the aims of their research and its significance for broader society.
For their presentation tools, each presenter is allowed one static slide, with no additional electronic media or props, and a maximum time allowance of three minutes. The first place winner receives $500 and advances to the 2023 national Western regional competition in Saskatchewan. The runner-up receives $250, and the People’s Choice award winner receives TWU merchandise valued at $200.
This year's presenters are pursuing graduate studies in Nursing, Linguistics, Interdisciplinary Humanities, and Counselling Psychology. Their research theses shed light on critical issues within human rights, mental health, language, history, and gender studies.
Members of this year's judging panel are Dr. Katie Steeves (Assistant Professor of Sociology), Joshua Hale (Chair, Art + Design Associate Professor), and Elizabeth Kreiter (MLIS Assistant Librarian). Coaches who helped students to prepare for the competition include Dr. Bill Strom, Dr. Curtis Congo, and Dr. Scott Macklin. The event was sponsored by TWU's Graduate Student Association, Trinity Western Campus Store, and TWU's Office of Research.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 TWU Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition:
- First Place Winner and Winner of the People's Choice award
Angelica Columbus, MA Counselling Psychology
Topic: Men’s access to mental health services
- Second Place Winner
Allison Yang, MA Counselling Psychology
Topic: The invitation: exploring the lived experience of grief-related regret
Below is the full list of 2023 TWU Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition participants:
Student Researcher |
Program |
3MT Presentation |
Faculty Supervisor |
Meghann Buyco |
MSc Nursing |
Promote the human rights of persons with albinism by supporting their families |
Sheryl Reimer-Kirkham, PhD, RN |
Gabrielle Grimes |
MA Counselling Psychology |
The lived experiences of emerging adults who are grieving the loss of a friend to suicide |
Derrick Klaassen, PhD |
Grace Baleno |
MA Linguistics |
Encouraging language development and vitality through understanding meaningful pitch (tone) |
Keith Snider, DLitt |
Allison Yang |
MA Counselling Psychology |
The invitation: exploring the lived experience of grief-related regret |
Derrick Klaassen, PhD |
Angelica Columbus |
MA Counselling Psychology |
Men’s access to mental health services |
Deepak Mathew, PhD, CCC |
Anmol Sarah Sandhu |
MA Interdisciplinary Humanities |
Sati: the convenient tool |
Robynne Healey, PhD |
About the 3MT competition
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition started in Australia at The University of Queensland in 2008 and has since been organized at universities around the world. Trinity Western University started hosting 3MT competitions in 2013, organized by the Office of Graduate Studies.
About Graduate Studies at TWU
At TWU, you will not only receive a top-quality education as a graduate student, but you will also become a part of a community that is dedicated to using their education and skills to make a positive impact on the world through their Christian beliefs and values. TWU is known for its commitment to innovation and providing its students with the tools and resources they need to succeed in their chosen fields. Learn more at the School of Graduate Studies.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four locations in Canada: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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