A record number of Brock graduate students will be participating in the Mapping the New Knowledges research conference on Wednesday, April 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Brock campus.

The annual showcase of research under way in the University’s 42 master’s and doctoral programs will feature presentations by about 125 students.

“The title of the conference is so appropriate since our students will be presenting on topics that take research in amazing directions,” says Mike Plyley, Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies. “The list of topics is a fascinating mix of disciplines – classics, geography, sociology, science, business, health sciences, pop culture, education, child and youth, history and the list goes on.”

The conference will also feature the University’s first Three Minute Thesis (3MT) contest. Thesis master’s students and PhD candidates who enter the contest will have three minutes and not a second more to talk about their research and why it matters in a way that will inform and captivate a non-specialist audience.

The contest has been growing in popularity internationally and nationally since the University of Queensland in Australia held the first 3MT challenge in 2008. The winner of Brock’s competition will advance to the provincial contest held at Queen’s University on April 18.

All conference events will be centred at Plaza Building Levels 300 and 400 and Cairns Complex Level 3.

The conference is open to the public and there is no charge to attend.

Conference highlights include:

• 8:30 a.m. – Keynote address by Janet Conway, associate professor, Department of Sociology, Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Social Justice

• 9:15 to 11 a.m. – Concurrent Oral Presentations Session 1

• 11 a.m. to 12 noon – Three Minute Thesis contest

• 1 to 2 p.m. – Presentation of the Graduate Mentorship Awards to recognize excellence in graduate supervision and mentorship. All award nominees will be honoured

• 2 to 3:20 p.m. – Concurrent Oral Presentations Session 2

• 3:20 to 4 p.m. – Poster presentations. Brock graduate students will be available to discuss their research projects

• 4 to 5 p.m. – Concurrent Oral Presentations Session 3