Three minutes seems like a long time if you’re brushing your teeth or waiting for a bus in the freezing cold. But when three minutes is all the time you have to explain your complex research in front of a live audience, the time seems to go by in a flash.

That’s the challenge facing 12 Brock University graduate students on Thursday, Feb. 15 when the preliminary round of the 2018 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Challenge is held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Pond Inlet.

Now in its sixth year at Brock, the 3MT Challenge originated in Queensland, Australia in 2008 as a way for students to explain their research to a broad audience in plain, accessible terms. The contest has caught on around the world, and more than 40 schools in Canada participated last year.

“Part of being a successful researcher is learning how to communicate your work to an audience outside of your discipline,” says Diane Dupont, Interim Dean of Graduate Studies. “3MT allows students to practise how to distill a project to its essentials. This is a valuable skill to learn as students prepare for the next step of their academic studies or to transition to a career.”

This year’s competitors will present on topics ranging from algae to mindfulness to residential schools. Judging the preliminary round will be Kevin Cavanagh, Interim Director of Marketing and Communications; Kara Renaud, Supervisor, Career Education; and Brad McLean, Associate Director, Innovation and Commercialization in the Office of Research Services.

Using the key criteria of communication, engagement and comprehension, the judges will pick the top five presenters to advance to the Brock finals being held Thursday, March 29. The winner will receive $500 and will advance on to the Ontario regional round at York University on Thursday, April 19.

Thursday’s preliminary round is open to everyone and will be followed by a reception.

Presenters in the preliminary round include:

• Liisa Wainman, MSc in Applied Health Sciences, “Getting A Grip on Hypertension: Investigating The Effects of Isometric Handgrip Training on Blood Pressure in Hypertension.”
• Cody McMahon, MA in History, “Soldiers to Scholars: Veterans and Universities in Postwar Canada.”
• Kaitlyn Kerridge, MA in Applied Health Sciences, “Mindfully Making Our Way in the World: The Exploration of Mindfulness Among Post-Secondary Students.”
• Evguenia Ignatova, MA in Applied Disability Studies, “Impact of Ontario Quality Assurance Measures Legislation on Services for Adults with Developmental Disabilities.”
• Tim Hayslip, MA in Critical Sociology, “A Materialist Account of Idealism.”
• Paul Michael Pilkington, MSc in Earth Science, “A Tale of Two Lakes: Rise of the Green Algae.”
• Shannon Kitchings, MA in Social Justice and Equity Studies, “Can You Hear Me Now?”
• Caleb Chee, MA in Applied Health Sciences, “Pre-Service Teachers’ Understanding of Positive Social Interaction in Physical Education.”
• Luciano Lapa, MSc in Management, “The role of trust beliefs in shaping m-commerce usage intention: The good vs. the efficient and ethical retailer.”
• Ali Anwar, MSc in Management, “The Personalization-Privacy Paradox in M-commerce: Loyalty Outcomes Explained Through Customers Flow Experience and Regulatory Foci”
• Aly Bailey, PhD in Applied Health Sciences, “Get with the program – the BIAS program.”
• Allison Bowman, MA in Applied Health Sciences, “Not just Babysitters, Dads Parent Too: Helping fathers with the transition to fatherhood.”