With only three minutes each at their disposal, seven Brock University graduate students will pitch their research Monday, April 17 in hopes of captivating both the judges and the crowd.

Finalists in the University’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition will vie for the $1,000 prize and a spot representing Brock and Niagara in the provincial finals May 17 at Queen’s University.

The competition, which originated in Queensland, Australia, in 2008, encourages students to sharpen their knowledge mobilization skills, explaining their research to a broad audience in plain, accessible terms. Presenters have three minutes and a single slide image to summarize their research.

Thirteen contestants competed in Brock’s first round in March, with internal judges choosing the top students to move on to Monday’s finals.

The seven 3MT finalists include:

• Madiha Ahmed, Mathematics and Statistics, “Artificial Intelligence based model for Novel Multi-target drug design” ​
• Zoe Gagnon, Biological Sciences, “Examining the role of Sema3A in hippocampal spatial memory formation in the adult mouse​”
• Karl Grantham, Computer Science, “AI Enabled Drug Design and Side Effect Prediction Powered by Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms and Transformer Models”​
• Ben Johnson, Child and Youth Studies, “Pursuing Universal Design for Learning in Reading Remediation: Investigating How Executive ​Functioning Predicts Success​”
• Mourin Mostafiz, Management, “Responding to organizational crisis: The role of message framing and information processing system”
• Alex Popescu, Biological Sciences, with “Heads up! Social vigilance behaviour in American crows”
• Alex Wilder, Biological Sciences, “Smell you later: Understanding the role of olfactory signals in African penguin communication​”

The 3MT finals external judge panel will evaluate students on communication, comprehension and engagement.

The panel consists of respected and influential members of Niagara who bring a valuable and diverse lens to the competition. Judges include Dr. M. Mustafa Hirji, Medical Officer of Health and Commissioner (Acting), Niagara Region; Deborah Rosati, founder and CEO of Women Get On Board Inc.; and St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe.

Audience members will also have a chance to have their say Monday, choosing their favourite presentation during the People’s Choice Award vote.

The Faculty of Graduate Studies encourages the Brock community to watch and support the University’s 3MT finalists Monday, April 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. in Pond Inlet.

More details can be found on Brock’s 3MT website.