Faculty of Science  

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed in 2008 by The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia. Research students have three minutes to present a compelling oration on their thesis and its significance. 3MT is not an exercise in trivializing or 'dumbing-down' research but challenges students to consolidate their ideas and research discoveries so they can be presented concisely to a non-specialist audience.

The quality of the presentation is assessed by a panel of judges with no special background in the topic. The goal is to be able to highlight the importance of your thesis effectively and efficiently to a non-scientist audience. The value of this skill cannot be overstated; whenever you talk to colleagues, the media, or the public, you need to present your research position clearly and concisely. Participating in a 3MT competition will provide you with valuable practice in this important skill.

If you have any questions about the Faculty of Science 3MT competition, please email science@mun.ca.  

3MT Application 

3MT 2025

The Faculty of Science hosted a competition for Science students on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.

Congratulations to our five winners!

First place winner, Ihechi Marcus, is a masters student in the Human Biosciences department. She presented her research on how to stop heart disease before it starts. She’s exploring how to tell the chemical process that removes cholesterol from our arteries to keep going and remove more cholesterol: “Role of MicroRNA-132 in Regulating Cholesterol Efflux and Foam Cell Formation in Macrophages.”

Fatema Elgammal, also a masters student in Human Biosciences, took home the second place prize for her research presentation on how to best treat diabetes, with an alternative to Ozempic that is more affordable and may have fewer side effects: “Comparing the Metabolic and Neurobehavioral Effects of Ulotaront vs Semaglutide in Diet-Induced Obese Mice.”

Honourable mentions were given to Narmada Weerakkody, whose thesis “Assessing the health benefits of Newfoundland seaweed” is uncovering the science behind traditional knowledge of Indigenous remedies; Amanda Turpin, whose pitch “Back to basics: exploring germination in Synchytrium endobioticum,” may hold the answer to how to treat a plant pathogen wreaking havoc on Canada’s potato industry; and Jacob Hearty, whose presentation, “The Association Between Milk and Dairy Consumption and Body Fat and Weight Status in School-Aged Children in St. John's, N.L.” aims to inform policy makers on a means of preventing childhood obesity.