Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs hosted the first ever virtual University of Waterloo Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Biologist Isabel Hilgendag and vision scientist Yara Mohiar both represented the Faculty of Science. Mohiar won second place, making her the fourth student from the School of Optometry & Vision Science to place/win at the university level competition.
The Three Minute Thesis competition challenges research-based graduate students to articulate the breadth and significance of their research to a non-specialist panel of judges, in a 3 minute presentation using just 1 static power point slide.
At every level of the 3MT competition, each competitor is assessed on communications, comprehension and engagement. Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.
The University of Waterloo hosts the largest 3MT competition in Canada, with heats taking place at the faculty and university-wide levels. The Faculty of Science has produced university, provincial and national level 3MT champions.
This year, 200 graduate students competed in the 3MT faculty-based heats, resulting in 15 champions moving forward to compete at the University level competition.
The 2020 Waterloo 3MT top three winners were:
- First place ($1000): Jasdeep Multani, Designing the Classrooms of the Future: Incorporating Sensory Cognizant Design Strategies (Engineering) -
- Second place ($500): Yara Mohiar, The Pressures of Space Exploration (Science)
- Third place ($250): Robert Bennett, Simulating the Technology of Tomorrow (Engineering)
Multani will represent the University of Waterloo at the Ontario Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Provincial Competition, which will be hosted by University of Windsor.
From
June
30th
until
July
6th,
the
Waterloo
community
was
asked
to
watch
the
competitor's
videos
and vote
for
the
People's
Choice
winner.
More
than 1,500
votes
were
cast. Sarena
Daljeet (Arts) won
$250
and
People's
Choice
for
her
presentation
"How
Do
you
Feel
About
That?".
"I want to commend you for proceeding with the 3MT competition in such a challenging time. I think what you’ve done this year demonstrates your resilience, commitment to and passion for your research. I’m so thrilled to have you as part of our University of Waterloo graduate student community," said Jeff Casello, Associate Vice-President, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.
The
2020
Waterloo
3MT judges
were: Gary
Klassen (Waterloo
alumnus
& Technical
Lead/Manager
at
Google
in
Waterloo), Maryam
Latifpoor-Keparoutis (Director
of
Advancement, Faculty
of
Environment)
and
Katy
Wong-Francq (Senior
Manager,
Strategic
Initiatives
at
the
Office
of
the
VP
Research
and
International).
The 3MT concept was first established in 2008 by the University of Queensland (UQ), as a research communication competition that cultivates students' presentation and communication skills and provides them with invaluable networking opportunities.
About Yara
Yara Mohiar is currently an MSc student in the School of Optometry & Vision Science and working under the supervision of Prof. Elizabeth Irving.
Her research investigates the effects of long-term space travel on the optic nerve. By simulating the fluid shifts that occur in the human body in space, and comparing the effects on blood pressure and eye pressure, her research may help to prevent eye damage in future space travellers.
This past March, she was awarded both first place and Audience Choice at the Faculty of Science 3MT competition.
Mohiar obtained her BSc degree in Optometry from Jordan. Her research interests include behavioural psychology and ocular pathophysiology.
Outside of research, Mohiar enjoys riddles, creating treasure hunts, reading and watching comedies. With a passion for teaching, Mohiar aims to complete her PhD in Optometry in the near future.