Florida Atlantic University has announced the winners of the eighth annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition hosted by the Graduate College

Florida Atlantic University has announced the winners of the eighth annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition hosted by the Graduate College.

The goal of the 3MT® competition is for FAU graduate students from all colleges and departments to cultivate the ability to explain their research – including both breadth and significance – in a language appropriate to an audience containing both specialists and non-specialists, in three minutes or less. The 3MT® competition provides FAU graduate students with the opportunity to sharpen their professional development skills, reignite their passion for discovery, promote preeminent research, and foster community.

“I am delighted to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the participants and winners of this year’s Florida Atlantic 3MT® competition,” said Robert Stackman Jr., Ph.D., dean of the Graduate College and associate vice president of academic affairs at the John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter. “Graduate students are fundamental to our university’s research and scholarly endeavors, driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of knowledge. The 3MT® competition stands as a testament to their ability to distill complex research into clear, compelling narratives. This year’s competition was nothing short of exceptional, showcasing the diverse and impactful research being conducted across our university.”

A total of 37 graduate students pitched their research projects to a live audience, with 15 awarded scholarship prizes throughout the entirety of the competition. A panel of distinguished FAU community members determined the 2024 first-place, runner-up and second runner-up championship winners. More than 300 online votes submitted by public viewers named the People’s Choice Award winner.

The championship winners of the 2024 3MT® competition are:

FAU championship winner and recipient of the Dr. Eric H. Shaw 3MT® Championship Endowment Award

Title: “Why You Buggin’ Out: Does Seasonality Drive Insectivory in a Mixed-Species Group of African Monkeys?”

Presented by: Kayla Ahlness, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science

Faculty Advisor: Kate Detweiler, Ph.D.

FAU 3MT® runner-up

Title: “Evidence of Canals and Network Potential for Amyloid Beta Drainage out of the Brain”

Presented by: Giselle Shim, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

Faculty Advisor: Rui Tao, D.V.M., Ph.D.

FAU 3MT® second runner-up and People’s Choice Award winner

Title: “Why Memes Are Serious Business: The Relationship Between Political Polarization and Meme Effectiveness”

Presented by: Jordan Thompson, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science

Faculty Advisor: Geoffrey Wetherell, Ph.D.

Ahlness, the championship winner and recipient of the $2,500 Dr. Eric H. Shaw 3MT® Championship Award, also represented FAU recently at the Conference of Florida Graduate Schools at the University of West Florida, where she competed in the statewide 3MT® competition and was chosen as the People’s Choice Winner.

“To the champions and participants alike, your projects inspired the university community and deserve attention and recognition,” added Stackman. “I extend my sincere gratitude to Elizabeth Weber, manager of graduate admissions and events, and the dedicated team of the Graduate College staff, for their unwavering commitment to making this event a resounding success.”

FAU 3MT® is a venue for graduate students from various disciplines to interact with one another and discuss their research and its implications. The competition provides an opportunity for undergraduates, alumni, industry partners, various on-campus departments, institutions and the community to gain exposure to high-level, cutting-edge research at FAU.

For more information on FAU’s 3MT® competition, click here.

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