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K-State Today

February 25, 2022

Finalists selected for Three Minute Thesis

Submitted by Megan Miller

On Feb. 23, 41 graduate students competed in the first round of competition for K-State's Three Minute Thesis. Ten presenters were selected to advance to the final competition at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, at the K-State Alumni Center Banquet Room. The event is open to the public.

The 10 finalists:

  • Natalie Duling, master's student in music, "Inclusive high school music education: How do we get there?"
  • Brandi Feehan, doctoral student in genetics, "Clue: Discovering the who, where, and what of gut microbes."
  • Olivia Haley, doctoral student in horticulture and natural resources, "There's a photon in my water! UV light, food safety, and you."
  • Lindsay Howard, doctoral student in couple and family therapy, "Raising an emotionally strong society."
  • Mehreen Iftikhar, master's student in grain science, "Accelerated shelf-life study of rice with added micronutrients."
  • Camille Rieber, master's student in statistics, "Why did the prairie chicken cross the road?"
  • Kiana Schulze, doctoral student in kinesiology, "Pulmonary hypertension: Not just a lung disease?"
  • Ketan Shende, doctoral student in biological and agricultural engineering, "Less time, more data!"
  • Jack Sytsma, master's student in biology, "Saving the Prairie from Drought, One Grass at a Time"
  • Lily Woitaszewski, master's student in agronomy, "Cattle and cover crops: Coming together to combat weeds."

Judges in K-State's final competition select a first-place winner to receive a $500 scholarship and to represent K-State in the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools' 3MT Competition in April. The second-place presenter is awarded a $250 scholarship. The audience will participate by voting for the people's choice winner, who receives a $125 scholarship.

Judges for the final competition:

  • Olivia Collins, assistant professor emerita at the Staley School of Leadership Studies.
  • Michael Dodson, member of the Kansas House of Representatives.
  • Mary Ice, K-State alumna and advocate.
  • David Rosowsky, K-State vice president for research.
  • Jeanette Thurston, director of K-State's Food Science Institute.

The Three Minute Thesis Competition, known as 3MT, began in 2008 at the University of Queensland, Australia. The 3MT challenges graduate students to hone their science communication skills by presenting a compelling oration on their thesis topic and its significance in three minutes using a single slide.

Questions about K-State's Three Minute Thesis Competition can be directed to Megan Miller, the Graduate School's student success coordinator, at mmmiller@k-state.edu.