Grad Student Presenters Impress and Inspire at 3MT

This year's Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition put graduate research and public speaking skills on display as 17 Master's and Ph.D. students across nine different programs presented 180-seconds of complex research to a full crowd at Market Hall on April 18.

Presented by Traill College and Trent Academic Skills, the 3MT event - a tradition twelve-years running - is growing in popularity and talent.

"Graduate students worked for months on their 3MT presentations and they demonstrated their dedication with their excellent performances. The presentations were the best ever in the history of Trent's 3MT," said Sue Beckwith, academic skills instructor.

This year's people's choice and first-place winner, as determined by a star-studded judging panel that included alumni Chancellor Stephen Stohn '66, music producer and Trent Durham honorary degree recipient Bob Ezrin, and Chamber CEO Sarah Budd was Masters of Psychology student Jenna Bolzon (Lady Eaton College). Bolzon's research explored the relationship between posture and cognitive function and was influenced by a personal health scare in 2021 that compromised her ability to walk and talk.

"I joined 3MT as a way to break out of my comfort zone, as a way to push through my speech anxiety, and as a way to advocate for and educate about aphasia," said Bolzon. "The thought of winning never crossed my mind, and it still hasn't sunk in that I am moving to regionals."

Bolzon will represent Trent at the Ontario Regional 3MT Competition in Orillia this May; one step closer to competing at the national showcase in Toronto this fall.

"This opportunity has given me more confidence in my abilities and encourages me to continue to use my voice as it is the most powerful tool we have."

Visit the Academic Skills website for more information and to view a recording of this year's event.