Researcher flying high after winning UBC Okanagan's 3MT final

Vice-Provost and Dean of UBC Okanagan’s College of Graduate Studies Miriam Grant (far left) poses with biology student Corrina Thomsen; chemistry student Matthew Noestheden; Stephanie McKeown, director, Okanagan Planning and Institutional Research; Paul van Donkelaar, associate vice-principal research; Susan Porter, vice-provost and dean UBC Vancouver’s Faculty of Graduate Studies; biology student Sydney Morgan; social work student Tanya MacKeigan; electrical engineering student Franzi Tschurtschenthaler and interdisciplinary studies student John Henderson.

Unique presentation of thesis leads to top points

Doctoral student Sydney Morgan won UBC Okanagan’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition yesterday, with a presentation of her research into native or indigenous yeasts that can make exceptional wines.

In a hotly contested final at UBC’s Okanagan campus, six graduate students had three minutes to explain their research findings to a non-academic crowd.

Morgan, a student in the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences, took the top prize of $3,000, along with the People’s Choice award (meaning an additional $1,000) and a spot in the Western Regional 3MT Competition, with her presentation Bringing Wine Back Home.

“I found the 3MT competition to be an extremely rewarding experience. It was a privilege to present my research amongst so many talented fellow graduate students. The calibre of presentations this year was excellent,” says Morgan.  “Preparing for the 3MT gave me new insight into my own research because it forced me to think about it from an outsider’s perspective, which is extremely valuable.”

Matthew Noestheden, also from the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences, was runner-up, winning $2,000 for the presentation Forest Fires and the Wine We Drink.

“Each of our finalists did an amazing job in explaining their research and the impact it will have locally and globally,” says Miriam Grant, dean of UBC Okanagan’s College of Graduate Studies. “The value of research at this campus is hard to overlook when its impact is clearly articulated in a way that resonates with the community.”

As the winner of the 3MT Final, Morgan will travel to next month’s Western Regional 3MT Competition hosted by the University of Regina.

From there, the top three presenters will win an opportunity to compete in the nationals, hosted by the Canadian Association of Graduate Studies.

This is the fifth annual 3MT held at UBC’s Okanagan campus. The 3MT originated at the University of Queensland in 2008 and currently takes place in various countries around the world.

About UBC's Okanagan campus

UBC’s Okanagan campus is an innovative hub for research and learning in the heart of British Columbia’s stunning Okanagan Valley. Ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world, UBC is home to bold thinking and discoveries that make a difference. Established in 2005, the Okanagan campus combines a globally recognized UBC education with a tight-knit and entrepreneurial community that welcomes students and faculty from around the world. For more visit ok.ubc.ca.