The University of Calgary's Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition returned for its 13th year in 2025, continuing to shine a spotlight on some of the university's brightest minds and their groundbreaking research. Originally developed by the University of Queensland in 2008, the UCalgary 3MT competition, led by the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), challenges graduate students to condense their thesis work into a three-minute presentation using just one static slide; all while engaging a non-specialist audience.
The 2025 3MT finalists with President Ed McCauley, right, and Dean Tara Beattie, left. Photo Courtesy Adrian Shellard
"The 3MT competition continues to highlight the incredible talent and dedication of our graduate students at the University of Calgary," said Dr. Tara Beattie, dean and vice-provost (graduate studies).
"This year's finalists captivated the audience with compelling presentations that clearly demonstrated their ability to communicate complex research in an accessible and engaging way. The energy in the room spoke volumes about the impact of their work. The 3MT program is more than a competition, it's an invaluable opportunity for graduate students to sharpen their research communication skills and build confidence in sharing their knowledge beyond academia. Congratulations to all the participants, finalists and winners."
This internationally recognized event fosters research communication skills, helping graduate students share complex ideas in accessible and compelling ways. At UCalgary, the 3MT has grown significantly since its 2013 debut, becoming a key platform for celebrating graduate research across disciplines.
Weeks of preparation for just three minutes on stage
This year, 68 graduate students from across the university took on the challenge of condensing their complex research into powerful three-minute presentations. To support them, exclusive workshops and one on one feedback sessions were offered in advance of the competition, led by Felicia Glatz from the My GradSkills team (FGS), and Julia Guy and Merran Carr-Wiggin from Libraries and Cultural Resources. These sessions helped participants enhance both their messaging and visual storytelling in preparation for the stage.
The competition began with five preliminary heats, judged by UCalgary staff and community members, during March 2025. The top two from each round advanced to the campus-wide finals, held on April 10, 2025, at the Last Defence Lounge. With over $1,800 in prizes and a coveted opportunity to represent the university at the Western regional competition, the finalists delivered a tightly contested showcase that highlighted the depth and diversity of graduate research happening across the university.
A heartfelt thanks to those who shaped this year's 3MT experience
Bringing warmth, charisma and firsthand experience to the stage, this year's 3MT finals were co-hosted by Darsh Tripathi and Patrick Whitman, both standout finalists in the 2024 competition. Tripathi, a PhD student in Kinesiology researching osteoarthritis, and the winner of the 2024 competition, shared the stage with Whitman, a master's student in Kinesiology exploring strength training in menopausal women. Their lively, thoughtful, presence helped guide the evening with humour and empathy.
The judging panel featured Dr. Belinda Heyne, Professor and Department Head of Chemistry; and UCalgary alumni Jessica Théroux and Rich Théroux, co-founders of The Isle of Roux and multidisciplinary artists, educators and community leaders. Their combined experience in science, storytelling and public engagement ensured a well-rounded evaluation of each presentation.
FGS also extends sincere thanks to the volunteer heat judges, UCalgary community members who generously contributed their time and insight to help select the top 10 finalists.
Meet the 2025 UCalgary 3MT Winners
The Finals saw ten finalists presenting their research to a crowd of over 100 members of the campus and Calgary community. The winners of this year's competition are:
- First place and People's Choice: Parker Volk, third-year PhD student in Gastrointestinal Sciences - Friend and foe? Looking for new anti-inflammatories from parasitic worms. His research explores how molecules from parasitic worms can help calm the immune system. By studying these molecules, he hopes to develop new treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases like Crohn's.
- Second place: Thérèse Poulin, second-year master's student in Community Health Sciences - Family presence and adverse events in the critically ill. Poulin's studies examine how in-person visits from family members in the ICU may help prevent complications during treatment. Using health data and computer algorithms, she's uncovering how loved ones play a vital role in patient safety and recovery.
- Third place: Faizan Syed, third-year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering - Reducing stiffness in the muscles of children with cerebral palsy. Syed is working to improve mobility for children with cerebral palsy by exploring a treatment that targets muscle stiffness using an enzyme called collagenase. The goal is to develop more effective therapies that could enhance comfort and movement for young patients.
As the top finalist, Volk will now represent UCalgary at the Western Regional 3MT competition, hosted by the University of Victoria on May 6, 2025.
Behind the mic and beyond the comfort zone
For many participants, the 3MT is more than just a competition; it's a transformative experience in confidence, communication and connection.
Syed, who won third place, entered the 3MT on a friend's suggestion, not realizing it would spark such personal and professional growth. "Years ago, I was doing presentations in monotone just to get them over with," he said. "This competition really shows how you can train and excel at whatever you set your mind to." Learning to adjust his tone, simplify complex ideas and focus on audience understanding left a lasting impression.
Second place winner Poulin echoed the sentiment. "I wanted to challenge myself with public speaking and communicating my work in an engaging and digestible manner," she said. Her research in patient-and family-centered care in the ICU was distilled into a compelling three-minute story, honed through workshops and feedback. "The feedback from the 3MT organizing team was phenomenal... Their support before the event was essential in helping me cope with the pre-show jitters."
For Volk, who won both first place and the People's Choice award, the experience was a thrilling surprise. "They announced that I won People's Choice first, and I was happy about that Then they announced I won first place, and I was astonished. I couldn't, and still don't to some degree, believe that I won two separate awards." His talk built around the idea of making people imagine they're a tapeworm delivered complex science with humour, confidence and creativity. "You have to run with that grossness and make it your own," he said of his attention-grabbing topic. "It helps you stand out."
For all three finalists, the 3MT was a proving ground, one that tested their limits, sharpened their skills, and, ultimately, deepened their love for research.
From UCalgary campus champion to Western regional contender
The 3MT competition continues to be a celebration of curiosity, clarity and creativity. It challenges students to transform complex research into stories that connect and inspire. As always, this year's finalists showed that in just three minutes, research can change the way we see the world.
Cheer on Parker Volk and follow his journey at the Western Regional 3MT Finals. Stay tuned to grad.ucalgary.ca and the Faculty of Graduate Studies' Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for updates and event coverage.
