Announcing the 2024 Three-Minute Thesis Competition Winners

Thirty-three Idaho State University graduate students presented their individual research on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center. As part of the ISU Graduate School’s 8th Annual Three-Minute Thesis Competition, graduate students representing the College of Arts & Letters, the College of Science & Engineering, the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, the College of Education, and the College of Business, were challenged to consolidate and present their research to a general audience each in exactly three minutes. 

Michelle Collier, the Project Coordinator for Academic Affairs at ISU, thoroughly enjoyed her first 3MT experience as an audience member. “I was able to live stream in for my first time seeing what the 3MT was all about and I was super impressed with the students,” she said. 

The Three-Minute Thesis competition was initially founded by the University of Queensland during a drought, where people were encouraged to take three-minute showers. The dean of the University of Queensland Graduate School at the time, Dr. Alan Lawson, was inspired by this idea and wanted to apply it to an academic setting, which has made it all the way to ISU.

“We really want (students) to show off the work they are doing,” said Dr. Tracy Collum, interim dean of the Graduate School, in a KISU interview. “We have excellent academic and scholarly research-related items going on on campus with our graduate students and the faculty that are working with them, and we want them to showcase that.”

The students presented to an audience, as well as a panel of judges to determine who would take home the coveted cash prize and winner title. This year’s judges consisted of:

Dr. Justin Dolan Stover - Chair of the ISU Department of History and recipient of the 2023-2024 Distinguished Researcher Award

Dr. Michele Brumley - Associate Vice President for the ISU Office for Research

Dr. Vidya Ganji - Associate Professor in the College of Business

Dr. Martin “Marty” Blair - ISU Vice President for Research and Economic Development

This year the judges and the Graduate School were proud to present the cash prizes to the four winners of the competition in first, second, and third place as well as a People’s Choice award which all audience members, in-person and online, are able to vote for.

1st Place - $2,000

Callan Norby | Chemistry - MS

2nd Place - $1,500

Arifa Islam Champa | Engineering & Applied Science - PhD

3rd Place - $1,000

Md Fazle Rabbi | Engineering & Applied Science - PhD

People's Choice - $500

Dallin Stokes | Microbiology - MS

“Participating in the 3MT competition was an exciting and valuable experience,” Arifa Islam Champa, second-place winner, said. “It pushed me to simplify my research into a short, clear, and engaging presentation that anyone could understand. This process was both challenging and rewarding, helping me improve my communication skills and learn how to connect with people outside my field.”

“Events like 3MT are incredibly valuable as they help students develop communication skills essential for explaining research to a wide range of audiences,” Md Fazle Rabbi, third-place winner, said. “It also helps build confidence in presenting in a way that is both accessible and engaging. I’m grateful for the support I received from grad school.”

During the awards reception, with a live Sonitus Trio consisting of ISU students Joseph Bounmixay, Sharon Winters, and Ian Woodruff, libations & hors d'oeuvres were enjoyed by guests. The Graduate School also hosted a small birthday celebration for their department, honoring 70 years of graduate education since the formation of the Graduate School in 1954. 

The competition and awards ceremony livestreams are available to watch on YouTube and the Graduate School website, where you can also view the full list of participants, past winners, and additional 3MT information. The 2024 winners will move on to compete at the state-level 3MT against the University of Idaho and Boise State University on February 11, 2025, which will take place at the Idaho Falls ISU campus. 

If you are interested in learning more about the cutting-edge research taking place at the university, you can attend the Research and Creative Works Symposium in the Spring on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.