It was an exciting night on Tuesday, as we watched nine competitors from across UBC Okanagan compete in our thirteenth annual Three Minute Thesis competition!
To kick off the event, we were pleased to welcome Dr. Seth McCarthy, winner of the Banting, Killam, Michael Smith Health Research BC and UBC Okanagan Postdoctoral Fellowships to the stage. Dr. McCarthy presented his preliminary research findings on “Integrating Exercise Snacks into Daily Life.”
After hearing about this research and considering how we can incorporate exercise snacks into our lives, we heard from our competitors who had the immense challenge of translating their research into plain language. We heard about a lot of exciting research happening in BC including creating sensors for black ice on roads, considering local food movements, designing health technology for diverse needs, examining the humane myth in animal agriculture, assessing the wine industry’s circular economy dilemma, investigating local food insecurity, and exploring the emotional care connections between hair stylists and their clients.
After the judges deliberated, Ladan Tazik, Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science student, won the competition with her presentation, “How Will Wildfires Spread Tomorrow? Using Data to Protect Communities.” Her research explores how data can help us understand how wildfires spread, which can assist with preventative planning, as well as with decision making in near-to-real time during a wildfire.
This year’s runner-up was also the alumni UBC People’s Choice award winner. Rubaiya Rumman, Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering student, intrigued the crowd with her presentation, “Turning waste into strength: Wood fly ash for sustainable concrete.” Her research examines how adding wood fly ash into concrete may create a stronger and more sustainable type of concrete.
A big thank you to all of the participants who put themselves forward both for the final and during the faculty heats! It takes a lot of time and preparation to participate in 3MT, and everyone who attends is always awed by the work that is happening right here at UBCO. And thank you to the community members, students, faculty, and staff who attended 3MT. This event would not be possible without your support!