‘The public needs to know about my research’
Deema Galambo, a graduate student in biology, placed first in the master’s competition and was given the People’s Choice Award for her presentation, “The Molecule that Could Save Your Life.”
For Galambo, taking part in the 3MT competition was not a spontaneous decision.
“I wanted to be in it for years,” she says. “It’s a form of training that I would not get anywhere else. It improved my communication skills and helped me convey what I am doing to the public.”
Galambo’s research into alleviating blood vessel blockages that cause heart attacks resounded with audience members and judges alike.
“Despite the work that has been done over the decades to prevent or treat cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks remain the number-one killer,” she says.
“They account for 33 deaths every minute. I decided to take a different route in studying the disease by focusing on arresting the key stage of the disease’s progression. I think that what I’m doing is really important and that the public needs and has the right to know about it.”
The runner-up in the master's competition was marketing student Jonathan Leclerc for his presentation: "The Double-edged Impact of Emotion Expressions on Mate Attraction and Mate Selection."
‘Think about your research in a different light’
Laura Shine, a PhD student in Humanities, won the People’s Choice Award at the doctoral level for her presentation: "Edible Insects: From Foe to Food." She learned to set aside the fine details of her research while developing her three-minute presentation on the adoption of edible insects in non-traditional cultural contexts.
“Effectively communicating the main ideas of what you’re working on is always a great skill to have,” says Shine, before adding that anyone who’s thinking about taking part in a 3MT competition should give it a try.
“You’re going to benefit from it, even if it’s just thinking about your research in a different light.”
Watch all five winning Concordia 3MT presentations on the Concordia University Youtube channel.