Brown, Goodenow Take 2018 3MT Titles

Monday, November 12, 2018

Xueying Brown and Donna Goodenow emerged as UNC Charlotte’s best graduate presenters Nov. 9 following the 2018 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition at the Halton Reading Room of Atkins Library.

Brown, a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Engineering, won both the top award and the People’s Choice, determined by a vote of the estimated 90 people attending the event.  Goodenow, a Ph.D. candidate in Biological Sciences took the runner-up award. Both winners took away cash prizes and Brown has an opportunity to compete at the next level at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools annual meeting in Knoxville Feb. 14.

Originating at the University of Queensland, Australia, 3MT® challenges graduate students to condense their graduate body of work into a clear and engaging three-minute presentation supported by only one static overhead slide.   

Brown’s winning presentation was on Potable Water Reuse: Are Environmental Buffers Really More Effective?  Goodenow presented on Dietary Supplements: Healthy or Hazardous?

Other finalists competing in the Nov. 9 event include:

  • Sarah Abdellahi, Computing and Information Systems
  • Akshay Ayyanchira, Computer Science
  • Gizem Bacaksizlar, Computing and Information Systems
  • Christina Danis, Public Policy
  • Jack Flinchum, Organizational Science
  • Anindita Ghosh, Biology
  • Hyunjae Jeon, Biology
  • Prem Pugalenthi, Curriculum and Instruction, and
  • Vidhushini Srinivasan, Computer Science

Miranda Rouse, adjunct faculty in Communications and associate for University Speaking Center served as Master of Ceremony.  Serving as judges for the event were:

  • Karen Arrington, asst. dir. and liberal arts career advisor, University Career Center
  • Shahar Gur, sr. industrial organization analyst, National Basketball Assoc.
  • Michelle Harris, training designer, Harris Teeter
  • Cynthia Wolf Johnson, former associate provost for Academic Services, and
  • Loren Hibbs, UNC Charlotte head baseball coach

The Center for Graduate Life (CGL) provides outreach, engagement and development opportunities for graduate students.  Learn more at the CGL.