{"id":6972,"date":"2026-02-03T15:09:56","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T21:09:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/?p=6972"},"modified":"2026-02-03T15:09:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T21:09:56","slug":"big-ideas-can-fit-into-180-seconds-as-three-minute-thesis-winners-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/2026\/02\/big-ideas-can-fit-into-180-seconds-as-three-minute-thesis-winners-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Big ideas can fit into 180 seconds, as Three Minute Thesis winners show"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Competitors explain forever chemicals, upper-atmosphere microbes and other complex topics for a public audience<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6973\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6973\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6973\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-1_1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A student presents on state in front of a room of people.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-1_1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-1_1024x683-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-1_1024x683-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-1_1024x683-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6973\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Johan Domingues Lopez, Environmental Engineering, presents as a finalist during the final round. Photo by Paige Prekker \/ UND College of Engineering &amp; Mines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Imagine compressing years of research, countless lab hours and stacks of data in the same way the earth makes diamonds: under pressure, in a manner that burns away the excess and leaves only the tightest, purest components as a result.<\/p>\n<p>Then present those components in 180 seconds.<\/p>\n<p>That was what was asked of students participating in the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/und.edu\/academics\/graduate-school\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">School of Graduate Studies\u2019<\/a><\/strong> annual <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/und.edu\/academics\/graduate-school\/academic-career-support\/3mt.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Three Minute Thesis<\/a><\/strong>(3MT) competition, an event which asks students to translate complex research into accessible presentations that anyone can understand \u2014 using only their voice, body and a single PowerPoint slide.<\/p>\n<p>Held at the Memorial Union Ballroom on Jan. 28, this year\u2019s competition showcased fascinating research being conducted across disciplines at the School of Graduate Studies. In addition to being one of the most entertaining research showcases on campus, the event gives competitors a chance to hone their public speaking skills while competing for cash prizes and a spot at the regional competition.<\/p>\n<h2>A marriage of research and storytelling<\/h2>\n<p>Based on the nature of the competition, presenters tend to gravitate toward storytelling using theatrical gestures and easy-to-understand analogies to keep the audience engaged. This approach proved essential for this year\u2019s winners.<\/p>\n<p>Environmental Engineering graduate student and first-place winner Johan Dominguez Lopez found the competition a natural fit, having spent years honing these skills as a speech and debate competitor in high school.<\/p>\n<p>Dominguez Lopez is doing research on a hot button issue: \u201cforever chemicals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>PFAS \u2014 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances \u2014 have been used for decades to make products water and heat resistant, but their chemical composition also makes them resistant to breakdown in the environment and the human body. And even a small amount of them can cause serious health problems, scientists suggest.<\/p>\n<p>Dominguez Lopez and his team are developing a coated optic fiber system that detects PFAS by \u201chighlighting\u201d their chemical fingerprint under infrared light. The goal is to determine both the type of PFAS present and its concentration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith this sensor, we are able to address the \u2018forever chemical\u2019 issue,\u201d he told the audience, \u201cso that forever may not be so forever anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dominguez Lopez described winning the competition as \u201csuch an incredible feeling,\u201d reminiscent of his high school speech days. The process of preparing for 3MT started six months ago for him, and he credited months of training with his coaches and peers for helping distill complex technical concepts into a digestible presentation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of our backgrounds have such technical terminology,\u201d he said. \u201cSo working with coaches to figure out what\u2019s the sweet spot to really nail home the point was crucial.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6974\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6974\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6974\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-2_1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A student and a person in a green sweater smile as they both hold an award check for first place in the 2026 Three Minute Thesis Competition at the University of North Dakota.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-2_1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-2_1024x683-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-2_1024x683-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-2_1024x683-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6974\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Johan Dominguez Lopez and Haley Rosaasen, human resource director for the City of Grand Forks, stand with his winning check. Photo by Paige Prekker \/ UND College of Engineering &amp; Mines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Research for the real world<\/h2>\n<p>Another key element of the most successful 3MT presentations is their ability to marry research and real-world impact. In second-place winner <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/jdosas\/2025\/03\/essp-student-takes-first-place-at-online-und-grad-event\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kim Berthet\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> presentation, she highlighted the role of atmospheric microorganisms on that all-important real world.<\/p>\n<p>Berthet, an online Earth System Science and Policy student based in Los Angeles, explored Earth\u2019s upper atmosphere, which she described as \u201clike a gaseous ocean.\u201d Her research uncovered microorganisms drifting at extreme altitudes \u201clike microbial surfers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the vivid imagery, Berthet emphasized how these findings could have practical implications. Bacteria can travel long distances, potentially spreading disease, for example. Moreover, atmospheric microbes remain a \u201cfinal frontier\u201d for microbiology, and they also influence precipitation and crop health.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d she said. \u201cMicrobes can make it rain.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her team developed a compact, 3D-printed high-altitude bioaerosol sampler \u2014 which she described as being about the size of a human head \u2014 which has drawn support from NASA and UCLA. Using the sampler, they have found \u201cmysterious microbes\u201d able to withstand extreme cold, low pressure and radiation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt might sound like science fiction,\u201d Berthet added. \u201cBut in fact, this is a glimpse into life at Earth\u2019s outer limits.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As an online student, 3MT was the perfect reason for Berthet to visit campus for the first time. She said that the frigid North Dakota weather was a nice change of pace from her sunny and warm homebase, and she appreciated the chance to see her adviser \u2014 Associate Professor of <span class=\"profile-department__name\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/aero.und.edu\/essp\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Earth System Science and Policy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/campus.und.edu\/directory\/sean.hammond\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sean Hammond<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 and fellow students in person for the first time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>She also noted that the process of preparing and presenting for 3MT\u2019s has had a great effect on her research outside of the competition.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s helped kind of further my research by being able to communicate what I\u2019m doing to people who are not within the life sciences,\u201d she said. \u201cEven for grant writing or for working with other departments, it\u2019s helped.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6975\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6975\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6975\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-4_1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A student presents on stage to a group of people.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-4_1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-4_1024x683-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-4_1024x683-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-4_1024x683-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6975\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Boshra Besharatian, Civil Engineering, presents as a finalist during the final round. Photo by Paige Prekker \/ UND College of Engineering &amp; Mines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>From UND to the world<\/h2>\n<p>Berthet\u2019s takeaway is exactly the kind of thing that makes 3MT valuable for students, said <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/campus.und.edu\/directory\/soojung.kim\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Soojung Kim<\/a><\/strong>, interim dean of the School of Graduate Studies and the lead 3MT trainer. She added that the competition has grown significantly since Atmospheric Science Professor <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/campus.und.edu\/directory\/matthew.gilmore\">Matt Gilmore<\/a><\/strong> brought it to UND in 2018. In the years that followed, the event has drawn participants from across disciplines and helped students simplify their complex research for general audiences.<\/p>\n<p>After attending the national 3MT competition to support Rachael Josephs \u2014 last year\u2019s winner, and the second UND student to advance \u2014 Kim came away convinced that UND students measure up well against the nation\u2019s best.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHonestly, all of our top prize winners \u2014 not just the first place award \u2014 could be on the national stage,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Kim also added that the diversity on display, from surfing microbes to forever chemicals to third pace winner Chidiebele Oraegbuna\u2019s research on dietary diet and brain health, has been intentionally cultivated. In the future, she hopes that 3MT will represent every program in UND\u2019s School of Graduate Studies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s been very rewarding to see various disciplines represented over the years,\u201d Kim said. \u201cWe have 110 graduate degrees, so I hope that we will continue to grow in terms of size and the diversity of the groundbreaking research represented.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6976\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6976\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6976\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-3_1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A person in a suit speaks while holding a microphone.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-3_1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-3_1024x683-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-3_1024x683-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/cem\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/02\/3MT-3_1024x683-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6976\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Daniel Newman, Biomedical Engineering, presents as a finalist during the final round. Photo by Paige Prekker \/ UND College of Engineering &amp; Mines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Written by <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/und-today\/author\/wcriswell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Walter Criswell<\/a><\/strong> \u00a0\/\/ \u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/und-today\/2026\/02\/big-ideas-can-fit-into-180-seconds-as-three-minute-thesis-winners-show\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UND Today<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Competitors explain forever chemicals, upper-atmosphere microbes and other complex topics for a public audience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":6973,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[893],"tags":[907,908],"class_list":["post-6972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-biomedical-engineering","tag-civil-engineering"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Big ideas can fit into 180 seconds, as Three Minute Thesis winners show - College of Engineering &amp; 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