Ten Illinois State University graduate students will compete in the University’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition at 6 p.m. Thursday, February 22, at the Normal Theater, 209 W. North St., Normal. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature the students presenting their research to a panel of judges.
The 3MT competition challenges master’s and Ph.D. students to describe their research topic and its significance to a general audience in three minutes or less. Finalists for the competition have been chosen from each of Illinois State’s academic colleges. The first place winner in the competition will receive $1,000, while the second place winner will be awarded $750. A people’s choice award winner will be given $1,000. The first place winner will be entered in the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools competition in April.
Finalists and their thesis titles are:
- Ben Lynn, College of Arts and Sciences (School of Communication), “Attributions of Camera Mistakes in Live Sports Broadcasts”
- Katie Grabow, College of Applied Science and Technology (Family and Consumer Sciences), “The Effects of Highlighting Healthy Options on Consumer Food Choices in a Foodbank Setting”
- Erika Rosenberger, College of Arts and Sciences (Department of Psychology), “Implicit Sexism Predicts Intellectual Devaluation of Men with Feminist Partners”
- Reilly McKinnis, College of Applied Science and Technology (Family and Consumer Sciences), “Scheduling Recess: Perceptions of School Professionals”
- Tharini Viswanath, College of Arts and Sciences (Department of English), “When is a children’s/young adult novel feminist enough?”
- Veronica Painter, College of Fine Arts (School of Theatre and Dance), “Key Factors Contributing to the Downfall of the Equestrian Circus”
- Perry W. Harlow, College of Applied Science and Technology (Department of Agriculture), “Elected Officials Views of Agricultural Education in Illinois”
- Amanda Vander Byl, College of Fine Arts (School of Theatre and Dance), “Creating Characters Through Costumes”
- Kristin Duffield, College of Arts and Sciences (School of Biological Sciences), “When Resistance is Futile: Exploring Terminal Investment in Crickets”
- Daniel M. Frederking, College of Education (School of Teaching and Learning), “Improving Assessment to Improve Learning”
Judges for the competition will be Paul Bloom, vice president for process and chemical research, Archer Daniels Midland; Chemberly Cummings, Town of Normal council member; and Diane Wolf, assistant regional superintendent, Regional Office of Education #17.
3MT develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development of research students’ capacity to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. Students are allowed to use one static slide, and no additional transitions, animation, video, or props. Presentations are all spoken word, and exclude songs and theatrical performances.
3MT was developed by the University of Queensland and has spread to more than 18 countries and 200 universities worldwide.
