3MT/MT180 2018

McGill 3MT competitors

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and Teaching and Learning Services hosted its annual 3MT competition on March 20, 2018. ​It was another amazing showcase of the contributions and diversity of McGill graduate research. The presenters wowed us with their three-minute presentations aimed for a diverse non-specialist audience about their research and its impact on the community.

The presentations were recorded and streamed live online. 

During the event, the judges selected two winners to represent McGill at the CAGS 3MT Eastern regional finals and concours ACFAS Ma Thèse en 180 secondes; the audience selected the People's Choice winner. The winners, participants, and judges are listed below.


Meet the Winners!

Jay Olsen

Jay Olson

Winner: CAGS 3MT

Watch Jay's presentation

At the age of 5, a magician pulled a coin out of Jay Olson's ear. He was fascinated -- and two years later, he started performing magic himself. Later, during his career as a professional magician, Jay sat in on a friend's psychology class and noticed that many of the ideas taught were similar to what he had learned in magic. This led him to research the psychology behind magic, and he now uses his knowledge as a magician to enhance healing and placebo effects. In his PhD in Psychiatry, Jay adds a little magic to modern medicine.

Gabrielle Houle

Gabrielle Houle

Winner: Acfas MT180

Écouter la présentation de Gabrielle

Gabrielle est originaire de Trois-Rivières et a complété un baccalauréat en sciences biologiques à l’Université de Montréal. Depuis 2014, elle poursuit ses études graduées en Génétique Humaine sous la supervision de Dr Guy Rouleau. Elle développe son expertise en analyses pan-génomiques des maladies complexes. En plus de l’ADN, Gabrielle aime le ballet classique, l’agriculture et les chandails de laine.

3MT winners

Surashi Shinde

Winner: People's Choice Award

Watch Surashi's presentation

Surashri Shinde completed her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience at the University of Toronto where she grew a deep fascination for the complexity of cancer and vast field of cancer research.  She is currently completing a Master’s degree in Experimental Surgery at McGill University where she is trying to understand how cancer cells gain resistance to the treatment: radiation therapy. She is happy to have been given the opportunity to participate in this year's 3MT competition, is excited to hear the fascinating work done by fellow McGill graduate students and to share her work with you all today. 

 


Competitors

Hannah AlsdurfHannah Alsdurf

Medicine/Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health

What does it cost to prevent people from developing active TB disease?

Watch Hannah's presentation

Scott BellScott Bell

Medicine/Integrated Program of Neuroscience

Turning waste into scientific wealth: Making stem cells from urine

Watch Scott's presentation

“The three-minute thesis competition provides a rare venue to train, receive feedback, and engage with the public about ongoing research. It also helps teach the next generation of researchers about how to demonstrate how esoteric research is relevant to the lives of the citizens that support it.”

ArenAren Bezdjian

Medicine/Experimental Surgery

Conduction Osseuse, la Révolution de l’Audio !

Écouter la présentation de Aren

« La raison pour laquelle j'ai participé au 3MT était d'améliorer mes compétences de présentation en français et de partager mes recherches portant sur la capacité naturelle du corps humain à entendre à travers nos os. »

dahabiehMichael Dahabieh

Medicine/Experimental Medicine

Perish of the peroxisome: my discovery and destruction of a hub in cancer metabolism

Watch Michael's presentation

“My dream is to further pursue the exploitation of peroxisomes in lymphoma and other cancers via developing drugs that target their destruction, as none exist. Via the 3-MT, I hope to inspire others to fearlessly follow their data in order to create the waves they want to ride.”

Fannie DionneFannie Dionne

Arts/History

Il était une fois... l'histoire de manuscrits huron-wendat

Écouter la présentation de Fannie

« Ma thèse en 180 secondes est pour moi une manière de rendre intelligible mon projet de recherche à un plus grand public... dont ma famille ! »

RamiRami Ghanem

Engineering/Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Developing the Pressure Tension Test

Watch Rami's presentation

Gabrielle HouleGabrielle Houle

Medicine/Human Genetics

Stupeur et tremblements : Décoder la signature génétique du tremblement essentiel

Écouter la présentation de Gabrielle

« Je souhaite sensibiliser la population sur le tremblement essentiel, une maladie neurologique peu connue, mais invalidante et deux à trois fois plus fréquente que Parkinson. »

Mark KajiMark Kaji

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences/Parasitology

Real life vampires and how to kill them

Watch Mark's presentation

“It is my hope that by understanding how the nervous system of parasites work, we may better combat infection.”

 

Matthew LaperMatthew Laaper

Science/Integrated Program in Neuroscience

Usability Testing on Blended Learning Initiatives (BLIs)

Watch Matthew's presentation

“The 3MT competition is an excellent opportunity to practice the vital skill of sharing our research effectively and clearly in a limited timeframe. This is an exercise in delivering a message. In finding the heart of your project and showing the audience only what matters most.”

Sherri McDowellSheri McDowell

Medicine/Physiology

The spread of breast cancer: obesity prepares the soil for the seed

Watch Sheri's presentation

“Being able to explain your research in simple terms is critical to keep the public informed; patient communication is particularly important for research focused on diseases such as cancer.”

Jay OlsenJay Olson

Medicine/Psychiatry

Placebo machines to treat disorders

Watch Jay's presentation

“Competing in the 3MT will help me reframe my research for the general public and refine my communication skills.”

ShindeSurashri Shinde

Medicine/Experimental Surgery

Trapping Cancer in Webs

Watch Surashri's presentation

“I would like to participate in the competition to challenge myself. This experience will help me focus on the overall goal of my research and will help me gain new perspectives on its importance and the impact I hope it will have.”

Karena voleskyKarena Volesky

Medicine/Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health

Infections….cancer, is there a link?

Watch Karena's presentation

I would like to participate in this competition because it will help me communicate why I am studying what I am, how I’m doing it, and the key results to a lay audience.”

Robert WuRobert Wu

Science/Earth and Planetary Sciences

Using light to cap mine waste

Watch Robert's presentation

“I want to effectively convey science to policy and social change, creating interest in your topic is as important as academic vigor.”

 


 

Judges

dider jean francoisDidier Jean-Francois, Principal, DJF Consult Canada

Didier holds a B.Sc in Biology from McGill and an MBA from the University of Notre-Dame. He is a specialist of the Biotech-Pharma space with his core experiences in R&D Alliances, Licensing, CMO, Marketing, Strategy, Branding & Identity, Corporate Communication, CRM and Sales. He has a broad experience in the health-sciences space with R&D platforms, therapeutics development in Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines, including: small molecules, upstream and downstream processes around Biologics and the development of Biomarkers. In addition to this he has some non-negligible experience in Medical Devices, CPG, Destination Based Entertainment, Sports Team management, and such areas as Basic Materials, Pulp & Paper, Aerospace, Fisheries, Food & Supplements and Publishing mainly through his management consulting experience with McKinsey & Co. Finally he is an accomplished Entrepreneur and Investor. On the investment side he focuses on long-term plays around real estate, stocks, and currencies. As an entrepreneur, he owns several companies, based out of Montreal PQ Canada including BLDG MWS, a real estate play; the SAF Entertainment Group Inc. vintage swing music and dance performances for television, movies, corporate functions, festivals & weddings as well as a vast array of services including dance lessons. He also runs several events such as the Canadian Swing Championships which he has been administering for the last 2 decades

Making pointed science meaningful to the masses is key to not only funding of research, but to development, diffusion of innovation and ultimately impact and the betterment of the human condition ideally in balance with our environment! I hope to be able to assist in whatever small way towards the attainment of such goals and ideals.

valerie Patraeu Valérie Patreau, Montreal City Councillor, Joseph-Beaubien District, Borough of Outremont

Elected in November 2017, Mme. Patreau has a degree in aeronautical engineering and a professional background in sustainable development in innovation and research. Mme. Patreau is also Director of operations and technological transfer at Polytechnique Montréal’s CIRAIG (International Reference Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services). An active community member and member of Outremont’s Citizens Association, Mme Patreau is also part of the management team for of La Foulée des Parcs, an urban race bringing runners of all ages into the parks of Outremont with more than 2000 runners, 200 volunteers and 35 sponsors and partners.

pollackSusan Pollock, Product Training Leader, CAE Inc.

Susan Pollock manages the product line for Boeing commercial flight simulators at CAE Inc, a market leader in civil aviation training.  She has more than 15 years experience in software and simulation, including AI for computer generated forces in simulation.  Ms. Pollock holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University and an Executive MBA from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business, as well as Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute.  She is an active member of the McGill Women’s Alumni Association and a representative for Centraide during its annual giving campaign.  

I look forward to hearing the students describe their own research, and getting their perspective on a subject they are passionate about.

judith ritterJudith Ritter, Journalist and Independent Producer

Judith Ritter (judithritter.com) is an award-winning independent radio and print journalist whose reports from Canada, China, India, Europe, the Caribbean and the U.S. cover travel, science and technology, business, entertainment and international development. Her stories have aired on public radio at the national level in the U.S. and in Canada. Her print stories have appeared in numerous outlets including The Globe and Mail, The National Post, The Boston Globe, South China Morning Post, Singapore’s Straits Times and many magazines. She has introduced audiences to the work of bomb squads, big rig drivers, longshoremen and tugboat captains and she has covered far-ranging issues such as labor abuses in China, the plight of homeless children in India and trends in higher education. She is a fearless traveler and hopes to brighten the world one story at a time.

I feel privileged to participate in the competition because I learn so much from each presentation and secondly, because the commitment, depth of knowledge and originality displayed by each candidate gives me hope for a future that advances knowledge and is truly international.

laura winerDr. Laura Winer, Director, Teaching and Learning Services (McGill)

Laura Winer (PhD, Educational Technology) is the Director of Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) at McGill University in Montreal. TLS oversees many University-wide initiatives, including the design and redesign of classrooms and teaching labs, faculty development programs, online education, student professional skills development, the appropriate and effective use of technology in teaching and learning, and policy development. Before coming to TLS she was in the Office of the Provost, as Special Advisor to the Provost. She also spent four years in the Office of the CIO as the Senior Educational Technologist and began her career at McGill in 1999 in the Centre for University Teaching and Learning, the precursor to TLS. She has taught in the Faculties of Education at McGill, Université de Montréal and Concordia University, conducted research on educational and training applications of information and communications technology, most recently in the field of medical education, and published and presented nationally and internationally on faculty development issues and integrating ICT into teaching and learning.

I am excited about learning about new research from new researchers.

cathy wongCathy Wong, Montreal City Councilor, Peter-McGill

Diplômée en droit, Cathy Wong est devenue la première femme présidente du conseil municipal de la Ville de Montréal, et conseillère de ville dans le district Peter-McGill (centre-ville de Montréal) en novembre 2017. À l’âge de 27 ans, Cathy devenait la plus jeune présidente du Conseil des Montréalaises depuis sa création, et a occupé le poste d’agente de développement jeunesse pour les YMCA du Québec. Après avoir présidé le Jeune Conseil de Montréal et le Forum jeunesse de l’île de Montréal, Cathy a aussi siégé comme membre du conseil d’administration de la Société du 375e anniversaire de Montréal, du c.a. de Les Offices jeunesse internationaux du Québec, du Théâtre Jean-Duceppe, ainsi que des comités consultatifs d’Élections Canada et de MaTV. Jusqu’en 2017, Cathy était chroniqueuse pour le quotidien Le Devoir. On a aussi pu l'entendre aux émissions Pas de midi sans info, Médium Large, PM et Plus on est de fous plus on lit, sur les ondes d'ICI Radio-Canada. Elle a également co-animé les émissions Les Oranges Pressées et Droit de cité sur les ondes de CIBL. Elle fut l’une des concurrentes de l'émission télévisée La Course Évasion autour du monde en 2011. Entre 2012 et 2016, elle a contribué aux efforts de reconstruction du YMCA d’Haïti à Port-au-Prince. Ses nombreux engagements lui ont valu en 2009, le prix Hommage Bénévolat-Québec remis par le ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale, le prix Femmes de mérite du Y des femmes de Montréal (2014), ainsi que le prix «Personnalité de la diversité 2014» de l’agence de presse Médiamosaïque. En 2016, elle fut récipiendaire du Prix Reconnaissance dans la catégorie « Jeune professionnel » de la Young Chinese Professional Association (YCPA) et le prix des Administrateurs de la relève dans la catégorie « Administrateur de la relève » du Regroupement des jeunes chambres de commerce du Québec (RJCCQ). Elle reçut aussi le Prix de la relève du Conseil des diplômés de l'UQAM en novembre 2016.

 

As a McGill student, your participation in full to activities such as training workshops and volunteering are tracked on your Co-Curricular Record (CCR)! Having your co-curricular activities listed in one document can help you revise your CV or cover letter, prepare for interviews, and explore career options. Learn how to leverage this important document through myInvolvement, and make your training count!
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