In three minutes and one slide Psychology M.Sc. student Jordan Till described how obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms can be collected into categories for better diagnosis and potentially better therapy. His presentation was enough to crown him overall winner of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and also win him the people’s choice award. Jordan will represent Trent at the provincial 3MT competition at Queen’s University in May. 

The 3MT competition challenges graduate students to present their highly specialized and technical research in just three minutes, using only one PowerPoint slide. Jordan, along with 20 other graduate students from Trent, managed to compress years of research into a three-minute presentation while explaining complicated concepts in a way that was meaningful for people outside their field. 

Second place was awarded to Sandra Klemet-N'Guessan for her presentation on nutrient contribution added through fish excretion to freshwater lakes and streams. The judges included Nicole Stephenson, CEO of Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas, Megan Murphy, actor, comedian, and honorary fellow of Traill College, and Dr. Cathy Bruce, vice-president of Research and Innovation at Trent. 

“It was amazing to see the diverse research everyone brought to the competition,” said 3MT winner, Jordan Till. “I had no idea that all this stuff was going on, and it's really inspiring. It's amazing to be part of this.” 

Praise at the Provincial-Level

Following his recent achievement at Trent University, Jordan's exceptional presentation skills have earned him further recognition. He was awarded the Participant’s Choice Award at the provincial 3MT competition—hosted by Queen’s University this year—an annual event that brings together the 3MT winners from each participating university. This accomplishment highlights Jordan's ability to captivate audiences and effectively communicate complex ideas. Congratulations to Jordan on his outstanding success at both the university and provincial levels. His dedication and talent serve as an inspiration to fellow researchers and aspiring scholars alike.