It was the perfect platform to showcase the hard work they put into their respective line of study.

Whether it was gene and cell therapies for diabetes, helping bears with one simulation at a time, the effects of gender stereotypes on women’s competence and participation in physical activity, or facilitators to military mental health services, those were all just some of the topics that were presented by graduate students at the Three Minute Thesis Western Regional Competition on April 17 at the Wood Innovation and Design Centre in downtown Prince George.

With the event being organized by UNBC’s Graduate Programs office, it’s the first time the university had hosted this prestigious research competition.

Eighteen graduate students from universities across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba all were given three minutes to present their research and its impact to a panel of non-specialist judges and peers.

Jennifer Coburn, a graduate student in Gender Studies, represented UNBC. Her topic focused on the “Girl Push-Up” and the effects that gender stereotypes have on women’s competence and their participation in physical activity.

The exercise is intended to develop academic, presentation, as well as research communication skills. It also supports the development of research students’ capacity to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to an intelligent but not necessarily experts in that particular topic.

Following his thesis topic of gene and cell therapy for diabetes, first place went to the UBC’s Adam Ramzy.

As the result of his win at the Western Regional Competition, Ramzy will now move onto to the national competition on June 3.