CFANS 3-Minute Thesis Competition

3-minute thesis competition
Thursday, October 23, 2025, 3–5 p.m.

Join CFANS for a College-wide 3-Minute Thesis Competition. CFANS graduate students are stepping up to the challenge — and you’re invited to cheer them on.

This fast-paced, high-energy event asks students to share the story of their research in just three minutes — no jargon, no props, just one static slide and their best science communication skills. It’s a celebration of the groundbreaking research happening in our college and the talented students leading the way.

Why Attend?

Come support our graduate students, get inspired by their work, and walk away with a fresh perspective on the cutting-edge research happening right here in CFANS. Whether you’re a fellow student, faculty member, staff, or community member, this is your chance to connect with the next generation of researchers and see what’s shaping the future of food, agriculture, and natural resources.

How the Competition Works

The 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) is an international research communication competition that challenges graduate students to explain the significance of their work in just three minutes. The winner of the CFANS competition will go on to represent the college at the University-wide 3MT in November.

Prizes

  • First Place: $500 + advancement to the University-wide 3MT in November

  • Second Place: $250

  • Third Place: $100

Awards are deposited to student accounts; students must be actively registered to receive an award. Grad 999 is not eligible.

2025 Participants

  • Sudario Roberto Silva Junior (PhD Animal Science)
  • Maicy Vossen (PhD Applied Plant Sciences)
  • Marcos Winicius Goncalves de Souza (PhD Applied Plant Sciences)
  • Kabita Poudel (PhD Applied Plant Sciences)
  • Alina Smolskaya (PhD Applied Plant Sciences)
  • Suman Lata (PhD Bioproducts and Biosystems Science, Engineering and Management)
  • Jidapa Watcharakitti (PhD Bioproducts and Biosystems Science, Engineering and Management)
  • Abha Panda (PhD Conservation Sciences)
  • Sayesha Khanna (PhD Entomology)
  • Virginia Roberts (MS Entomology)
  • Saliha Maqbool (PhD Land and Atmospheric Science)
  • Roy Forsstrom (PhD Natural Resources Science and Management)
  • Isabella Callery (MS Water Resources Science)
This event replaces the St. Paul Science in Seconds event held in previous years.