developing academic, presentation and research communication skills

By: Cynthia Adams | Photos By: Nancy Evelyn

Ten UGA graduate students, each with a gift for communication, competed to be effective and succinct in (three minute!) presentations delivered to a standing room only audience at Athens’ Cine Theater in April. A $1,000 first prize was won by Maria Cristina Huertas-Diaz, who discussed a novel approach to vaccine development.

John Spiekerman won second place and $750 for his speech on improving small pearl millet productivity. The People’s Choice winner, determined by the audience, was Johanna Montlouis-Gabriel, who discussed women of color in France and its colonies.

The other finalists at the Three Minute Thesis competition were Mackenzie Carter, “Customized Testing for Canine Treatments;” Kara Wyatt, ““Tpl2: Your friendly neighborhood flu fighter;” Carly Phillips, “Who runs the world? Carbon and Beyoncé;” Megan Prescott, “In the Present: Bacterial Proteins as Vaccine Candidates for Tuberculosis;” and Kaylynn Washnock, “Making Atlanta: Memory and Heritage Tourism.”

Sponsored by the Graduate School, the concept for the minute’s long competition was founded by the University of Queensland. A panelist of judges from various backgrounds served as professional judges for the graduate students’ presentations.