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• First Prize: $1,000
• Second Prize: $500
• Third Prize: $250
• People’s Choice Award: $100 (in addition to any other prize received)

First and Second place competitors will compete in the 2026 National 3MT Showcase that will take place in Regina, Saskatchewan on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.

Student Presentations

• All presentations are limited to three (3) minutes; however, exceptions may be made for accessibility accommodations.
• Presentations should be spoken word and regular prose. Poems, slam poetry, raps, songs, or performances are not permitted. Minor elements of the above may be incorporated should it be the topic of research.
• Minor creative or cultural elements (e.g., gesture, posture, attire, or props) may be integrated when intrinsic to the research, provided they do not distract from clarity or accessibility.
• The presentation should be based on the participant’s own research or research-creation work and should be understandable to a general audience.
• Presenters must use language appropriate for a non-specialist audience, avoiding disciplinary jargon or unexplained acronyms.
• Physical interactions with the audience are not permitted.
• Speaker notes on stage are not allowed; however, exceptions may be made for accessibility accommodations.
• The presentation commences when the competitor begins speaking or moving.
• If a graduate student’s research includes confidential or culturally sensitive material, CAGS advises that competition organizers discuss the entry with the graduate student and their supervisor.

Presentation Slide

• A single, static slide is permitted for each presenter.
• The slide should be displayed from the beginning of the presentation and remain visible until its conclusion.
• The slide must not include transitions, animations, embedded videos, or audio.
• The slide design and content are left to the discretion of the competitor, provided all images and content used conform to Canadian copyright law.
• The slides should be created using the same aspect ratio, typically 16:9.
• The use of a slide is recommended but may be optional for local competitions, depending on institutional format or the creative nature of the presentation.
• The hosting university should provide an introductory slide consisting of the graduate student’s name, graduate degree and program, supervisor, and 3MT® title.
• No additional electronic media is permitted during the presentation, including but not limited to sound and audio files emitted from the stage or audience.

Props and Costumes

To preserve the focus on oral communication of the competition, the following guidelines apply to the use of props or presentation materials. Limited accommodations may be considered when related to accessibility, alternative research formats, or culturally grounded approaches to research communication:

• Physical objects, costumes, instruments, or laboratory equipment are not permitted.
• Any cultural attire worn for reasons of identity or tradition is permitted.
• All presentation materials must comply with the host institution’s health and safety regulations and should not pose a risk to the presenter or audience.

1. Concordia University

Arielle Rousseau

2. Saint Francis Xavier University

Riley McInnis

3. Université Laval

Abouzar Ghasemi

4. Polytechnique Montréal

Negar Aghigh

5. Saint Mary's University

Samuel Sequeira

6. McGill University

Linda Nong

7. Université de Sherbrooke

Maryam Afkari

8. Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador - St John's Campus

Fatema Elgammal

9. Bishop’s University

David Koranteng

10. Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)

Niloufar Nikravesh

11. Université de Montréal

KarLee Lefebvre

12. Mount Saint Vincent University

Dina Sallam

13. École de technologie supérieure (ETS)

Saira Tariq

14. Dalhousie University

Claire Floras

15. University of Prince Edward Island

Owen Brown

Dr. Shannon Dea  |  Provost and Vice-President Academic & Research  |  Saint Mary’s University

Shannon Dea (she/they) is Provost and Vice-President Academic and Research and a Professor of Philosophy at Saint Mary’s University. Shannon’s research spans feminist, social and applied philosophy, history of philosophy and issues in higher education. They are the author of dozens of articles and book chapters and of Beyond the Binary: Thinking About Sex and Gender (Broadview: 2016 and 2023). Prior to joining SMU, Shannon was Dean of Arts at the University of Regina, before which she was a Professor at University of Waterloo. Shannon did their graduate training at Western University (PhD) and Queen’s University (M.A.).

 

 

Dr. Derek Rutherford  |  Director, School of Physiotherapy  |  Dalhousie University

Derek Rutherford (he/him) is the Director of the School of Physiotherapy at Dalhousie, Associate Professor in the Schools of Physiotherapy and Biomedical Engineering. Derek is a physiotherapist and human movement scientist, interested in the impact of injury and disease on musculoskeletal health and physical activity. Derek has studied at Western University, University of Toronto and Dalhousie University.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Lori Francis  |  Vice-President Academic & Provost  |  Mount Saint Vincent University

Lori Francis (she/her) is the Vice-President Academic and Provost at Mount Saint Vincent University, where she also holds a professorship in the Psychology Department. Lori's academic work spans various topics in occupational health and safety. She is a passionate advocate for accessibility in higher education. Prior to joining MSVU, Lori was the Dean of Science at Saint Mary's University, where she also spent many years as a Psychology Professor. Lori competed her post-secondary studies at St. Francis Xaiver University (BSc), McMaster University (MSc), and the University of Guelph (PhD).

The following categories are guidelines for judging the presentations of each competitor. The weighting of each category is to be determined by the host university. The decision of the judging panel is final.

Communication

• Did the graduate student use non-verbal communication (i.e. voice modulation, body language) effectively?
• Did the graduate student use language that was jargon-free, or if jargon was used, was it accompanied with an explanation to make terms understandable to a non-expert audience?
• Did the presentation follow a logical sequence?
• Did the graduate student use their three minutes effectively? Did they elaborate too long on a particular aspect? Did the presentation feel rushed or incomplete?

Comprehension

• Did the presentation help you to understand the methodology behind the scholarly research being undertaken?
• Did the graduate student clearly outline the nature and purpose of their research?
• Did the graduate student clearly indicate the fascinating or compelling aspects of their research?
• Did the graduate student provide an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed?
• Did the graduate student clearly describe the impact and/or results of the research, including any conclusions and outcomes, or further steps to be taken?

Engagement

• Was the presentation engaging? Did the graduate student use creative language and storytelling to capture and maintain the audience's attention?
• Did the graduate student convey enthusiasm for their work?
• Was the graduate student careful not to trivialise or generalise their research?
• Did the PowerPoint slide create intrigue without dividing your attention – was it clear, legible, and concise?
• Did the presentation inspire you to want to know more?

Please reach out to Shane Costantino (shane.costantino@smu.ca) if you require additional information about the 2026 Eastern Regional 3MT competition.