Qatar University (QU) hosted the 5th National Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, which brought together graduate students from 10 universities in the country to present their research through concise and engaging presentations lasting no more than three minutes.
A total of 19 finalists competed before an audience of more than 250 participants, including faculty members, students, researchers, and representatives from academia and industry, at the event sponsored by ConocoPhillips Qatar.
The first place was awarded to Ikram Mustapha Zoukh, PhD in Health Sciences at QU Health.
Noof Abdulla al-Hajri, MSc in Accounting and Finance at the University of Doha for Science and Technology’s College of Business, secured second place, while Najamus Sahar Riyaz, Master of Environmental Engineering at the QU’s College of Engineering, earned third place.
The People’s Choice Award went to Lieutenant Mohammed Abdullah al-Marri, Master of Arts in Defence Diplomacy at Joaan bin Jassim Academy for Defence Studies.
The judging panel comprised Dr Khalid al-Ali, consultant to the Office of the Minister of Education and Higher Education; Eman al-Shamari, senior scientist at the ConocoPhillips Global Centre for Water Sustainability; engineer Faisal Mohammad al-Ansari, executive director of Qatar Calendar House; Dr Aisha Jassim al-Kuwari, chief executive of Roza Publishing; and Dr Lotfi Belkhir, dean of Academic Affairs at Barzan University College.
The 3MT Competition, originally developed by Australia’s University of Queensland, challenges graduate students to convey the importance of their research to a non-specialist audience within three minutes.
Since its launch in Qatar, the competition has grown into a national platform that promotes academic excellence, strengthens research communication skills, and fosters collaboration among higher education institutions.
Prof Aiman Erbad, the vice-president for Research and Graduate Studies at the QU, said in his opening remarks that the competition underscores the university’s dedication to providing a stimulating environment for higher education by developing policies, programmes, and laboratories; offering grants and training; and ensuring all requirements for excellence in research and learning – preparing individuals who will contribute to sustainable development projects and the Qatar National Vision 2030.
In his remarks, ConocoPhillips Qatar human resources manager Eric Thomas said: "By supporting and nurturing these students, we are investing in future leaders, doctors, scientists, and professionals who will address challenges at both the local and global levels.”
"We are proud to continue sponsoring this competition, which provides students with a platform to showcase their abilities and contribute to building a knowledge-based future for Qatar,” he said.