The first place prize at the 2022 North American 3MT Competition has been won by Canadian graduate student, Atia Amin. The event was held live on stage at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in downtown San Francisco on Saturday, 10 December 2022, and was presented by the US Council of Graduate Schools (CGS).
A PhD candidate in genetics at McGill University, Amin’s interdisciplinary research seeks ways to connect the fields of molecular biology and computer science in order to identify biomarkers for various insect-borne diseases, specifically leishmaniasis. In her three-minute presentation titled “Preventing Leishmaniasis Using Exosomes,” Amin eloquently described the science behind this tropical disease – a scourge that affects more than 1 million people every year around the world – and its devastating impacts on the human body. Showcasing her expertise in effective science communication, Amin translated the complexities of her research through a personal story about a young victim of leishmaniasis from her home country of Bangladesh.
In San Francisco, Amin shared the stage with a deep and competitive group of finalists from across North America, including eleven graduate students from universities in Canada, the United States, and Mexico, each of whom had earned a spot in the finals after winning their local and regional 3MT competitions. The event was hosted by CAGS Vice President, Philippe-Edwin Bélanger (INRS), and featured an insightful roundtable discussion with the finalists during the voting period. The winner was selected by the audience using an electronic voting app.
Amin’s journey to the 2022 North American 3MT Competition has been long in the making. She won the local McGill competition in April 2022, and the Eastern Regional 3MT competition held at the University of New Brunswick in June. In November, Amin won the People’s Choice award at the Canadian National 3MT Showcase hosted by CAGS in Montréal. She returns from the North American competition with a $2,000 USD grand prize.
Atia Amin is an outstanding ambassador for graduate studies in Canada, and we congratulate her tremendous success on the international stage.
