Bart Danko at the Three Minute Thesis Challenge
Communicating complex research and its impact on society is nothing new to Bart Danko. After all, the joint MES/JD student鈥檚 film 鈥 Terra Communis 鈥 has already encouraged innovative environmental action in the municipality of Brampton, Ont.
The film鈥檚 reach took another step forward with a presentation at the Ontario Three Minute Thesis (3MT庐) Competition on Thursday, April 24. Speakers have only three minutes or less to share the results of their work without the use of props and only a single media slide to support them.
鈥淚t鈥檚 fun, it鈥檚 fun鈥 once you鈥檙e up there though, it鈥檚 intense,鈥 says Danko immediately following the competition.
Hosted by McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., competitors from 19 Ontario universities presented their research to a judging panel ranging from higher education administrators to notable writers to a renowned Canadian rock star. The competition puts some of the province鈥檚 foremost student researchers on the clock to effectively explain their work to a non-specialist audience.
Danko鈥檚 research focuses on green roofs and green roof policy in the Greater Toronto Area. Through interviews with academics, green roof installers, green roof manufacturers, municipal policymakers, green roof owners and others, his film 鈥 Terra Communis 鈥 explores green roofing as a tool to mitigate local and global environmental problems.
3MT庐 was initially developed by the University of Queensland in Australia in 2008. Since then, the event has been adopted around the world and is considered an invaluable exercise in the development of academic communication skills.
鈥淭he talks those students put on were absolutely fabulous, and I am continually amazed at the incredible research being conducted in our province,鈥 says Faculty of Graduate Studies Dean Barbara Crow, who attended the event. 鈥淗aving a strong presence of environmental and social justice themes amongst so many presentations was also great to hear.鈥
Next year鈥檚 provincial finals will take place at Western University in London, Ont. 91亚色 will send its top speaker from their 2014 competition to square off.
from on .
Despite not placing in the top three, Danko says the experience was one of the highlights of his graduate career at 91亚色. 鈥淭he connections I made at this event were worth the trip alone,鈥 he says.
To read more about Danko鈥檚 work 鈥 and watch his film Terra Communis 鈥 visit the website.