THREEMINUTETHESIS(3MT) COMPETITIONUPM2026April16 2026 th HEATSUNIVERSITYFINAL8.00amAuditorium,FacultyofEducationalStudies,UniversitiPutraMalaysia2.00pmAuditorium,FacultyofEducationalStudies,UniversitiPutraMalaysiaThursday 8.00am -5.00pm
THREEMINUTETHESIS(3MT) COMPETITIONTcohmepeUtnitiivoenrsiticulPtiuvtartaesMsatlauydseiants’(UPaMca)de3mMicT, UPM2026presentation,andresearchcommunicationskills.TheAustralia-foundcompetitionisnow beingheld annuallyin universitiesacrossAustralia,New Zealand, Malaysia, and many othercountries.3MTrequiresyoutodescribeandexplainyourthesis succinctly within three minutes in alanguagethatisaccessibletoanintelligentlayaudience.This provides you with a greatopportunitytopractiseyourpresentationskills,evaluateanddeviseawaytocommunicatethesignificanceofyourresearch(insimpleterms)fortheinterestedgroupofaudience.Towardspreparingforyourviva,youmighthavepeopleaskingaboutthegistofyourresearch–3MTchallengesyoutoarticulateabriefyetcoherentresponse in such situations.Such skillsaregreatlyusefulwhenitcomestosecuringjobinterviewsoracademicconversations.WHATIS3MT?PhD by Research students who havesuccessfully passed their proposaldefence(havenotattendedviva-voce).PhDbyResearchstudentswhosestudystatusisstillACTIVE (Continue,Defer,Dropped-1semesteronlyandThesisSubmitted).PhD (byCourseworkand Mixed Mode)andMaster’sstudentsarenoteligibletocompete.ELIGIBILITY1.2.3.CATEGORYPresentations are limited to 3 minutes andcompetitors exceeding 3 minutes will bedisqualified.Presentationsareconsideredtohavecommencedwhen a presenter starts his/her presentationthroughspeech(timingdoesnotincludethe3MTtitle slide and commences from when thecompetitorstartsspeaking).Asinglestaticslideispermittedinthepresentation.Thiscanbevisiblecontinuously,or‘cutto’foramaximumof1minute.No additional props (e.g. costumes, musicalinstruments,laboratoryequipmentandanimatedbackgrounds) are permitted during thepresentation.Presentationsaretobespokenword(e.g.nopoems,raps,orsongs).No additionalelectronicmedia(e.g.sound andvideofiles)arepermittedduringthepresentation.
THREEMINUTETHESIS(3MT) COMPETITIONThejudgingpanelwillbelookingfor: UPM2026ComprehensionandContentEngagementandCommunicationJUDGINGCRITERIAPRIZESFORFINALCOMPETITONPresentationprovidedclearbackgroundandsignificancetotheresearchquestion.Presentationclearlydescribedtheresearchstrategy/designandtheresults/findingsoftheresearch;andPresentation clearly described theconclusions,outcomes,and impactoftheresearch.Theorationwasdeliveredclearly,andthelanguagewasappropriateforanon-specialistaudience.ThePowerPointslidewaswell-definedandenhancedthepresentation;andThepresenterconveyedenthusiasm fortheirresearchandcapturedandmaintainedtheaudience’sattention.ChampionRM1000.00x2categoriesRunner-up RM800.00x2categoriesPeople’sChoiceAwardsRM100.00x1participant
2026UPM3MTCompetition(Heats)08.00am :ParticipantsArrivalandRegistration08.30am :Judges’ArrivalandAdjudicationBriefing09.00am :FirstSessionofAdjudication10.20am :ShortBreak10.30am :SecondSessionofAdjudication12.00pm :Judges’Deliberation12.30pm :ClosingRemarksbyTheHeadofTheJudgingPanel12.45pm :AnnouncementofTop12Finalists12.55pm :Photosession/Break2026UPM3MTCompetition(Final)PROGRAMMESTENTATIVE02.15pm :Finalists’andjudges’registration-Adjudicationbriefing02.45pm :Thearrivalof:-Guestsofhonour03.00pm :OpeningspeechbyDeputyDeanSchoolofGraduateStudies(Thesis,StudentDevelopment)03.10pm :Competitionbegins(12participants):Judges’deliberation:Closingremarksbyheadofjudgingpanel:Announcementofresults:Photosession05.00pm :Endofprogram
Prof.Dr.NormazWanaIsmailNormazWanaIsmailisaProfessorofEconomicsattheSchoolof Business and Economics,UniversitiPutra Malaysia.Additionally,she holdsthe position ofDeputyDean ofResearchandInnovation.Previously,sheservedastheDeputyDirectoroftheInstituteofAgriculturalandFoodPolicyStudiesatUniversitiPutraMalaysia.SheearnedherPhDinEconomicsfrom theUniversityofSouthampton,UnitedKingdom.Sheteaches undergraduate and graduate courses inMacroeconomics,InternationalTrade,andDigitalEconomics.Her research interests predominantly revolve aroundInternationalTrade and DevelopmentEconomics,with aspecificfocusonmedicaltrade,hightechnologytrade,digitaltechnology,andeconomicgrowth.Prof.Dr.MohdRazifHarunJUDGES(HEATS)Dr.RazifHarunisaprofessorattheDepartmentofChemicaland EnvironmentalEngineering,UniversitiPutra Malaysia(UPM).HereceivedhisDoctorateDegree(PhD)fromMonashUniversity, Australia. His background in microalgaebioprospecting,biochemicalengineering and renewableenergy.AfterhisPhD,heworkedasapostdoctoralresearcherintheLaboratoireLaboratoiredeBiotechnologiedel’Environin Narbonne,France,for2 yearson microalgae-relatedprojects.Hehaspublishedmorethan100publicationsininternationalrefereedjournals,30publicationsinconferenceproceedings,and8chaptersinscientificbooks,5copyrights,and2patents.HereceivedVice-ChancellorAwardforyoungacademiain2016andawardedaWorld’sTop2%Scientist(Subject-Wise)in2020-2025,andseveralotherawardsincludingpublicationandinnovation.AsofJuly2025,morethantwomillionMYRresearchgrantsrelatedtomicroalgaeprojectshasbeengrantedfrom publicandinternationalagencies.Hehasbeenactivelyinvolvedinconsultationprojectswithsomeindustriesrelatedtomicroalgae.Hiscurrentresearchinterestondevelopinglow costandhighenergyefficiencyforcultivationofmicroalgae,extractingvariousbioproductsfrommicroalgaebiomassincludingDHA,EPAandaminoacids,andintegratingmicroalgaecultivationwithaquacultureindustries.
Prof.Ir.Dr.YusAnizaYusofProf.Ir.Dr.YusAnizaYusofisaProfessorofFoodMaterialsEngineeringatUniversitiPutraMalaysiaandservesasDeputyDirectoroftheHalalProductsResearchInstitute.SheholdsaPhDinChemicalEngineeringfrom ImperialCollegeLondonandisaCharteredEngineer(IChemE,UnitedKingdom)aswellas a registered ProfessionalEngineerin Malaysia.Herexpertiseincludesfoodpowderprocessing,dryingtechnologyforfoodandbiologicalmaterials,andnutraceuticalandhalalproductdevelopment.SheisalsoaCertifiedHalalTrainerandTechnicalDirector ofNutraMagis Sdn.Bhd.,a startupcompanyunderUPM’sguidance.Throughouthercareer,shehasproducedover200scientificpublicationsandactivelydeliverslecturesatnationaland internationallevels.HeraccoladesincludetheTopResearchScientistMalaysia2025awardedbytheAcademyofSciencesMalaysiaandtheNewProductDevelopmentAwardfrom TheNationalCenterforPalms&DatesinRiyadh,SaudiArabia.Sheisalsoactivelyinvolvedinhalalcapacitybuilding,supervisespostgraduatestudentsfrom variouscountries,andhassuccessfullycommercializedamoringachewabletabletproduct,contributingsignificantlytoresearch,innovation,andthegrowthofthehalaleconomybothlocallyandglobally.Dr.AiniAzeqaMa’rofJUDGES(HEATS)Dr.AiniAzeqaMa’rofisasocialpsychologistandseniorlectureratUniversitiPutra Malaysia,and Head oftheLaboratoryofYouth & CommunityWellbeing undertheInstituteofSocialScienceStudies.SheholdsaPhDinSocialPsychologyfrom theUniversityofSheffieldandspecialisesinyouth wellbeing, social behaviour, and digital-erapsychosocialissues.Dr.Ainihasan extensive academicportfolio, with over 100 indexed publications, activeinvolvementinnationalandinternationalresearchgrants,andsupervisionofpostgraduateand doctoralresearchacrossdiverseareasofsocialpsychology.Herworkbridgesresearch,policy,andcommunityengagement,particularlyinareassuchasmentalhealth,cyberbehaviour,prosocialdevelopment,andsocialidentity.Sheisalsoactivelyengagedasanexpertpanel,reviewer,andspeaker,contributingtobothacademicandpublicdiscourseatnationalandinternationallevels.
Assoc.Prof.Dr.NoorSyamilahZakariaAssociateProfessorDr.NoorSyamilahZakaria,K.B.,P.A.isanacademicfrom DepartmentofCounsellorEducation andCounselling Psychology,Faculty ofEducationalStudies.Currently,sheisservingasDirectorattheCentreforQualityAssurance,UniversitiPutraMalaysia.She isaRegisteredCounsellorand Certified Counselling PractitionerwiththeBoardofCounsellors(Malaysia).Hercurrentfocusofinterestinthecounsellingprofessionisforegroundedoncounselloreducationandsupervision,withherresearchenthusiasm incounsellingethicseducation.Asasocialscientistwhodirectlyinvolvesqualitativeinquiries,sheappreciatestracinghistories,cultures,thoughtsandartifactsinthecountryandabroad.Todate,shehaspublishednumerousarticlesandacademicpapersinprofoundjournals,booksandotheracademicvenuesfocusingonrelatedtopicsincounselloreducationandsupervision,counsellingethicseducation,teachereducation,adult’seducation,olderadult’slifelonglearningacquisitionaswellaslocalcommunityheritageandcivilization.Tocompleteherscholarlyendeavor,shehasparticipatedandwonmedalsatvariousteaching,learningandresearchinnovationcompetitionsatinternationalandnationalvenues.Throughouttheseyears,herinvolvementwithstudents’academicadvisoryandsupervisionhasproducedmanytalentedgraduandsfrom diversedemographicsandworkforces.Onthesidenoteasanacademicqualityassuranceexpert,shecontributessignificantlytotheinstitutional,national,regionalandinternationallevelsofcurriculumdevelopmentandacademicqualityassurancemanagementmatters.JUDGES(HEATS)
Assoc.Prof.Dr.LiliatiIsmailLilliatiIsmailis an Associate Professor and Head ofDepartmentattheFacultyofEducationalStudies,UniversitiPutraMalaysia.Shehasextensiveexperienceinteaching,research,publication,postgraduatesupervision,andthesisexamination in the field ofTESL.She has successfullysupervisedatotalof26PhD studentstocompletion.Heracademic interests include grammar pedagogy,secondlanguageteachingandlearning,andresearchinlanguageeducation.Ts.Dr.MohdZuhairMohdNorJUDGES(FINAL)Ts.Dr.MohdZuhairMohdNorisaSeniorLecturerintheDepartmentofProcessand Food Engineering,FacultyofEngineering,UniversitiPutraMalaysia.Hisjourneyinresearchcommunicationbeganin2014whenhesecured1stRunnerUpinthe3MTcompetitionatVictoriaUniversity,Australia.SincecompletinghisPhDin2017,hehasdedicatedhimselftocoaching,mentoring,and delivering 3MT training acrossUPM'sfacultiesandresearchinstitutes.Drivenbyapassionforimpactfulsciencecommunication,hehassuccessfullyguidednumerous students to win atuniversity,national,andinternationallevels.Inadditionto3MT,Dr.ZuhairisalsoinvolvedinotherresearchcommunicationplatformssuchasFallingWallandIEEE5MFYP,furtherexpandinghisreachintranslatingcomplexresearchintoengagingnarrativesfordiverseaudiences.Outsideacademia,Dr.Zuhairisaseasonedpublicspeakerandemceeforvariousnationalandinternationalconferences.Healsohasbroadcastingexperience,havingservedasaparttimeradioDJforPutraFM (UPM)andMelbourne'scommunitystation,3ZZZFM.
Dr.ThavamaranKanesanThavamarancompletedhisPh.D.degreeinEngineeringinlessthan3years,majoringintheintegrationof4thGenerationLong Term Evolution (LTE)and opticalcommunications.Thereafter,hesolelyfoundedProofreadingByAUKPh.D.,anAcademicConsultingFirmthatprovidesservicesacrossmanyverticals.Thefirm hasgrownfrom havingasinglefoundertocurrentlyemployingover118Consultantsallovertheglobe,and currently serves Corporates/Universities in over36Countries,including UK,SaudiArabia,Malaysia,Korea,Australia,andmanymore.InhispersonalResearchJourney,Thavamaranhasanexcitingpublicationrecordandawards,with>70publications(listattached),mostlypublishedin(SCI/SSCI–ISI)Quartile1journalsandLow AcceptanceRateconferences.Mostnotably,hehadgarneredover+300,000AcademicFollowersinhisvibrantTiktokandFacebookpage/group,whichcompletelyfocusesonAcademic&CareerParadigms.ProofreadingByAUKPh.D.currentlyservesastheofficialeditorialformanyUniversities,GovernmentalandPrivateOrganizations,notablyMABMS,MARDI,USM GBS,UniMASJCEST,UMKJEB,USIM,UPM Civil,UKMSocialScience,andOZZIEAMDHS.Apartfrom hisentrepreneurshipjourney,hewasalsowiththeprestigiousAstonInstituteofPhotonicTechnologies,Birmingham (UK)asapostdoctoralresearcherandworkedinEuropeanFP7projectFOX-CandEPSRCUNLOCfocusingonalloptical-orthogonalfrequencydivisionmultiplexing(AO-OFDM)andcoherentO-OFDM (CO-OFDM).Inordertogainfurtherindustrialinsights,he joined Telekom Malaysia asa TechnicalManager,focusing onradio-over-fibersystem projectsanddirectlymanaged24membersoftechnicalstaffs.Todate,ThavamaranhasmanagedtosecureoverRM23.7Mil(USD5.4Mil)worthofResearchGrantsandwonnumerousAwards,namelyBPHSuccessfulPeopleinMalaysia,BestPapersandResearcher-of-the-yearawards.JUDGES(FINAL)
PARTICIPANTSFacultyofAgricultureAhmadZubairQazizadah“UtilizationofCoconutDregsasaSustainableGrowing”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryAliyahMohdYahaya“ANewWaytoProtectOurVegetables–SeedCoatingTechnology”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryFacultyofScienceBashiruLukuman“RadiationDosePredictionofWhole-Body18F-FDGPET/CTImagingUsingMachineLearning”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryDayanaSaid“Lead-FreeRadiationShieldingGlass”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryTanEeFei“HiddenWorldofDrugsInsideMOFs:AMolecularHide&Seek”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryFacultyofEngineeringNgYuEn“MappingtheGap:UsingFREStoPrioritizeFloodInvestments”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryNoorsuriaSuradi“BuildingElectricityCnsumptiontoEnvironmentalandHumanImpact”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryHisham Neyaz“PhysiologicalArtifactDetectionFromEEGSignaltoEnhanceTheRecognition”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategory
PARTICIPANTSFacultyofEducationalStudiesPavithraPanirSelvam“BeforeTheyWalkAway”SocialScienceCategorySugendrana/lNagandran“ExploringPreparednessofTeachersinIndividualEducationProgram (IEP)forSpecialNeedsStudentsinHospital–BasedSchool(HS),Selangor”SocialScienceCategoryFacultyofFoodScienceandTechnologyLeonieMargarethaWidyaPangestika“LessFat,SameDelight:RevolutionizingMeatPatties”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryNurulIzzaNabilahMohdSamusudin“BreakingProteins,ReducingReactions:ReinventingGoat’sMilkforAllergyRelief”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryFacultyofForestryandEnvironmentMohammadHarizAbdulRahman“Malaysia'sPineappleonTheGlobalMap:HowWeDetermineItsSustainability”SocialScienceCategoryFacultyofVeterinaryMedicineMuhammadIbrahim Panhwar“From Bird’sNesttoOvarianHealth:ANaturalHopeForPolycysticOvarySyndrome”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryZhangPeiran“FactorsInfluencingInnovativeWorkBehaviorsAmongElementarySchoolTeachersinChina:AJD-RPerspective”SocialScienceCategory
PARTICIPANTSFacultyofHumanEcologyNgoZhenHong““Avoidance”isBetterThanCure”SocialScienceCategoryFacultyofModernLanguagesandCommunicationYangJiahui“SyntacticandProsodicPatterninginEsportsTeam Communication:ACorpus-AssistedAnalysisofLeagueofLegendsSpokenDiscourse”SocialScienceCategoryYuQiushi“From DiasporatoPost-Diaspora:RevisingCulturalIdentityandNarrativeStrategiesinContemporaryMalaysianChineseCinema”SocialScienceCategoryYeLinjie“ModeratingEffectsofAILiteracyintheRelationshipBetweenInfluencingFactors,andUseBehaviourAmongGenerationZinChina”SocialScienceCategoryFacultyofMedicineandHealthSciencesNabilaAdlinaNasruddin“From WastetoInsecticide:HarnessingLimePeelEssentialOilasDual-ActionHouseholdAerosolAgainstAedesAegypti”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryNurinNadrahJohan“SurvivingCancerWithoutLosingTheHeart:ThePowerofTinyMessengers”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryMuhammadFikryAhmad“TheHiddenFactorinBloodSugarControl:WhenGenesMaketheDifference”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategory
PARTICIPANTSFacultyofComputerScienceandInformationTechnologyRohanaMydin“SilentThreat,SmartDefence”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryAliyuMuhammad“MakingSmartSystemsFaster,SmarterandMoreReliable”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategorySchoolofBusinessandEconomicsAnTiantian“VisitorPreferenceandWillingnesstoPayForTheManagementofTheIndustrialHeritageAtAnsteelGroupMuseum”SocialScienceCategoryFacultyofBiotechnologyandBiomolecularSciencesBajesAmjedYousefAlQaisieh“TheShippingContainer”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryChewTzeWei“PapayaLeaves:ANaturalSolutionforAlzheimer'sDisease”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryInstituteforMathematicalResearchNurHazirahAdillaNorzawary“TinyParticles,BigImpact:EnhancingHeatTransferwithHybridNanofluids”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryMohammedMaherTalalMohammed“SmarterAIforBetterDiseaseDiagnosis”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategory
PARTICIPANTSHalalProductsResearchInstituteMuhammadAmirunCheHassan“AppleSnail:From PesttoRemedy?”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryCasim Rashdi“IntegrativeGC-MSandFingerprintingShelflifeModelingofSAKURAB(Allium Chinense)”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryInternationalInstituteofAquacultureandAquaticSciencesChuiJiaNing“From HourstoMinutes:SecuringOurAquafoodFutureThroughPrecisionDiagnostics”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategoryInstituteofBioscienceKohWeiChin“TurningVirusesIntoSmartWeaponsAgainstCancer”Science,Engineering&TechnologyCategory
THREEMINUTE THESIS(3MT) COMPETITIONUPM2026APPRECIATIONSTheOrganizingCommitteeofthe2026UPM 3MTCompetitionwouldliketoextendoursincereappreciationto:Dean&DeputyDeans,SchoolofGraduateStudies,Dean,Faculties/School&Directors,Institues, EventCoordinator,Faculties/School/Institutes,Judges,2026UPM 3MTCompetitionHeatsandFinal, andParticipantsSchoolofGraduateStudiesUniversitiPutraMalaysiawww.sgs.upm.edu.my