3MT contestants make quick work of finals

"Last Thursday saw the culmination of 3MT faculty-based heat winners come together for the grand finale," writes Marta Bailey, assistant director of graduate communications and postdoctoral affairs. "All 17 of the finalists did an outstanding job and the judges were impressed with the high caliber of competitors."

Taking first prize was Chau-Minh Phan (left), a PhD candidate in the School of Optometry and Vision Science, with his presentation "Treatment of Fungal Eye Infections Using Contact Lenses and Nanoparticles."

Chau-Minh has won the $1,000 prize and will now move on to represent Waterloo at the provincial finals at Queen's University on April 18.

The runner-up was Matt Hunt (right), a MASc candidate in mechanical and mechatronics engineering, for his presentation "The Effects of Anti-Icing Solution on Reinforcing Steel." Matt has won the $500 second-place prize as well as a chance to represent Waterloo at the provincial finals.

"The support from the audience members was also outstanding," writes Bailey, "with enthusiastic participation in selecting the People's Choice Award winner." That honour was also snapped up by audience favourite Chau-Min Phan.

"Congratulations to our University of Waterloo Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition winners!" concludes Bailey.

Photographs by Sospeter Gatobu.

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Further education bootcamp a success

by Shannon Tigert, Co-operative Education and Career Action

On March 23, 2013, the Centre for Career Action (CCA) hosted their second bi-annual Further Education Bootcamp, a full day of workshops aimed at helping students get a better sense of their post-graduation options.  The subjects of the 19 workshops ranged from LSAT preparation to how to pursue teaching as a career option. 

Kerry Mahoney (Director, Career Action & International Employment) reports that the 260 students in attendance were very pleased with the event, with the general feedback being that it was extremely convenient to have multiple workshops taking place on the same day.  The most popular workshops were “Thinking about Law?”, “Thinking about Med School?”, “Thinking about a health-related career?” and “Thinking about Optometry?”.  The Centre for Career Action will be holding another Further Education Bootcamp in the fall 2013 term.   Kerry would like to extend a big thanks to Pam Waechter, who took the lead on organizing the day.

This wraps up the workshops for the Winter 2013 term, and the Centre for Career Action will be back in full swing in the Spring 2013 term.  Individual appointments are available for the rest of the term. 

Last week’s question: 43% of you answered correctly! After Canada and the USA, the United Arab Emirates is the country logging into JobMine the most! Congratulations to this week’s poll winner Alannah Robinson.

This week’s question: How many individual advising appointments were held at the Centre for Career Action in 2012? (Hint: check out this website.)   Take a guess and enter to win a water bottle!

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Students invited to education forum

"Undergraduate students are invited to share their thoughts on post-secondary education this Saturday, April 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the SLC Multi-purpose room," writes Jacqueline Martinz.

The Federation of Students is hosting Advocacy Matters, an open forum for discussion on topics including tuition and quality of education.

“When this is finished, we will have a better understanding of what Feds should be advocating,” says Luke McIntosh, who helped organize Advocacy Matters. “We will also be able to develop a plan for next year and beyond.”

Advocacy Matters is an initiative by the Federation of Students’ Vice-President, Education, and more information is available online.

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