UCO Graduate Student Earns Top Honors at Three Minute Thesis Competition
April 8, 2026
The University of Central Oklahoma's Jackson College of Graduate Studies (JCGS) recently hosted its ninth annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) research competition, highlighting the innovative work of graduate students across disciplines.
Benjamin Boateng, a public administration in urban management graduate student from Trondheim, Norway, earned first place and the People's Choice award, receiving a combined $1,250 prize, with their presentation titled "Urban Heat Island Mitigation Through Tree Canopy Expansion: A Policy and Management Case Study at UCO."
The 3MT competition challenges participants to present their thesis or capstone research in three minutes or less, using only one static slide and language accessible to a general audience.
Renee Elizabeth Martin, a fine arts in illustration graduate student from Tulsa, Oklahoma, received second place and a $500 prize for their presentation titled "The Presentation of Female Characters in Comic Books."
Angela Gonzalez Bueno, a forensic science graduate student from Bogota, Colombia, received third place and a $250 prize for their presentation titled "Evaluating the Quality and Quantity of Detail of Latent Prints on Buried Objects."
"The 3MT competition is a great opportunity for students to showcase their work and practice communication skills," said Sarah Gordon, Ph.D., dean of Central's JCGS.
"This year's competition was full of interesting, compelling and timely research topics. JCGS is so proud of all the participants and winners."
Bob Weiss, Edmond businessman and owner of Othello's and Around the Corner restaurants, sponsored the event.
Originally developed at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, the 3MT competition prepares graduate students to effectively communicate the significance of their research to non-specialist audiences in settings such as interviews, public presentations and advocacy work.
UCO’s Jackson College of Graduate Studies collaborates with all five academic colleges and the W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute, offering 40 graduate degree programs and more than 70 areas of study.
For more information about the Jackson College of Graduate Studies, visit www.uco.edu/graduate.
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Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma's Jackson College of Graduate Studies (JCGS) recently hosted its ninth annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) research competition, highlighting the innovative work of graduate students across disciplines. Benjamin Boateng, a public administration in urban management graduate student from Trondheim, Norway, earned first place and the People's Choice award, receiving a combined $1,250 prize, with his presentation titled "Urban Heat Island Mitigation Through Tree Canopy Expansion: A Policy and Management Case Study at UCO." Pictured, left to right, Boateng and Sarah Gordon, Ph.D., dean of Central's JCGS.
