Presenting Research “In a Nutshell” – Undergraduate Research Competition
Undergraduate Students Showcasing Their Research in 3 Minutes for a Chance to Win $1,000
Jayse Heer-Matonovich, TRU News, March 9th, 2025, 5:00 pm PST
Nutter the mascot will make an appearance for the In the Nutshell event. (Jayse Heer-Matonovich/TRU)
The TRU Research Office annually hosts In a Nutshell, a research competition where undergraduate students explain their research in three minutes or less for a chance to win prizes up to $1,000. Any undergraduate student at TRU who has been directly involved in research this academic year is eligible to participate. The event will be held on Tuesday, March 25th, from 5-7 PM on the second floor of the Old Library and Research Annex (OLARA).
In a Nutshell was founded in 2018 at TRU and is modelled after the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition for graduate students. It provides undergraduates with a similar opportunity to share their research clearly and engagingly with a general audience unfamiliar with their work. Last year’s competition was a huge success, with many participants and spectators, including friends, family, peers, and TRU faculty and staff. Students who deliver the most compelling research presentations have a chance to win up to $1,000 in prizes.
One of last year’s competitors, Sarah Seymour, a fourth-year biology and chemistry major, presented her research on the determination of heavy metals in cosmetic foundations using ICP-MS (a technique used to detect tiny amounts of elements in fluids).
To hear more about the competition, listen to Sarah’s experience as a first-time competitor from last year!
Interested in participating? Sign up here: In a Nutshell Registration Form
References
Thompson. (2020). In a Nutshel | Research and Graduate Studies | Thompson Rivers University. Www.tru.ca. https://www.tru.ca/research/research-week/in-a- nutshell.html
Thompson Rivers University. (2024). In a Nutshell – Undergraduate Thesis Competition – TRU Newsroom. Inside.tru.ca. https://inside.tru.ca/events/event/in-a-nutshell-undergraduate-thesis-competition-2/
Thompson Rivers University. (2025). In a Nutshell – Undergraduate Thesis Competition . Youtu.be. https://youtu.be/vrcF8b1tfiM