The GSAS Threesis Academic Challenge

ABOUT

The Threesis Academic Challenge is an annual vehicle to showcase the academic excellence and important scholarly work of GSAS master’s students. Over the course of the spring semester, participants develop the skills to effectively present their graduate level work (thesis, capstone, research, etc.) in three minutes to a non-specialized audience. Participants give their presentations over Zoom to a panel of judges. Top finalists win cash prizes and have their presentations showcased on the GSAS Master’s College website.

The 10th Anniversary GSAS Threesis Academic Challenge Final Round took place on Saturday, April 10, 2021 with the final results announced live during the Threesis Premiere Party on Friday, April 30, 2021.

Please find video recordings of our Premiere Party, each Finalist Presentation, and a Look Back at 10 Years of the Threesis Academic Challenge below:

ELIGIBILITY

Anyone who was enrolled in a GSAS master’s program (including students with a thesis under submission) during the 2020-2021 academic year was eligible. December 2020 graduates were also eligible, in addition to students who were accepted to Threesis 2020, which was cancelled due to COVID-19.

JUDGING CRITERIA

1. Mastery: Does the speaker clearly grasp the material? 
2. Style: Is the thesis topic and its significance communicated in language accessible for a non-specialized audience?
3. Engagement: Does the oration captivate and intrigue the audience? 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE THREESIS ACADEMIC CHALLENGE? WHY COMPETE?

The Threesis Academic Challenge is a unique opportunity for GSAS master's students to showcase their scholarly research. Previous participants, finalists, and winners have gone on to pursue PhD programs and job interviews with success. Threesis develops robust presentation skills, public speaking skills, and research skills that are applicable and valuable to doctoral research and professional endeavors alike.

Participants gain the opportunity to network and engage with academics and mentors within GSAS and throughout the University; Connect with fellow master's students from diverse departments and programs throughout the Graduate School; Attend various workshops helping to refine presention, public speaking, and communication skills; Showcase their graduate research, improve presentation and public speaking skills, and develop a strong network of support for years to come.  

GSAS awarded prizes for the following:

• 1st Place - $1000
• 2nd Place - $750
• 3rd Place - $500
• 4th-6th Place - $250

Congratulations to the 2021 GSAS Threesis Academic Challenge Winners:

   First Place & Audience Choice: Marissa Ajamian Grossman, History
   Primary Sources in the Dance Studio: Creating a Primary Source Resource for K-12 Dance Educators

   Second Place: Arun Mahtani, Biomedical Informatics
   Predicting an Interview Invitation to a Residency Program Through Holistic Review of an Applicant Using Natural Language Processing

   Third Place & Audience Choice: Sydney Yaeger, Museum Studies
   "I'd Never Have Thought It": The Role of Epic Theatre in Memorial Museum Settings

Congratulations to the 2021 GSAS Threesis Academic Challenge Finalists:

   Colin Stragar-Rice, XE: Experimental Humanities & Social Engagement
   Ontology of the Page: Towards a Critique of its Logic of Raciality

   Daniel Schorr, French Studies
   French Muslims in Catholic Schools - How France's public education policy has drawn Muslims to Catholic education

   Sheba Aikawa, Psychology
   “We Can Say It, But Can You?”: If and When Biracials Can Use the N-Word

And congratulations to all the 2021 GSAS Threesis Academic Challenge participants!