2026 HKUST 3MT® Competition

The 2026 HKUST Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition attracted entries from thirteen disciplines and representing twelve economies. After four days' pre-selection interviews, eight candidates from four schools and with six nationalities were selected for the final round that was held on April 15, 2026. At the final round all the finalists presented their enthusiasm for research and introduced their work with cheerful spirit and stimulating style. The judges evaluated the finalists' 3MT® presentations as well as their performance during the Q&A session. Vrinda Mathur, PhD student in the Division of Life Science, won the Championship. She will also represent the HKUST at the 2026 Asia-Pacific 3MT® Competition. The 1st Runner-up and the 2nd Runner-up went to Eman Ansar, MPhil student in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and Giorgio Armand Manzanilla Robel, PhD student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Francis Eric Patricio Almaquer won the People's Choice Award. 

The judging panel of the 2026 HKUST 3MT® Competition includes

• Prof. George Yuan, Associate Dean of Engineering and Professor in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering
• Prof. Qinglu Zeng, PG Programs Coordinator and Professor in the Department of Ocean Science
• Prof. Chengxing Zhai, PG Programs Coordinator and Associate Professor in the Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas
• Prof. Carsten Chong, MPhil/PhD Programs Coordinator and Assistant Professor in the Department of Information Systems, Business Statistics and Operations Management
• Dr. Nora Hussin, Associate Director and Associate Professor of Language Education, Center for Language Education