Sana Bari is our 2026 Three Minute Thesis champion

Sana wowed the judges with her presentation on the power of laser-generated bacteria recognition and its potential to improve food-safety decision making.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an annual research presentation competition which challenges postgraduate students to share their research in three minutes or less. It forces them to skip the jargon and focus on effective communication, a vital skill going forward in their careers.

Twelve students competing in this year’s finale, each sharing the importance of their research in an accessible and enjoyable way.

As the winner, Sana will go on to compete in the 3MT Asia Pacific virtual competition, where she will share her research with an international audience.

Oluwagbeminiyi Bamgboye came second with his presentation on how birds can help spread invasive plants. He shared his work in tracking bird activity in the Banks Peninsula and how it could help land managers prepare for new invasions and target weed management more effectively.

Abhiramy Kirisan took third place with her speech on cow pee and plantain. Her research explores how plantain can reduce the release of nitrous oxide from cow urine, which could mean better results for our soil and our atmosphere.

Nicole Parnell was awarded the trophy for best master’s student presentation. Her research explores how underground soil networks are affected by grazing management and what that means for farming systems and native grasslands.

Master’s student Nguyen Thi Phuong Hue won the people’s choice award, voted for by members of the audience. She explained how two emerging fungal pathogens could have serious impacts on New Zealand’s cherry orchards and how her research could help growers understand and manage these diseases.