About the Award / Media Feature

As global challenges grow in complexity, clear, engaging research communication is vital. The Universitas 21 (U21) Global Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition celebrates emerging research leaders and the power of concise storytelling. Building on local 3MT® events, the Global final convenes top research students in a virtual, international arena to sharpen communication skills, invite global peer review, and showcase compelling research narratives across borders. This year, students from 18 world-leading universities presented their PhD projects in three minutes to a non-specialist audience, driving record engagement with nearly 13,000 public votes cast for the People’s Choice Award—the highest participation in U21 3MT® history. First Prize went to Lie Wen of the National University of Singapore for “I Gut a Feeling I’m Full: How Bacteria Signal the Brain,” a presentation exploring how gut–brain communication regulates appetite. Using zebrafish larvae, his work sheds light on how disruptions in this signalling contribute to overeating.