LPCM's PhD student Yanti De Visser wins the audience award during the Belgian 3MT Preliminary Round

On December 14, the Belgian preliminary round of the 3 Minute Thesis competition (3MT) took place in the Promotion Hall of the University Halls. This is a unique challenge in which PhD students had to present their life-changing research to a demanding jury of academics in just three minutes.

One of the striking participants was our PhD student Yanti De Visser, who not only managed to attract the attention of the jury but also managed to convince the audience with her passionate pitch. The subject of her research? The importance of precision cancer medicine in glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. What made Yanti's presentation so impressive was not only the depth of her scientific work but also her ability to put a face to it. She managed to make the complexity of her research accessible and to touch the audience emotionally.

Judith Wellens, a physician specialist in training and doctoral researcher in the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) research group, could call herself the winner of the jury prize. She conducts research into the impact of food components on inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

The 3 Minute Thesis competition not only provides a platform for scientific excellence but also highlights the importance of effective communication in academia. The ability to convey complex ideas in a concise and engaging manner is a skill that both Yanti De Visser and Judith Wellens excel at.

These two researchers not only embody the passion for their field but also demonstrate the power of sharing science with the world. While Yanti De Visser gave the face to precision cancer medicine, Judith Wellens brought the impact of food on inflammatory bowel disease closer to the public.

Congratulations to Yanti De Visser and Judith Wellens for their impressive performances in the Belgian 3MT preliminary round. Their ability to bring complex science to life in just three minutes is an inspiration to aspiring scientists and a reminder of the power of effective science communication.