MA THÈSE EN 180 SECONDES : WESTERN FINAL

Are you a master's or doctoral student? The Ma thèse en 180 secondes (MT180) competition is a unique opportunity to perfect your communication skills while giving you the chance to share your research in the public space!

Simon Fraser University's Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs is pleased to host the 5th edition of the Western finals of the Ma thèse en 180 secondes (MT180) competition. This competition is an opportunity for master's and doctoral students to present their research topic in simple terms to a diverse audience. Each student is required to give a clear, concise yet convincing three-minute presentation on his or her research project. The Western Final is presented in collaboration with the Centre de la francophonie at the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria and Acfas-Alberta and will take place on March 21, 2025 at Simon Fraser University.

By registering, you will be supported in the preparation of your presentation at an Acfas training session. To be eligible for the finals, you must be a master's or doctoral student in a Canadian university, who can present in French. Several prizes will be awarded to the winners of each category, and to the public's favourite. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to showcase your research across the country in a multidisciplinary context!

Why participate?

Expand your network in the research community;
Share your research with the scientific community and a broad public;
Disseminate your research within the community;
Develop your communication skills;
To have first experiences of interviews in the media;
Have the chance to receive a grant;
Clarify your ideas for your thesis;
Develop your skills for your thesis defence or oral presentations.

Prizes to win (bursaries)

Scholarships will be awarded to winners at the master's level, doctoral level and to the public's favourite. In addition, one doctoral student per university will be able to participate in the French-Canadian final of the competition, and will receive free access to the Acfas Congress, which is the largest multidisciplinary scientific congress in the Francophonie, with more than 5,000 participants each year in about thirty research fields.

Important dates

December 11, 2024: MT180 information session in French-speaking Canada
Early February - date to be confirmed: Introductory session to prepare for MT180
February 14, 2025: Training offered by Acfas for doctoral students wishing to take part in the competition
March 21, 2025: Ma thèse en 180 secondes Western Final at Simon Fraser University
May 7, 2025: National final of Ma thèse en 180 secondes, to be held during the 92nd Acfas Congress in Montreal.

Travelling to SFU

For this 5th edition, we are offering you the opportunity to participate in person to the Western Final. When registering online, you will be asked questions regarding your travel preferences. Transportation to SFU and/or accomodation on campus should be free of charge for particpants coming from outside of the Greater Vancouver Area.*

To learn more about «Ma thèse en 180 secondes»

Interested in taking part in the MT180 contest? Register for the next information session!

Hosted by Acfas, this information session will take place on December 11, at 9:00 am. Learn more about the competition in general, the regional finals and talk to two former finalists about their experiences and advice.

Sarah Aufrère from Simon Fraser University and François Regis Kabahizi from the University of Regina will talk about their experiences.

Take a look at presentations from previous editions and get inspired!

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE COMPETITION?

To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a master's or doctoral program at a university in Alberta or British Columbia (all universities are eligible). Whether french is your mother tongue, your second language or even your fifth spoken language, we will welcome your application! You just need to master french to be able to participate. And of course, you can participate even if you study in English, as long as you make your presentation in french during the competition!

(*see eligibility requirements)

Eligibility Requirements

To participate in the competition, candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Doctorate's degree

Be enrolled or have been enrolled in a university in Alberta or British Columbia in a doctoral research program with a thesis (Ph.D.) during the current academic year (September 2024 to August 2025) or have completed their Master's or PhD;
Be able to represent BC or Alberta at the national finals on May 7, 2025 (if applicable);
Be able to communicate in French
Be at a sufficiently advanced stage of their doctoral research project;
Not have won a jury or public prize in a previous national competition of Ma thèse en 180 secondes;

Master's degree

Be enrolled or have been enrolled in a master's program with a thesis in the current academic year (September 2024 to August 2025) at a university in Alberta or British Columbia;
Be able to communication in French
Be at a sufficiently advanced stage of their master's research project;
Not have won the jury or public master's award in a previous competition.

N.B.: International students enrolled in a master's or doctoral program in a Canadian university are eligible.

For more information, please contact:

Laurence Gagnon
Coordinator - Events & Communications
Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs
offacoor@sfu.ca

Contact person per university

For participants from Alberta:
acfas-alberta@ualberta.ca

For participants from the University of British Columbia:
Antje Ziethen (antje.ziethen@ubc.ca)

For participants from Simon Fraser University :
Sarah Aufrère (sarah_aufrere@sfu.ca)

For participants from the University of Victoria :
Pierre-Luc Landry (gradfren@uvic.ca)

«Ma thèse en 180 secondes»'s Western Final is made possible thanks to a financial support from:

Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs