SANORD 2025 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Regional Winners Announced
SANORD is proud to announce the regional winners of the 2025 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, a vibrant showcase of emerging research talent from across our Southern African and Nordic member universities.
This annual competition continues to demonstrate the power of research to address pressing societal challenges while fostering meaningful academic collaboration within the SANORD community.
This year’s regional heats brought together PhD candidates from the following member institutions.
Southern African Region:
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University of Johannesburg (UJ)
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University of the Western Cape (UWC)
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Rhodes University (RU)
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Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
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Durban University of Technology (DUT)
Nordic Region:
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University of Bergen (UiB)
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Linnaeus University
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University of Turku
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Karlstad University
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Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN)
Celebrating the 2025 Regional Winners
After an inspiring round of presentations, two outstanding candidates were named regional champions and will present their work at the SANORD 2025 Conference hosted by Aarhus University, Denmark.
Southern African Regional Winner
University of the Western Cape (UWC)
Candidate: Eurinah Koeras
Presentation Title: Grey Hair, Aging and A Growing Prostate: The Search for a Natural Solution
About the Research:
Eurinah’s research addresses critical health challenges affecting aging male populations, exploring natural therapeutic solutions to prostate enlargement. Her work reflects SANORD’s commitment to fostering research that directly contributes to public health and well-being within the Southern African region.
Nordic Regional Winner
University of Bergen (UiB)
Candidate: Marit Sandberg
Presentation Title: Childbearing in Women with Heart Disease
Research Area: Medicine / Obstetrics
About the Research:
Marit’s study explores the complexities of maternal health for women with cardiac conditions, a vital yet under-explored area in contemporary medicine. Her work embodies the SANORD objective of advancing research that promotes equitable, inclusive healthcare systems and enhances the quality of life within and beyond Nordic societies.
The 3MT competition not only recognises academic excellence but also cultivates the next generation of researchers who are actively addressing societal needs through innovative, impactful inquiry. The 2025 winners exemplify this, tackling subjects that resonate across global health and social development sectors.
SANORD congratulates all participating universities and candidates for their remarkable contributions and extends special recognition to Eurinah and Marit. We look forward to their presentations in Aarhus, where their work will spark dialogue, collaboration, and new pathways for research partnerships within the SANORD network.
This competition reinforces SANORD’s core mission: to promote academic cooperation, capacity building, and knowledge exchange between Southern African and Nordic higher education institutions. The winning research topics speak directly to the network’s priorities of advancing research that supports health equity, sustainable development, and societal impact.
