Bristol University student wins 3MT with an inspiring talk on Urdu women’s magazines

Oorsa Anwar, a Bristol University PhD student, has been awarded first place in the annual 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) competition. Participants are tasked with presenting their 80,000 word thesis within the strict time limit.

Oorsa is a student in the Department of English, and her thesis, titled “Archives of Dreams; Desires, and Selfhood”, was based upon her research on Urdu women’s magazines. Highlighting recurring themes in popular literature, it sought to understand the discourse that reflects and shapes the everyday lives and identities of North Indian Muslim women.

Following a more unconventional line of literary research, Oorsa focuses on the scholarly significance of women’s reading habits. She hopes to reshape how Indian Muslim women are represented in conversations regarding gender and culture.

On her win, Oorsa said: “It feels amazing, not just to be the winner, but also to have my message go across to so many people. The work that I do is quite niche, and for so many people to be able to relate to it, to give their time of day to it, that means so much more to me”.  

Professor Harry Mellor, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Postgraduate Research, praised Oorsa, adding: “In her winning presentation, Oorsa opened the door to the world of Urdu women’s magazines and the powerful cultural role they play. Like all of the finalists, she showed how postgraduate research at the University of Bristol is making a positive impact on global issues”.

As the winner, Oorsa received a £250 voucher and will progress to the 2025 vitae 3MT quarterfinal, which is the national stage of the tournament.

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Fellow Bristol University Student, Shaiful Hakim Bin Mohamed Noor, who is part of the School of Civil Aerospace and Design Engineering, won the Runner Up and People’s Choice awards. His compelling speech compared the airflow over an aeroplane wing to a dance. 

The 3MT competition originated in 2007 in Queensland, Australia. It has since developed into a multitude of challenges and competitions and takes place at universities across the globe. At Bristol, Bristol Doctoral College runs the competition, showcasing the talent of students and the impact of their research across the university.