Dalila Destanović from the Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology UNSA won this year's 3MT competition for B&H Master and Bachelor students
Dalila Destanović, an intern in the Laboratory for Molecular Genetics of Natural Resources of the Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (INGEB) of the University of Sarajevo, won the first prize at this year's 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) competition for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Master and Bachelor students in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and abroad. Dalila presented the results of the project entitled "Diversity of caddisflies in the protected areas of the Canton Sarajevo", within which she completed her Bachelor thesis under the mentorship of prof. dr. Belma Kalamujić Stroil, senior scientific associate at INGEB. This was a joint project of INGEB and the Society for Genetic Conservation of B&H Endemic and Autochthonous Resources „GENOFOND“, and was financed by the Environmental Fund of the Federation of B&H. Dalila defended her Bachelor thesis at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo.
Conventional, qualitative-quantitative analyses of plant and animal species are today supplemented by molecular-genetic analyses to obtain a comprehensive insight about species and genetic diversity. The genetic data of endemic and endangered species are of particular importance. Therefore, this project aimed to explore the diversity of caddisflies (Trichoptera) species that inhabit the protected natural areas of Sarajevo Canton using DNA barcoding technology.
Organizer of the B&H 3MT competition for Master and Bachelor students is a BH Futures Foundation (https://www.bhfuturesfoundation.org/) that organized the inaugural competition for doctoral students in 2020. Students from B&H who study and live in Bosnia and Herzegovina or abroad were eligible to participate. The competition was judged by an international and local panel consisting of industry and academic professionals. This competition provides an opportunity for students to develop their academic, presentation, research communication and leadership skills by explaining their research to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes. In addition to numerous benefits for students, the 3MT competition provides an opportunity for their respective universities and faculties to showcase their research and research potential through the international B&H network, as well as open doors to new collaborations.
You can watch the winning presentation of Dalila Destanović at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHq2QATLkA
