The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by Ph.D. students. Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), the exercise cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.
Eligibility
Active Doctoral and Professional Doctorate (Research) students are eligible to participate in 3MT competitions at all levels. Plan 1 Master's students are also eligible to participate, as long as the student's program of study contains an original research project. Graduates are not eligible.
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Competition Rules
- Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
- A single static slide is permitted in the presentation (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description). The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
- The 3 minute audio must be continuous – no sound edits or breaks.
- No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted within the recording. Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
- No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
- The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
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Judging Criteria
Comprehension and Content
- Presentation provided clear background and significance to the research question.
- Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research.
- Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research.
Engagement and Communication
- The oration was delivered clearly, and the language was appropriate for a non-specialist audience.
- The PowerPoint slide was well-defined and enhanced the presentation.
- The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience's attention.
Competition Prizes
| Winner | Runner-up | People's Choice |
|---|---|---|
| $1000 | $750 | $500 |
Watch videos of the 2020 3MT Virtual Winners
1st Place: Zoya Anderson (Vitiligo: More than a Cosmetic Issue)
2nd Place: Sara Sims (Not Acting Your Age)
People's Choice: Keyur Savla (Giving insight to the blind eye-doctor)
Watch videos of the 2020 Virtual 3MT Finalists
Maheshika Somarathna (Surviving Without Kidneys)
Marlon Goering (Delinguent Outcomes of Adverse Pubertal Experience)
Monica Abdul-Chani (Solo)
Nicole Diaz (Super Helpers: The Key to Better Vaccines)
Shameka Phillips (Go to Bed! Household Chaos & Sleep in Children)
Raoud Marayati (Knocking out the villain in cancer metastasis)
2019 3MT Winners
Learn More
Questions?
Please email Dr. Stefanie Varghese (sbvarghese@uab.edu) with any questions you may have.