Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition 2023

 
 

What is it?

The 3MT is an exercise in developing academic and research communication skills. All currently enrolled postgraduate students may enter the VUW competition.  Participants will have three minutes (and one PowerPoint slide) to give an engaging and dynamic talk on their thesis topic and its significance in language appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience.

What it is not?

It is not an exercise in trivialising or dumbing-down research.  The talk should engage the audience without reducing research to entertainment value only.

Why do it?

The 3MT competition supports a common Graduate Attribute for research degree candidates: the capacity to communicate ideas effectively to a range of audiences.

How to participate

Timeline

Submission open: 15th May
Submission deadline: 19th June
Awards ceremony: 16th August

3MT workshops

Session 1: 15th May 2023, 2 pm, Zoom
Session 2: 12th June 2023, 2 pm, Zoom

Registering is required

Eligibility

Anyone who is a currently enrolled postgraduate student can enter the Victoria University of Wellington 3MT Competition. However, only a Doctoral student (active PhD and Professional Doctorate (Research) candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone will be able to represent VUW at the Asia-Pacific Competition in Australia.

Students who submit their thesis for examination before the Asia-Pacific Final will remain eligible to compete.

Finalists will be required to agree to media exposure for their presentation and research. During the course of the competition, there will be video recording and photographs taken of participants for use in promotional material.

Rules

Ensure you have followed all the virtual competition rules on the University of Queensland website. In particular,

  • The talk must be 3 minutes or less. The time is taken from when you first start speaking (not the length of the video)

  • Only a single static slide, with no animations or transitions

  • The 3-minute audio must be continuous – no sound edits or breaks

  • You should include a title slide with your name, faculty and the title of the talk. You can use this template.

Instructions for video recording and editing (using kapwing.com) can be found here.

Prizes

1st Prize: $3000
2nd prize: $1000
3rd prize: $500

Masters Prize: $250
Honours Prize: $100 Campus Books Voucher

Graduate Women Wellington Prize: $400
Wellington International Prize: $250
People's choice award: $100 Campus Books voucher

Heats: Winner $200, Runner-up $50

 

Judging Criteria

Entrants present a compelling three-minute oration on their thesis topic and its significance in language appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience. Each of the judging criteria has equal weight & the judges’ decision is final.

 

Comprehension and content

  • Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed, while explaining terminology and avoiding jargon?

  • Did the presentation clearly describe the impact and/or results of the research, including conclusions and outcomes?

  • Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?

  • Was the thesis topic, research significance, results/impact and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?

  • Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation – or did they elaborate for too long on one aspect or was the presentation rushed?

Engagement and communication

  • Did the oration make the audience want to know more?

  • Was the presenter careful not to trivialise or generalise their research?

  • Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?

  • Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience’s attention?

  • Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?

  • Did the slide enhance the presentation – was it clear, legible, and concise?

 

History

The 3MT® Competition

The idea for the competition came about at a time when the state of Queensland was suffering severe drought. To conserve water, residents were encouraged to time their showers, and many people had a three-minute egg timer fixed to the wall in their bathroom. The then Dean of the University of Queensland Graduate School, Emeritus Professor Alan Lawson, put two and two together and the idea for the competition was born.

The 3MT® is a competition that challenges research students to communicate the significance of their projects to a general audience in just three minutes. The 3MT competition supports a common Graduate Attribute for research degree candidates: the capacity to communicate ideas effectively to a range of audiences.

It is a reality that many PhD students will need to communicate their ideas and results to people who may not necessarily have expertise in their field.
— Professor Alastair McEwan, Dean of The University of Queensland’s Graduate School

The first 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2008 with 160 Research Higher Degree students competing. In 2009 and 2010 the 3MT competition was promoted to other Australian and New Zealand universities and enthusiasm for the concept grew. Due to its adoption in numerous universities, a multi-national event was developed, and the Inaugural Trans-Tasman 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2010. Since 2011, the popularity of the competition has increased and 3MT competitions are now held in over 350 universities across 59 countries worldwide. 

Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition

In 2016, 3MT brought about an expansion of the Trans-Tasman 3MT competition to include a select number of Asian universities. The competition is now called the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition. The Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition brings together university 3MT finalists from across Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, North-East Asia and South-East Asia. In 2022, the competition will be taking place online.

VUW held its first 3MT competition in 2010 and it has continued as a popular annual event within the postgraduate community, hosted by the Postgraduate Students’ Association.

 

3MT 2022 Winners

First Place Lucy Hughes
Second Place Dean Broughton
Third Place Eleanor Mestel
Masters’ Awards Esme Whiskin
International Award Melanie Altemus