3MT Competition

A 3MT is a competition in which graduate students have just 3 minutes to describe their master's thesis, doctoral dissertation, or non-thesis project to a judging panel. Distilling complex ideas to digestible, short pitches prepares you for fierce competition in your job search, funding applications, and other arenas. This is a chance to practice your best communication and presentation skills AND win funding.

Prepare a 500-word abstract to describe the work you will present in the competition. Students must also identify a UNO faculty member (Graduate Coordinator, major professor, or advisor) who can testify to the merits of the student’s research.

More information? Watch the info session or access slides here!

3MT COMPETITION SET FOR 2024!

Deadline to apply is October 28 apply now

What is 3MT?
The University of Queensland (UQ) Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. Presenting in a 3MT competition increases their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. See more about the contest’s history on the UQ website.

WHEN?

InnovateUNO week. First round Monday, November 18 and final round Wednesday, November 20.

WHO?

Active graduate students in good standing who are enrolled in a degree-seeking program are eligible to compete. Contestants must be currently enrolled in credit-bearing coursework at the time of the competition.

AWARDS!

The Graduate School will award scholarships and/or travel grants for first and second-place winners. The winner with the highest overall score will receive a travel award to compete at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools in March 2025.

2023 Winners:

Overall Winner: Amanda Rowan, Ph.D. Applied Psychology

Doctoral First Place: Samantha Brieske, Ph.D. Integrative Biology

Doctoral Second Place: Hanieh Aghaieranjbar, Ph.D. Chemistry

Master's First Place: Abdullah Naeem, MS Computer Science

Master's Second Place: Shannen Leafs, MFA Film and Theatre

Rules and Regulations

A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration).
No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
Presentations are to commence from the stage.
Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Judging Criteria

1. Comprehension and Content

Presentation provided clear background and significance to the research question.
Presentation provided clear positionality of the presenter to the research and research approach.
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.

2. Engagement

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.