Three Minute Thesis (3MT)
Registration now open for 3 Minute Thesis Virtual Competition!
- Students will be required to prepare a 3 minute prerecorded video to be submitted for entry by Monday, October 7, 2024, at noon.
- A Virtual Information and Prep Session will be held Monday, September 9, 2024, from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm. The session will be recorded and available at The Pioneer Center for Student Excellence’s YouTube Channel.
- Prize amounts:
- 1st place: $750 and an opportunity to compete at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools, March 19–21, 2025, Dallas, Texas. (Travel expenses will be covered by the Graduate School).
- 2nd place: $500
- 3rd place: $250
- People’s Choice Award: TWU Swag
About the competition
Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is a research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland. The exercise challenges master and doctoral students to present a compelling oration on their thesis and/or dissertation topic and its significance in just three minutes. The first 3MT was held at UQ in 2008 with 160 students competing. 3MT is a competition that universities from around the world currently participate in.
Who is eligible to participate?
Only enrolled masters and doctoral students that are currently writing their thesis or dissertation are eligible to participate.
Why should you compete?
Whether you are networking, interviewing for a job, or having a conversation at a party or gathering, you need to have an "elevator pitch" to describe your thesis or dissertation research.
3MT at Texas Woman’s University
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 speech (timing does not include the 3MT title slide and commences from when the competitor starts speaking, not the start of the video).
- Videos must meet the following criteria:
- Filmed on the horizontal;
- Filmed on a plain background;
- Filmed from a static position;
- Filmed from one camera angle;
- Contain a 3MT title slide;
- Contain a 3MT PowerPoint slide (top right corner/right side/cut to)
- A single static slide is permitted in the presentation (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description). This can be visible continuously, or 'cut to' (as many times as you like) for a maximum of 1 minute or submitted via email if not included in the presentation.
- The 3 minute audio must be continuous — no sound edits or breaks.
- No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment and animated backgrounds) 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 within the video recording.
- The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
- Submissions via video format (only video link provided to Event Coordinator). Files sent in other formats will not be accepted.
Comprehension and content
- The presentation provided clear motivation, background, and significance to the research question
- The presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research
- The 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
See previous 3MT winners
Questions?
For more information about the competition, please contact:
Christine Torres
Assistant Director
Pioneer Center for Student Excellence, IHSH 10300B
(713) 794-2072
ctorres35@twu.edu
Page last updated 10:35 AM, September 4, 2024