3mt thesis slide

• Apr 11, 2023

How to design an impactful 3MT slide (with examples!)

What can you do in three minutes? Brush your teeth, make a coffee?

How about explain your entire PhD thesis? 😅

Believe it or not, that’s what thousands of people do each year in the Three Minute Thesis (3MT ® ); a global public speaking competition where PhD students explain the scope and impact of their research in, you guessed it, just three minutes . ⏰

And if you’re reading this, perhaps you’re an aspiring 3MT-er yourself, on the hunt for some inspiration to design an impactful 3MT slide to accompany your talk.

Sound like you? Then you’ve come to the right place.

Previously, we gave you some tips and tricks on how to write a winning 3MT script , but in this instalment of our 3MT series, we’re switching gears to cover another very important aspect:

We’ve trawled the internet to discover what actually makes a good three minute thesis slide, and in this blog, we’ll cover some do’s and don’ts to help you design one that’s memorable and impactful. To help bring these concepts home, we’ll also include some examples that we love from past 3MT winners and finalists.

But before we do that, let’s recap some important rules related to the 3MT slide:

So, in short, the 3MT slide obviously needs to be fairly simple. But that doesn’t mean it has to be boring.

Hold up… if the 3MT is a public speaking competition, why is the slide even important? Surely only what you speak about matters, right? WRONG! 🙅‍♀️

The 3MT competition is about so much more than just what you say. It’s also about what you do and what you show And what you show during your 3MT is where your nifty little slide comes in.

Not only is the PowerPoint slide a key component of the 3MT judging criteria , it also helps create a lasting mental image for the judges. After all, you can’t win the 3MT if the audience and judges can’t even remember what your research is about!

So, hopefully we’ve been able to convince you about just how important having a good slide is. But how do you design an impactful 3MT slide, you ask?

Well, here are 5 of our top tips:

Tip #1 : Avoid data dumping 📊

You might be familiar with those boring old PowerPoint presentations that seem to appear at every conference. You know the ones I’m talking about. The ones cluttered with complex graphs, huge tables, and enough numbers to put even the most experienced professors to sleep.

May I present to you… Exhibit A:

Look familiar? Good. Now lock the memory away in a distant room of your mind palace, because that’s exactly what you DON’T want in a 3MT slide (or really, in any slide for that matter…)

Unlike a conference presentation, your 3MT slide should simply act to enhance and complement your script, rather than be used to display complex data and graphs. In fact, I would suggest avoiding the use of any complex graphs and data tables at all, because they just end up detracting attention from what you’re saying.

If you choose to present some important data or statistics in your 3MT slide, consider swapping out graphs with simple infographics , like pie charts or diagrams:

As you can see, simple infographics and eye-catching figures are a much more visually stimulating way to present information, especially compared to data-heavy graphs and tables. And they’re surprisingly easy to make using tools like Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Express .

So, if in doubt, leave complex data out. 🚫

In fact, you’ll find that most successful 3MT-ers show little to no data at all in their slides and intentionally keep them very conceptual, which brings me to tip #2 .

Tip #2 : Keep it conceptual 💡

Perhaps you’re sensing a general theme here… that typically less is more when it comes to a 3MT slide. This allows the focus of the presentation to be on the speaker, the slide simply acting as a visual aid to complement the story . And when it’s a public speaking competition, I’d say that’s pretty important.

In our humble opinion, some of the most effective and memorable 3MT slides are those that present an image or diagram that conveys a single underpinning concept or idea .

You might recall from our ‘ How to Write a Winning 3MT Script ’ blog post, that many successful 3MT scripts incorporate things like humour, analogies , or fictional characters. In these situations, it can be helpful for the contents of the slide to reflect this.

One of my favourite examples of this comes from 2016 Asia-Pacific 3MT Winner, Joshua Chu-Tan , who spoke about his research on gene therapy treatments for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to target the root of vision loss. In his winning presentation, he says:

Rather than using complex diagrams to show the theory, he opted for this simple, yet extremely powerful image that highlights the impact of vision loss from age-related macular degeneration. And, seeing as this image has stuck in my memory for years, I’d say it was a pretty good choice.

As another example, back when I won the 3MT , I used an analogy to draw parallels between A) cars carrying passengers on a highway, and B) nanoparticles carrying drugs along a blood vessel. So, my 3MT slide portrayed a busy highway with signage to show which hypothetical organs the cars were headed towards:

Basically, the overarching message is to keep it simple.

And that’s all well and good… But where do you even start?

Your first step is to write your 3MT script . Then, once you have your script prepared, use it as a tool to help you brainstorm ideas for your slide. Note whether you’ve used any analogies, introduced any characters, or covered certain concepts, and then based on this information, find or create a visual to match! 🖼 This might be a little different to your usual scientific presentations, where you would normally prepare your slides first, then come up with what you are going to say after, but trust me – it works!

Tip #3 : Choose an eye-catching visual… or make one 👀

In the same way that ‘ the hook’ in your 3MT script helps to pique the audience’s attention, the slide is another important tool to capture their attention and keep them engaged. But to do this, it needs to be eye-catching and interesting .

We’ve noticed that most winning 3MTs have slides that generally fall under one of two categories: images or diagrams .

These are usually photographs or illustrations that complement the script in some way — containing a reference to the concept, analogy or character(s) that were introduced in the script.

For example, let’s say you introduced a fictional character in your 3MT script. By visually showing this character in your slide, it helps the audience form a connection with them and taps into their sense of empathy. Let’s look at an example:

As you can see, using this photograph makes for a really effective and impactful slide because it elicits a strong emotional response. Come on… how can you not love that adorable little face, right? 🥺

However, the images don’t have to be of people to be effective – they can also be more conceptual.

For instance, one 3MT finalist spoke about their research on detecting diseases, like cancer, based on characteristic molecules present in the breath. In their slide, they showed an illustration of breath molecules exiting the lungs and mouth to be caught in a net:

Not only is this image a great reference to the net analogy used, but we (as the audience) are able to get a basic idea about the research concept based on the slide alone, which really helps it stick in our memory!

Of course, while we’ve highlighted some great examples, you should choose whatever image speaks to you and your research. Some useful resources to find images for your 3MT slide include iStock Photo and Adobe Stock Photos (making sure to provide attribution where required), or you can even be extra creative and take your own photo, or create your own image ! 📸

Aside from images, schematic diagrams can be another great way to conceptualise and visualise your research. However, to be effective as 3MT slides, the diagrams need to be simple and easy to understand.

Ideally, they should be short, and the outcomes immediately recognisable . Avoid using complex diagrams that you’ve directly copy-pasted from a paper, as these generally take a lot more time and concentration to understand.

A good example of a diagram for a 3MT slide was used by the 2020 Asia-Pacific 3MT winner , whose research focused on the development of a liquid glue to help measure electrical signals from plants as a way to measure their health:

In this example, it’s easy to understand what the research is about, what’s being measured, and what the desired outcomes are, thanks to the clear illustrations and emotive flower drawings.

So, if done well, diagrams can be a really powerful tool to conceptualise your research. If you want to try and create one yourself, there are lots of useful tools you can use, like Adobe Illustrator , Canva , or BioRender , to name a few.

Get creative!

Tip #4 : Minimise text 💬

When it comes to presentations, there’s nothing worse than being in the audience, staring at a PowerPoint slide, only to find a wall of text staring back at you. Not only is it super distracting, but aesthetically, it also leaves much to be desired.

And let’s be honest, if the audience is reading your slide, then they’re not listening to you… and vice versa. Which, for the 3MT, is a very big problem.

To prevent this, try to avoid including large bodies of text on your 3MT slide . See if you can verbally communicate the information instead, or alternatively, replace the text with an image that conveys the same message. After all, they say a picture speaks a thousand words.

If you really need to include some text, as in the case of simple diagrams, try to keep it to a minimum and limit yourself to 15 words maximum.

Any text you do include should use a font size that can be easily seen from the back of the room (i.e., 24 pt. minimum). And, while they sometimes have their time and place, try to avoid using any cursive, funky, or hard-to-read fonts . Comic sans, I’m looking at you. 😒

Tip #5 : Negative space is your friend 🔲

You might be tempted to fill every visible inch of your PowerPoint slide with images, diagrams, or just something to compensate for the very little time you have to present your 3MT.

Though, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you did, because a little negative space can go a long way towards designing a great 3MT slide.

But what is negative space? Put simply, it’s the empty space around and between objects.

Leaving some negative space in your slide gives the audience some breathing room and helps them focus on what’s important .

For photographs, this might mean choosing an image that has one focal point. This doesn’t necessarily mean the background needs to be plain, but it may simply be out of focus to allow the objects in the forefront to stand out.

For diagrams, this means leaving some empty space between sections so that there’s a clearer distinction between them, or reducing the number of sections entirely.

Here are some great examples of 3MT slides that use negative space to draw our attention to a particular person or object:

By leaving some negative space, our eyes are immediately drawn to one particular focal point, letting us focus on what’s important: You.

The take-home message 📝

And that brings us to the end of the second blog for our 3MT series!

The 3MT slide can truly make or break a 3MT presentation, but the right one can take it to the next level. And, by following these simple tips, you’re well on your way to designing a slide that captures your research in an effective and impactful way:

Avoid complex graphs and data

Keep it conceptual

Choose an eye-catching image or diagram, or make one

Keep text to a minimum, and

Don’t be afraid of negative space

So get creative! And remember, if you want to learn more about how to create amazing graphics, or how to up your public speaking skills, we’d love to show you how in our in-person science communication workshop s or online courses!

Contact us here to find out more. 🤩

Cintya Dharmayanti

Dr Tullio Rossi

Related Posts

How to write a winning 3MT script

5 epic science communication conferences for your travel bucket list

The history of science communication methods and their evolution over time

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22 The 3 Minute Thesis

Read time: 2 minutes

This chapter will provide an overview of the 3 Minute Thesis oral presentation format.

Sections in this chapter

What is it.

• 3MT examples

The three-minute thesis (3MT) is a new format of research presentation that builds on the classic “elevator pitch”. The challenge in this type of presentation is to explain your research to an intelligent non-specialist audience in under 3 minutes with limited visual aids. Often there are specific rules for the visual aid: a single 4:3 slide, no animations or video, and no props.

For a successful 3MT talk, you need to follow completely different rules from normal scientific presentations. You can skip common things like introducing yourself, thanking all your lab mates and colleagues, or funding. You typically don’t show data unless it is presented in a very simple figure.

Because of the challenge involved with presenting years of detailed research in only three minutes, Universities hold cross-faculty 3MT competitions. The first was founded by the University of Queensland, Australia, where you can find many great resources and videos .

The tips below were adapted from “10 Hints for Improving Presentations for the Three Minute Thesis” by Danielle Fischer at Charles Darwin University ( Full PDF here ):

• Don’t introduce yourself, don’t do acknowledgements, don’t show data.
• Start by introducing how your research relates to the bigger picture. Try to think of why any person might be interested in your work.
• Only include relevant things on your slide and make sure images are good quality. Carefully design your slide, don’t overcrowd it or use too much colour.
• Use simple and familiar analogies.
• Speak with an excited and engaged manner.
• Don’t wear anything distracting.
• Use body language: smiling, gestures, movement, and eye-contact.
• Finish by bringing the audience back to the big picture.
• Practice and get feedback from a wide variety of people.
• Use your time, but don’t go over it.

These are some 3MT slides made by previous CHEM 803 students.

There are many resources online about preparing a 3MT presentation. Below are some links to helpful videos, award-winning 3MT talks, and the many resources provided by Queen’s University.

Helpful Videos

These videos were prepared by are owned by Australian National University.

3MT: three tips to help you prepare a winning presentation

3MT: the three most common mistakes

Award-winning 3MT

These are videos of some award-winning 3MT talks. The first one has the best title,  it’s simple and concise!

Wind turbines and climate change – Rosemary Barnes

Hypoxia-activated pro-drugs: a novel approach for breast cancer treatment – jasdeep saggar, the development of anti-body-drug conjugate to specifically target and soften the crystalline lens in vivo – gah-jone won.

Check out the Queen’s University 2020 Competition results, where you’ll find two award-winning 3MT talks from our Chemistry Department by Morgan Lehtinen and Alastair Kierulf. [ In the video at this link, click “Playlist” to find their talks ]

Principles of Scientific Communication Copyright © 2020 by Amanda Bongers and Donal Macartney is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

• Thompson Rivers University Library
• Research Guides

3 Minute Thesis (3MT)

3mt resources, graphic design principles, public speaking & feeling confident, tru 3mt competition.

• TRU 3MT Competition Website Register and submit your presentation slide by March 15, 2024.

The 3 Minute Thesis (3MT)

• 3 Minute Thesis - University of Queensland Click "Resources" for competitor rules and guidelines
• 3 Minute Thesis Slide Template Download this PowerPoint template and follow the instructions to prepare the slide for your presentation.

Undergraduate student or faculty member, but want to participate? Check out TRU's other 180 second research competitions during Research Month . The information and rules on this page specifically refer to the graduate 3MT, but will help you no matter which competition you are in: https://www.tru.ca/research/research-month.html

3 Minutes Thesis Slide

Your slide plays an important role in how you present and deliver the content of your thesis.

Think of the 3 minute slide as a backdrop to a play.  The slide serves as your "theatrical set" to your "one man show".  The slide sets the tone and graphically conveys the information to which you are speaking to.  

• a single, static, slide is permitted
• no slide transitions, sounds, animations or 'movement' of any description are permitted

3MT winning presentations

• More winning presentations

Design matters

The more strikingly visual your presentation is, the more people will remember it. And more importantly, they will remember you. — Paul Arden

Good graphic design is not about decoration or making something look super fancy. Design is about making communication as easy and clear as possible.

Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a principle of the Golden ratio with broad application as a "rule of thumb" or guideline which applies to the process of composing visual images such as designs, films, paintings, and photographs. The guideline proposes according to the principle of the Golden section search that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections. Proponents of the technique claim that aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition than simply centering the subject. - Wikipedia

White Space

• You need white space to help balance the images and text on your slide. 
• Empty space is not negative or bad space.  White space creates harmony and balance.

Using colour is an important aspect of delivering your message. Colour can help convey emotion, but keep in mind that colour association is culturally specific. For example, the colour white can mean purity in some cultures, but in other cultures white is associated with mourning.

It is a good rule of thumb to use colour sparingly (2-3 colours maximum).

Things to think about:

Contrast - shoot for high contrasting colours.  Avoid black text on an all white background as that can cause glare and eye strain.

Serif vs San Serif Font

Resist the temptation to put your entire thesis on your slide.  Your slide should convey the essence of your thesis and is meant to complement your spoken presentation.

Only include things that are:

• critical, essential and relevant
• metaphors or analogies to catch your audience's attention
• excellent graphical representations of a concept

image source: http://drmarkwomack.com/images/serif-vs-sans-serif.png

Tools for Finding Images

Remember: even if an image is in the public domain, you should still cite it! For the 3MT slide, the citation text can be small and out of the way.

TRU Library image databases - permitted to use images for educational purposes

Public Domain Images

Public domain: the copyright on public domain photos (and other works) has either expired or otherwise doesn't exist. You may use public domain work without worrying about getting permission, but you should still cite them, because they are not your work!

• Getty Open Content Program You can find these images by conducting a search on the Getty Search Gateway and then filtering your results by checking the box next to "Open Content Images", which is the second option in the Highlights section of the filters in the left menu. All images found through this program should be credited as "Digital image courtesy of the Getty's Open Content Program"
• Google Images Use Advanced Search / Usage Rights / "Creative Commons licenses"
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art Images that are in the public domain will be marked as such.
• NASA Image Library NASA still images, audio files, video, and computer files used in the rendition of 3-dimensional models, such as texture maps and polygon data in any format, generally are not copyrighted.
• Pixabay See FAQ under Help for information regarding re-use of images.
• Public Domain Review a collection of images, books, films and audio files that are available in the public domain. The collection can be browsed by medium, time period, tag and source.
• Rijksmuseum Images on the Rijksmuseum website are fully searchable and downloadable. Each item that has entered the public domain includes this information in the section of the item description entitled acquisition and rights.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Image Gallery Because the images were mostly taken for the government, virtually all are in the public domain. Any images that are not in the public domain are marked as such.
• Wikimedia Commons Freely usable media files (images, audio, video). Check the image summary for details on permitted use.
• Yale University Art Gallery You can find more information on properly attributing images on the Art Gallery's Terms of Use page.

Creative Commons Images

For more info on creative commons, click here .

• Creative Commons Search Search a variety of media.
• Compfight Refer to "Learn about Photo Licenses" for information about re-use of images.
• PhotoPin This image search engine returns both Creative Commons and non-Creative Commons images. When you download any image, you can also download the necessary HTML to appropriately attribute the image to its creator.
• Bucketlistly Devoted to CC BY-NC licensed travel photos.
• Europeana, 1914-1918 Europeana is an online collection of content from European libraries, archives, museums and other institutions. Once you run a search in their search bar, you can limit your results to items that are freely usable or available under a Creative Commons license using the facets under Copyright in the left menu.
• The Stocks This website collects sites that offer access to high-resolution images available for use under Creative Commons licenses. Most of the sites offer the images under CC0 licenses and all of the sites clearly state how their images are licensed.
• Multicolr Search Lab allows you to search for Creative Commons-licensed images by color

Vector & Raster Graphics

Vector based images (.ai, .eps, .svg, and some .pdf) are based on a mathematical equation. For example, if your image is a circle in vector format, that circle is simply a mathematical formula. If you resize that circle by 1000x, the mathematical formula would still calculate that circle in proportion. This means that no matter how you resize vector images they will scale properly and there will never be any pixelation.

Raster based graphics, (.bmp, .jpg, .png, .gif, .tif, etc.) are based on a grid of pixels or dots. The pixels represent certain colors that make up a bigger image and are resolution dependent.  When you resized a raster graphic, they eventually start to pixelate due to the pixels being “stretched” beyond their original size.

3MT In 3 Minutes

How to look confident when you aren't feeling confident

Remember: your audience wants you to succeed. No one is plotting for your failure.

Check out your classroom in advance

Familiarize yourself with the layout of the of the room. Where is the spot where you will be speaking from? Is there a podium? How are the desks or chairs arranged? Will you need audio-visual equipment (ie. laptop or a mac computer connector)? How do the lights turn on/off? Is there a chalk board or dry wipe board?

Practice your lecture beforehand

If possible, practice giving your lecture/speech in the room where you will be doing it. Practice your timing and record the amount of time for each portion of your lecture/speech on your speaker's notes to help you keep track of the pacing of your lecture/speech when you are doing it for real.  

PRO TIP: See your lecture as your audience will see it and have a friend record your presentation practice. Use that recording to look for ways to streamline your presentation or find out if you have any verbal or non-verbal habits that can be corrected or minimized.

Bring water

Not only will the water quench a sudden dry throat, but it can also act as a prop. While you won't have time in your 3 minute thesis to sip water, having it before and after helps.

Wear clothing that is professional and exudes confidence. Your clothes should be comfortable and loose enough so that you can move around. Check for potential wardrobe malfunctions.

Script vs Notes

As you work on your presentation, you may start with a detailed script. It is a good idea to distil that script into an outline.

It is best to have your 3MT presentation memorized, but if you have to rely on notes they should be detailed enough to include key definitions, examples, analogies and any other detail that you think you might need some support if you get nervous in front of the room. 

Talisman or special token

If you have a small token, good luck charm or special piece of jewelry that makes you feel good, have it on you.

If you have a song or playlist that gets you going and makes you feel good, listen to it on your way to the competition to get PUMPED UP!

Kathy's secret song....

What you are aiming for is.....

• Authoritative

To achieve that:

• Maintain regular eye contact
• Speak clearly and enunciate: Make sure that not only do you keep regular eye contact, but try to have your audience see your face and mouth as much as possible. It helps many understand what you are saying and understand meaning.
• Use your body and use the space
• Vary speed and pitch; facial expressions: Don’t yell … you are having a conversation with your audience.
• Use an analogy or story to make your research relatable, but avoid these three conversation stoppers: sex , religion and politics
• Because you aren't reading a script, you'll be able to watch your audience's reaction to your delivery. Are they confused? Do they understand what you are saying? Look for body language and adjust accordingly.
• Include delivery reminders. Leave yourself notes and reminders within your notes. For example, "Breathe".. or "Slow Down" or sample questions to spur conversation or classroom contribution.

These resources provide tips and tricks for preparing your slide, sharing your research, and preparing to present at the 3MT competition.

• 11 Tips for the 3 Minute Thesis Competition Henry Miller (UT Health San Antonio)
• How to Talk about Your Thesis in 3 Minutes Inger Mewburn (RMIT University)
• Your Time Starts Now: A Guide to...the 3MT Competition Simon Clews, University of Mebourne
• How Grad Students can Effectively Tell their Research Story Jackie Amsden (Simon Fraser University)
• Tips and Techniques for More Confident and Compelling Presentations Matt Abrahams (Stanford University)
• Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast Matt Abrahams (Stanford University)
• Six Pieces of Bad Speaking Advice that Just Won't Die Anett Grant (Executive Speaking)
• Last Updated: Feb 27, 2024 12:05 PM
• URL: https://libguides.tru.ca/3mtslides

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Preparing your 3MT presentation

• Back to previous menu
• Eligibility, Rules and Judging Criteria
• Sussex 3MT 2023
• Sussex 3MT 2022
• Sussex 3MT 2020
• Sussex 3MT 2019
• Sussex 3MT 2018
• Sussex 3MT 2016

NOTE: Familiarise yourself with the 3MT rules and judging criteria  before starting your preparation. This guidance is taken from the University of Queensland's  official 3MT competitor resources .

Even the world’s best public speakers prepare before important presentations. To assist you with your preparations, please find a few suggestions below that will help you in writing your presentation, creating your slide and practising your verbal presentation.

Drafting your 3MT

Write for your audience The judges will look for evidence that you can explain your research to a non-specialist audience. You may like to:

• avoid jargon and academic language
• explain concepts and people important to your research - you may know all about Professor Smith’s theories but your audience may not
• highlight the outcomes of your research, and the desired outcome
• imagine that you are explaining your research to a close friend or fellow student from another field
• convey your excitement and enthusiasm for your subject

Tell a story

• You may like to present your 3MT as a narrative, with a beginning, middle and end.
• It’s not easy to condense your research into three minutes, so you may find it easier to break your presentation down into smaller sections.
• Try writing an opener to catch the attention of the audience, then highlight your different points, and finally have a summary to restate the importance of your work.

Have a clear outcome in mind

• Know what you want your audience to take away from your presentation.
• Try to leave the audience with an understanding of what you’re doing, why it is important, and what you hope to achieve.
• Proof your 3MT presentation by reading it aloud, firstly to yourself and then to an audience of friends and family.
• Ask for feedback.
• Ask your audience if your presentation clearly highlights what your research is  about and why it is important.

Creating your 3MT slide

Before you start work on your slide, you should take the following rules into account:

• one single static PowerPoint slide is permitted;
• no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description are permitted;
• your slide is to be presented from the beginning of your oration; and
• no additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.

Suggestions

You may like to consider some of the following suggestions:

• Less is more : text and complicated graphics can distract your audience – you don’t want them to read your slide instead of listening to your 3MT. 
• Personal touches : personal touches can allow your audience to understand the impact of your research.
• Creativity drives interest : do not rely on your slide to convey your message – it should simply complement your oration.
• Work your message : think about how your slide might be able to assist with the format and delivery of your presentation – is there a metaphor that helps explain your research?
• An engaging visual presentation can make or break any oration, so make sure your slide is  legible, clear and concise .

Practising your 3MT presentation

Practice, practice, practice Feeling nervous before you present is natural, and sometimes a little nervousness can even be beneficial to your overall speech. Nonetheless, it is important to practice so you can present with confidence and clarity. Practicing will also help you gauge the timing of your 3MT so that you keep within the time limit.

Vocal range

• Speak clearly and use variety in your voice (fast/slow, loud/soft).
• Do not rush - find your rhythm.
• Remember to pause at key points as it gives the audience time to think about what you are saying.

Body language

• Stand straight and confidently.
• Hold your head up and make eye contact.
• Never turn your back to the audience.
• Practise how you will use your hands and move around the stage. It is okay to move around energetically if that is your personality, however it is also appropriate for a 3MT presentation to be delivered from a single spot on stage.
• Do not make the common mistakes of rolling back and forth on your heels, pacing for no reason or playing with your hair as these habits are distracting for the audience.

Record yourself

• Record and listen to your presentation to hear where you pause, speak too quickly or get it just right.
• Then work on your weaknesses and exploit your strengths.

Look to the stars!

• Watch your role models such as academics, politicians and journalists, and break down their strengths and weaknesses.
• Analyse how they engage with their audience.
• Visit  the Queensland 3MT website , the Vitae 3MT webpages or search YouTube to view presentations from previous 3MT finalists.
• While there is no dress code, if you are unsure of how to dress you may like to dress for a job interview or an important meeting. It is important that you feel comfortable so you can focus on your presentation.
• If you are presenting on a stage that has a wooden floor, be aware of the noise your footwear might make.
• Do not wear a costume of any kind as this is against the rules (as is the use of props).

Further resources

There are many resources available online for further help. Useful ones might include:

Presenting your research effectively and with confidence - By previous 3MT finalists (Taylor & Francis resource)

How a competition changed my academic life - By Jamie Khoo, 2018 UK People's Choice winner

Is it worth doing the three minute thesis?  - By Mary Woessner, Victoria University

How to win the 3 minute thesis  - By Dr Inger Mewburn (aka @thesiswhisperer)

Making the most of your 3 minutes  - Simon Clews, University of Melbourne

Talk nerdy to me  - Melissa Marshall's TED talk

Vitae's 3MT webpages

These guidance pages are part of the University of Queensland's official 3MT competitor resources

E : [email protected]

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Easy Step-By-Step Instructions to Make Your 3MT Video!

Note: Below are instructions for adding your slide AFTER you have recorded your presentation.  You also may record your slide while simultaneously recording your presentation.  See instructions here under part 4 (Select Screen and Application Sources) and in our Panopto tutorial here .  If using this method, you must be in Powerpoint’s full-screen slide show mode. 

Record Your Video

• Open a Chrome, Firefox, or Edge browser ONLY.
• Log on to Panopto using your your NetID: https://medialibrary.yale.edu/
• In the Home window: Click on the Create button and choose Panopto Capture . This will open up a new window.
• Check your audio and video inputs and click the red button to start and stop recording. Don’t worry about precise timing, you can trim your video afterwards!
• Wait for the video upload and processing to be completed.

Edit Your Video and Add Your Slide

• Return to your Home window. Click on My Folder  on the lefthand menu to see your videos.
• Hover near your video and choose Edit.
• If desired, trim unwanted content from the beginning and end of your video. It’s easy – see instructions here !  Be sure to click Apply  at the top when finished.
• Choose Slides on the lefthand menu, and click Add a Presentation . Choose your PowerPoint file. Your slide MUST be in Widescreen format. Once uploaded, click the ‘+’ on your slide to add it to your video.  Then click  Apply !

Format and Output Your Video

• Go back to the Home window. When the video has finished processing, choose Settings and then select Outputs in the Settings menu.
• Under the picklist for Type , choose Tile All Streams and click Apply . This option will produce a video with with side-by-side, equally-sized images of your slide and presentation. Your video MUST be in this format.
• Once the processing is complete, you may view and download your video!

For more tips with Panopto, see Panopto’s user guide and support site .

Office of Career Strategy

Visiting yale.

Samantha O'Sullivan (Physics / African American Studies)

Gullah Physics: Challenging English Language Hegemony in Science

Second prize expand_more

Sahar Mariam Mohammadzadeh (Government)

The Impact of Twitter on the Supreme Court

Third prize expand_more

Stephanie Alderete (Psychology)

Preschoolers' Ability to Think about Alternative Possibilities

Finalists expand_more

Alex Grayson (Molecular & Cellular Biology)

Comparing Fox and Human Brain Connectivity Patterns

Javin Pombra (Computer Science)

Unraveling the Black Box: Explainability for Artificial Intelligence in the Twenty-First Century

Zelin Liu (Classics / History)

Using the Past to Define Group Identity

Jerrica Li (Comparative Literature)

Diaspora: A Genre for This New Planetary Reality

Jahnavi Rao (Government)

The Spillover Potential of a Nudge

Daiana Lilo (Government / Data Science)

A Great Personality: How Different Characteristics Can Predict Supreme Court Decisions

Designing a Winning 3MT Slide

By now, many of you will have entered this year’s 3 Minute Thesis competition. For the last few years, I’ve had the privilege of being AUT’s 3MT scorekeeper. I tally up the judges’ marks and facilitate their deliberations. Every year, I have an inside view of the judges’ room, and boy, it’s given me some insights.

Chief among those insights is the importance of the 3MT slide. Entrants only get one slide to display during their 3-minute presentation. There can be no sound effects, no animations, no audio or video of any kind. Just that one slide. Static. Still. Hanging there in the background.

As an entrant – and I know this from having been one myself – it’s easy to overlook the slide and focus on the content of the 3-minute talk. But that’s a huge mistake.

The design of the slide fundamentally influences the judges’ impressions of the whole presentation. There are no points allocated for it specifically, but it sets the lasting mental image that judges will retain of your presentation. They won’t remember every word you said, but they will remember your slide; and they’ll have it in mind as they award points and choose a winner.

The slides that tend to earn positive comments from judges are:

• Uncluttered. Think simple, clean design.
• Pictorial. Text-heavy slides are generally frowned upon; whereas images and simple graphics tend to be well-received.
• Often metaphorical or conceptual. Many successful slides use one impactful image that represents the main point of the presentation.
• Memorable. A punchy slide keeps you in the judges’ minds.
• Academically relevant. You don’t need to include lots of complicated graphs or stats to demonstrate your research credibility, but you do need to ensure that your slide relates to your research.

The good folks at 3 Minute Thesis headquarters have provided the below examples of ‘bad’ and ‘good’ slide design on their Facebook page . Of course, these things are subjective, and all judges will have slightly different opinions of what makes a good slide. However, these will give you an idea of best practice.

Another key reason to favour simple slide design is that it influences your delivery. At the 3MT, points are weighted equally for the presentation’s ‘Comprehension and Content’ (research content) and ‘Engagement and Communication’ (delivery). That means that 50% of your score comes from how well you communicate with the audience. The ‘busy’ sample slide above would encourage the presenter to turn toward the slide and away from the audience, which is a dangerous way to lose them. The simple slide design, on the other hand, makes a great backdrop; allowing the audience to connect primarily with the presenter.

3MT is very much about that connection; about communicating the ‘big picture’ of your research in a way that makes it understandable to people from outside your discipline. That’s why it’s so important that your visual supports your key idea in a clear, uncomplicated way. Too much detail can leave the judges squinting in confusion. Design your slide to leave them wide-eyed in wonderment instead.

A quick note: you don’t need to include your name or any affiliation details on your slide. During 3MT events at AUT, we display your name, programme, faculty, supervisors’ names, and presentation title on a separate slide as the MC introduces you. That’s one less thing to worry about!

About Anaise Irvine

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Centre for Graduate Professional Development

Three minute thesis (3mt), what is the three minute thesis (3mt).

Your graduate research. 3 minutes. 1 slide.

Every year the University of Toronto hosts the Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT®), a competition in which graduate students present their work to a generalist audience in 3 minutes using only one static slide.

2024 3MT Winners and Finalists

Congratulations to the 2024 3MT winners and finalists!

First Place and People’s Choice Daniil Lisus Institute of Aerospace Studies, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering “Helping Autonomous Cars See What Our Eyes Can’t”

Second Place Emaad Paracha Department of Physics, Faculty of Arts & Science “Detecting Dark Matter in Galaxy Clusters from the Stratosphere”

Third Place Angel Badewole Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering “Assessing the Environmental Impacts of an Innovative Chemical Production Pathway”

3MT Final Program

Watch / Listen to the 2024 3MT Winners

3MT in the News

2023 U of T 3MT winner Emily Majaesic wins first place at the Ontario Regional competition

Emily Majaesic with SGS Dean Joshua Barker at the Ontario Regional final held at Queen’s University

2024 3MT Competition Schedule

Why you should participate in the 3mt.

Improve your oral presentation skills, profile your research, and learn about our community’s cutting-edge ideas.

• Present your 3MT to generalist audiences at the University of Toronto.
• Winning the University of Toronto 3MT finals will allow you to compete at the provincial level.
• You can even advance to showcase your research at the national and international level.

In addition to the opportunity to improve your communication skills and showcase your research, there are prizes for 3MT winners: $1000 for first place, $500 for second place, $250 for third place, and $200 for the people’s choice winner, paid into your student account.

Ready to Apply?

Learn more about the 3MT competition.

Complete the registration form and take part in a preliminary heat.

Attend and cheer on your peers in the U of T 3MT Heats, Semi-Finals, and Finals.

Eligibility, Rules, and Judging Criteria

Eligibility.

• 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

Presentations will be assessed according to the criteria listed below. Please note that each criterion is equally weighted.

• Comprehension and content
• Engagement and communication
• 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
• 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

How 3MT Works

Competitors progress from the preliminary heats to the semi-finals and then to the finals. The judges will award first, second, and third place, while the audience’s favourite presentation is awarded the people’s choice.

Competition Levels at a Glance

• This 3MT competition is hosted by the School of Graduate Studies. Competitors begin in the preliminary heats and may advance to the semi-finals and finals.
• The winner of the University of Toronto 3MT competes at the Ontario provincial competition, hosted by a different Ontario university each year.
• The Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) hosts the top finalists from each of the provincial competitions (Western, Ontario, Eastern) to compete in an online format. The video recordings of the finalists’ presentations are played and judged.
• The winner of the University of Toronto 3MT competes internationally. The NAGS competition brings together the 3MT winners of universities across the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec, and the American states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. Competitors present live in front of a panel of judges.
• The Council of Graduate Studies hosts a North America-wide 3MT showcase with the winners from the southern, western, midwestern, and northeastern regions presenting their 3MT orations and participating in a roundtable discussion. The audience is then given a chance to confer a People’s Choice Award.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other questions? Contact us at [email protected]

I’ve registered but don’t know which heat I’m in. How can I find out?

We will email you your heat date and a link to submit your slide. But you are encouraged to begin working on your slide and practicing your presentation before then. 

Can I change my slide and presentation between rounds (e.g., for the semi-finals or finals)?

Yes! We encourage you to make changes and incorporate judges’ feedback as you advance through the stages of the competition.

I participated in my department’s 3MT this year. Am I also allowed to participate in the University-wide 3MT?

Yes, all graduate students may participate in the preliminary heats subject to meeting the eligibility requirements.

I am a post-doc. Can I participate in 3MT?

Post-docs are not eligible to take part in the main 3MT competition. We are working on a new program that will allow post-docs to participate in a similar initiative. Stay tuned!

Training and Resources

• University of Toronto Resources
• External Resources
• Workshop: Preparing Your 3MT Presentation by Dr. Cristina D’Amico, 2016 U of T 3MT winner
• GCAC Oral Presentation Skills Courses – Courses are available in different formats and for different audiences
• U of T Libraries Workshop: Visual Literacy: Interpreting and Evaluating Images (Maps, Charts, Diagrams, Photographs) for Research and Publishing
• Data Visualization – An Introduction (Part 1 – Theory and Critique)
• Data Visualization – An Introduction (Part 2 – Practice with Tableau)
• Making the Most of Your Three Minutes by Simon Clews, Director, Writing Centre, University of Melbourne
• How to Talk About Your Thesis in 3 Minutes by Inger Mewburn (RMIT)
• Communicating Your Research in Lay Language by Christian A Linte,  IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Magazine , May / June 2009
• 3MT Presentation: Now You See It by Rosanna Stevens, ANU TV, 2014
• 3MT: Three Tips to Help You Prepare a Winning Presentation by Rosanna Stevens, ANU TV , 2015

Return to the CGPD homepage

/images/cornell/logo35pt_cornell_white.svg" alt="3mt thesis slide"> Cornell University --> Graduate School

Three minute thesis.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a competition for doctoral students to develop and showcase their research communication skills.

3MT Competition

Could you present your 80,000 word thesis or dissertation in three minutes? Do you want the excitement of competing with other graduate students for a total of $2,500 in prizes and the opportunity to participate in the Northeastern (U.S. and Canadian) round or even to showcase your research at the annual Council of Graduate Schools meeting?

 3MT is an annual competition sponsored by the Cornell Graduate School. 3MT challenges research-degree students to present a compelling story on their dissertation or thesis and its significance in just three minutes, in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. All enrolled doctoral students at the research stage (with at least some results to share) are eligible. In 2024, the Graduate School 3MT is also open to research master’s students. The next competition will take place in Spring 2025.

Learn more about the 2024 Graduate School 3MT competition.

Email [email protected] with any questions.

All newly created videos on this website are accessible. Closed captions are available for the video on this page, and selecting the option to watch in YouTube will provide a transcript for the video. For an accommodation for this archival video, please contact [email protected] .

The first 3MT was held at The University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008 with 160 graduate students competing. Enthusiasm for the 3MT concept grew, and its adoption by numerous universities led to the development of an international competition in 2010. Today students from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Asia-Pacific region take part in their own regional and national events.

Cornell Graduate School hosted its ninth 3MT competition final round event on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Video submissions for the preliminary round was due on March 1, 2024, and was reviewed by a panel of volunteer judges using a common scoring rubric to select the finalists.

At the final round event, held in person on the Ithaca campus, a panel of judges scored presentations and selected the top two finalists. Additionally, audience members were able to vote for their favorite presenter for the People’s Choice Award.

3MT Resources

• Watch videos of finalists from Cornell’s 3MT contests .
• Learn more about the 2024 3MT winners and finalists .
• Learn more about the 2023 3MT winners and finalists .
• Learn more about the 2022 3MT winner and finalists .
• Learn more about the 2021 3MT winner and finalists .
• Learn more about the 2019 3MT winner and finalists .
• Learn more about the 2018 3MT winner and finalists .
• Learn more about the 2017 3MT winner and finalists .
• Watch a video of the inaugural 2019 Ivy 3MT event . Read more about the 2019 Ivy 3MT event .
• Watch videos of winning presentations from around the world .
• Read more about the Three Minute Thesis in Science Magazine .
• Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum and competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (i.e. no poems, raps, or songs).
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when presenters start their presentation through movement or speech.
• Presentations are to commence from the stage.
• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any kind) and 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.
• Zoom backgrounds are considered props. Please ensure your background is a blank screen or wall. 
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Judging Criteria

Each of the judging criteria has equal weight. Note what each criterion has in common: An emphasis on audience.

Comprehension and Content

• Did the presentation provide a clear background and significance to the research question?
• Did the presentation clearly describe the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research?
• Did the presentation clearly describe the conclusions, outcomes, and impact of the research?

Engagement and Communication

• Was the oration delivered clearly, and in language appropriate for a non-specialist audience?
• Was the PowerPoint slide clear and did it enhance the presentation?
• Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research, and capture and maintain the audience’s attention?

For more information about the Cornell competition, email  [email protected] .

• Enroll & Pay
• 2022 3MT® In-Person Competition
• 2021 3MT® Virtual Competition
• 2020 3MT® Virtual Competition

3MT at the University of Kansas

Brilliant ideas conveyed in three minutes or less.

What is the 3MT® Competition?

The  Three Minute Thesis  (3MT®) is an academic research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. This event challenges graduate students to present a compelling speech about their research and its significance to non-academic persons in just three minutes using only one presentation image. 3MT® commenced in 2008 and is currently held in over 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide. In 2020, the 3MT® competition moved to a temporary virtual format due to COVID-19 and continues to be held around the world in either a virtual or live format (depending on local COVID-19 restrictions).

The goals of the competition are to (1) highlight the excellent research conducted by graduate students and (2) improve graduate students’ communication of research to non-specialist and non-academic audiences. The judges of the competition are educated professionals in a variety of positions in corporate, government, and non-profit industries. 

3MT® Timeline

March-april.

Graduate students are invited to register for the 3MT® Competition.

Graduate students registered for the 3MT® Competition will be required to participate in workshops to prepare them for the competition.

The Preliminary Heats usually take place in the first week of November to determine the graduate students that will advance to the final round of the competition one week later.

The KU winner moves on to represent KU at the regional 3MT® Competition, which takes place in late March or early April during the annual meeting of the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS). 

RELATED LINKS

• MAGS 3MT® Competition
• University of Queensland 3MT® Competition

SOCIAL MEDIA

• #3MTatKU on Twitter (X)
• #3MTatKU on Facebook
• #3MTatKU on Instagram

PREVIOUS COMPETITIONS

• 2022 KU 3MT® Competition
• 2021 KU 3MT® Competition
• 2020 KU 3MT® Competition

3MT® Competition @ KU

3MT video recording competitor guide

Even the world’s best public speakers prepare before important presentations. To assist you with your preparations, please find a few suggestions below that will help you in writing your presentation, creating your slide and practising your presentation.

• 3MT drafting
• 3MT presentation
• 3MT recording
• Examples of 3MT presentations

Write for your audience

• Avoid jargon and academic language.
• Explain concepts and people important to your research - you may know all about Professor Smith’s theories but your audience may not.
• Highlight the outcomes of your research, and the desired outcome.
• Imagine that you are explaining your research to a close friend or fellow student from another field.
• Convey your excitement and enthusiasm for your subject.

Tell a story

• You may like to present your 3MT as a narrative, with a beginning, middle and end.
• It’s not easy to condense your research into three minutes, so you may find it easier to break your presentation down into smaller sections.
• Try writing an opener to catch the attention of the audience, then highlight your different points, and finally have a summary to restate the importance of your work.

Have a clear outcome in mind

• Know what you want your audience to take away from your presentation.
• Try to leave the audience with an understanding of what you’re doing, why it is important, and what you hope to achieve.

What not to do

• Do not write your presentation like an academic paper.
• Try to use shorter words, shorter sentences and shorter paragraphs.
• You can use humour, however be careful not to devalue your presentation.
• Proof your 3MT presentation by reading it aloud, to yourself and to an audience of friends and family.
• Ask for feedback.
• Ask your audience if your presentation clearly highlights what your research is about and why it is important.

Before you start work on your slide, you should take the following rules into account:

• One single static PowerPoint 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.
• No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are permitted;
• Do not use a transparent background on the slide;
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.

If you need to reference a picture, image or any kind of content in your slide, you can do it on the title page or at the bottom of the slide in a small box.

Suggestions

You may like to consider some of the following suggestions.

• Less is more: text and complicated graphics can distract your audience – you don’t want them to read your slide instead of listening to your 3MT. 
• Personal touches: personal touches can allow your audience to understand the impact of your research.
• Creativity drives interest: do not rely on your slide to convey your message – it should simply complement your oration.
• Work your message: think about how your slide might be able to assist with the format and delivery of your presentation – is there a metaphor that helps explain your research?
• An engaging visual presentation can make or break any oration, so make sure your slide is  legible, clear and concise .

Practice, practice, practice

• Feeling nervous before you present is natural, and a little nervousness can even be beneficial to your overall speech. Nonetheless, it is important to practice so you can present with confidence and clarity. Practicing will also help you gauge the timing of your 3MT so that you keep within the time limit.

Vocal range

• Speak clearly and use variety in your voice (fast/slow, loud/ soft).
• Do not rush – find your rhythm.
• Remember to pause at key points as it gives the audience time to think about what you are saying.

Body language

• Stand straight and confidently.
• Hold your head up and make eye contact.
• Never turn your back to the audience.
• Practise how you will use your hands and move around the stage. It is okay to move around energetically if that is your personality, however it is also appropriate for a 3MT presentation to be delivered from a single spot on stage.
• Do not make the common mistakes of rolling back and forth on your heels, pacing for no reason or playing with your hair as these habits are distracting for the audience. 

Record yourself

• Record and listen to your presentation to hear where you pause, speak too quickly or get it just right.
• Then work on your weaknesses and exploit your strengths.

Look to the stars!

• Watch your role models such as academics, politicians and journalists, and break down their strengths and weaknesses.
• Analyse how they engage with their audience.
• View presentations by previous 3MT finalists .
• There is no dress code, if you are unsure of how to dress you may like to dress for a job interview or an important meeting. It is important that you feel comfortable so you can focus on your presentation.
• If you are presenting on a stage that has a wooden floor, be aware of the noise your footwear might make.
• Do not wear a costume of any kind as this is against the rules (as is the use of props).

Device options

Recording your presentation can be done using a camera and or handheld video recorder however most phones allow you to record through the camera function and most computers have recording ability (via camera or webcam) using inbuilt programs such as:

• Microsoft Photos - Video editing feature

Online programs which you might like to consider include:

• Zoom - see how to record yourself via Zoom .

Filming at home

There are three factors to consider when selecting your location to ensure you are producing the best video possible: light, sound and background.

Dark environments impact the overall quality of your video because cameras do not perform well in dim lighting. Ensuring you are well lit guarantees the camera and therefore, your audience, can see you clearly. Look for a room in your home that has lots of natural light. If you are using light from a window, ensure you are facing towards the window so light falls on you directly.

Any additional lighting you can introduce will further improve the quality of your video. Look around your home for desk lamps, torches etc. Watch this tutorial for more information.

When filming video at home, ensure you choose a very quiet environment where you have as much control over the sound as possible. For example, choose a small room where you have the ability to close all doors and windows. Make sure any noisy electronics in the room such as fans, air conditioners, computers, phones and possibly even your fridge are temporarily turned off. These are much louder in video than you may think and are very distracting to your audience!

Be aware of any audible interruptions you don’t have control over such as aeroplanes, lawns mowers and cars. Consider filming during a quiet time of day such as early in the morning when there are likely to be less interruptions. If there are audio interruptions during your recording, do not continue. Wait it out and try again at a later point!

Aim for a clean, plain wall as your background, completely free of visual distractions from the waist up where you will be framing your shot.

Whether you’re filming on a phone, tablet or web cam, there are further factors to consider when actually setting up to film your video:

Ensure phones and tablets have enough storage available, are in aeroplane mode, fully charged and either connected to a tripod or, placed on a stable surface (think creatively - Blu Tack to wall). Your friend cannot offer to be a tripod by holding your phone or iPad for you: Your video needs to be completely stable as movement is very distracting.

Camera orientation

Ensure phones and tablets are turned onto their side so the video is filmed horizontally not vertically. This is to ensure the finished video is the correct shape and size when uploaded to Vimeo.

To ensure your eye line is correct, the tripod or surface where your recording device is placed, should be high enough so that the camera lens is in line with your eye level. Try to avoid the camera lens having to either point up or down towards you.

Framing - Two Options

1. Set up your shot so you are in the centre of the frame, not being cut off at the top and so you can be seen from the waist up. Ensure there is equal space and just the blank wall background on either side of you. (example below).

2. Set up your shot so you are to the left of the centre of the frame without being cut off at the top and so you can be seen from the waist up. The right side of the video frame should be just the blank wall background, as this is where your slide will be edited in. (example below)

Before you start recording, ensure your device is able to auto focus on you and isn’t focusing on anything else around you instead. Be sure to watch your recording back and ensure you remain in the focus the entire duration.

Ensure your recording device isn’t too far away from you. The microphone on the device should be as close to you as possible to achieve both the desired framing and to ensure the audio is as clear as possible.

Test recording

Complete a short recording of a portion of your talk. Ensure you are speaking at the volume you intend to use for your presentation. Review the test recording to ensure all of the above elements are complete and working.

Presentation tip

Be aware of your eye movement. Maintain eye contact with the camera lens as though they were a person in the audience watching you present live.

For ideas and inspiration on how to develop your own 3MT presentation, please see the below links for many examples of previous 3MT finalists from a broad range of disciplines:

Virtual presentations:

• 2022 ,  2021 and 2020 Asia-Pacific finalists
• 2021 and 2020 UQ finalists
• U21 3MT finalists

Live presentations:

• Past UQ Competition Finalists  (see pre-2020)
• Past Asia-Pacific Competition Finalists  (see pre-2020)
• Past Finalists from around the world

Florida State University

FSU | The Graduate School

Main navigation Pulldown

The graduate school, three minute thesis (3mt™).

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT™) is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland, Australia. The exercise develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development of students' capacities to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience.

Doctoral students have three minutes to present a compelling oration on their dissertation topic and its significance. 3MT™ encourages students to consolidate their ideas and crystalize their research discoveries.

Congratulate the 2023 3MT Winners!

1st Place:  Hyosoon Yim

Sport Management Promoting Sport Participation among Older Adults: Application of the Socioemotional Selectivity Theory

2nd Place:  Tania Sultana

Biomedical Sciences ZIKV NS3 Drives Assembly of a Viroplasm-Like Structure (VLS)

3rd Place:  Meng Tian

Communication The Stereotypes of Female eSports Players

People's Choice:  John Akintola

Chemistry and Biochemistry Functional Polyelectrolyte Complexes

2023 3MT Competition Finalists!

Sima Sabbagh

Neuroscience Unmasking the Architects of the Brain: Marvelous FMRP

Art Education Art May Facilitate Community Building to Alleviate Chinese International Students' Alienation

Andre Juliao

Condensed Matter Experimental Physics Nb3Sn for Axion Detection

Hemant Goswami

Molecular Biophysics Development of an Ultrasensitive and Rapid Virus Detection Method Based on CRISPR-Cas Enzyme

Toshiaki Kanai

Physics  Quantum Computer on Solid Neon 

Qiushan Liu

Developmental Psychology Investigating Strategy Flexibility in Algebra

Click here to read the FSU News Article

Click here to see the 2023 3MT Competition Gallery

Your graduate research. 3 minutes. 1 slide.

Why Participate?

Skills development for research candidates Participating in 3MT develops academic, presentation and research communication skills, while developing research candidates’ ability to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

Building external relations for the university 3MT winners go on to represent FSU at regional and national competitions which provides an excellent networking and professional development opportunity. 

Are you eligible?

Currently enrolled doctoral students at Florida State University are eligible to participate in the 3MT™. 3MT® presentations must represent the primary research the student has conducted in their graduate program.

Master's students are not eligible.

What are the prizes?

• 1st Place -  $1,000
• 2nd Place -  $750
• 3rd Place -  $500
• People's Choice (selected by the audience): $250

What are the judging criteria?

At every level of the competition each competitor will be assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.

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

What are the rules?

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description), and the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration and remain in view for the duration 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.
• The decision of the judging panel is final.

Helpful Resources

• Click here to view the Three Minute Thesis Virtual Competition Handbook.

3MT Recording/Editing Links

• OpenShot Editing Video
• Kapwing Website
• 3MT Workshop Recording of Kapwing Editor: this video is a demonstration of the software
• Kapwing Tutorial
• FSU Canvas Support Center Tutorial : Best Practices for Student Video Production (iMovie and Movie Maker)
• Vimeo Website

Past 3MT™ Competitions

Fall 2023 3MT™

Doctoral student in Sport Management, Hyosoon Yim took first place at this year's 3MT competition and won $1,000. Read more .

Fall 2022 3MT™

Doctoral student in Science Education, Dionne Wilson took first place at this year's 3MT competition and won $1,000. Read more .

Fall 2021 3MT™

Doctoral student in Art Education, Chris Omni took first place at this year's 3MT competition and won $1,000.  Read more.

Fall 2020 3MT™

Mark Duslak (Educational Leadership & Policy Studies) and Matthew Martenson (Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences) finished first this year. Read more.

Fall 2019 3MT™

Judges selected Alyssa Henderson (Physics)and Sara Jones (Biomedical Sciences) as this year’s first-place winners. Read more.

Fall 2018 3MT™

Doctoral student in biological science, Eve Humphrey took first place at this year's 3MT competition and won $1,000. Read more.

Fall 2017 3MT™

For the first time, a student from the College of Education, Shannon Gooden (Teacher Education), won the $1,000 prize. Read more.

Fall 2016 3MT™

Madhuparna Roy (Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering)won first place in this year's competition. Read more.

Fall 2015 3MT™

Aniket Ingrole (Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering) won first place in the 3MT™ competition. Read more.

Fall 2014 3MT™

Kimberly Smith (Neuroscience) won first place in this year's 3MT™ competition. Read more.

View the past 3MT competition galleries

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• 3MT (3 Minute Thesis)

3 Minute Thesis Competition

Three Minute Thesis   (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by   The University of Queensland   (UQ). Graduate students have three minutes to present a compelling oration on their thesis and its significance. 3MT is not an exercise in trivializing or “dumbing down” research, but rather challenges students to consolidate their ideas and research discoveries to present concisely to a non-specialist audience. 

Whether you're trying to raise capital, cold call or network, it's essential to have an elevator pitch, especially when describing your research. 3MT® is a competition that helps graduate students develop their verbal communication skills and helps all people understand the importance of research and how it positively affects our lives. Students, you have 3 minutes to content, clarity, and cash. Ready, set, go…

3MT® is a competition that challenges graduate students to present a compelling verbal presentation of their thesis /dissertation topic and its significance in just three minutes. 3MT® develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development of graduate students' capacity to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a public audience.

3MT® is not an exercise in trivializing or ‘dumbing-down' research but forces students to consolidate their ideas and crystalize their research discoveries.

Students compete by presenting their thesis/dissertation topic in three minutes or less. Competitions are judged by a panel comprised of a diverse group of professionals (academic and non-academic) with a wide range of expertise.   Watch 3MT Showcase.  

Watch Sam Houston's own, Dr. Erica Pasquini, People's Choice award winning 3MT  presentation   at the University of Southern Mississippi.

By competing in the 3MT® competition at Sam Houston State University, graduate students have the opportunity to sharpen their communication skills, promote their field of research to the campus and the general public, and help all people understand the importance of research and how it positively impacts their lives.

The winners will be awarded cash prizes from the Graduate School and graduation regalia credit (full master's coverage or master's credit towards doctoral) courtesy of the Vice President for Student Affairs Office.

• Grand Champion: $1,000 and credit towards graduation regalia
• Runner Up: $750 and   credit towards   graduation regalia
• People's Choice Award: $500 and   credit towards  graduation regalia
• The top twelve finalists will receive $100 courtesy of the Vice President for Student Affairs Office.

* Prize money greater than $100 will post to the student’s SHSU account in the form of a scholarship. If the student has an outstanding balance, the scholarship will be applied towards that balance. Any remaining funds from the scholarship will then be credited to the student’s billing account.

The Graduate and Professional School at Sam Houston State University is excited for the upcoming 2024 3 Minute Thesis Competition. There will two preliminary rounds. The final round will be on the Huntsville campus on April 1, 2024. The top participants and one people's choice winner from each event will advance to the finals dependent upon final participant numbers.

Important Dates:

Must be registered by: January 31, 2024

Preliminary 1: February 19, 2024 @ The Woodlands Center Preliminary 2: February 20, 2024 @ Huntsville Campus - College of Business Haney Auditorium

2024 3MT Finals

April 1, 2024- Huntsville Campus - College of Business Haney Auditorium

For any questions send an email to [email protected]   

Virtual Competition Rules:

• presentations are limited to 3 minutes and competitors exceeding 3 minutes will be 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 coordinators). files sent in other formats will not be accepted. please note: competitors *will not* be judged on video/ recording quality or editing capabilities (optional inclusions). judging will focus on the presentation, ability to communicate research to a non-specialist audience, and 3mt powerpoint slide., in person competition rules.

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description are allowed. The slide will 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 (eg. no poems, raps or songs).
• Presentations are to commence from the stage.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts his or her presentation through either movement or speech.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Once a student begins his or her presentation, the clock begins to run. The timekeeper will hold up a warning sign. A bell chimes at the end of the 3-minute period. If a competitor continues to speak after the bell chimes, he or she is disqualified from the competition.

Eligibility

• Student must be enrolled in master's or doctoral level classes for the semester of competition.
• Working on major project, capstone, thesis or dissertation research with some preliminary data complete
• Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
• Was the presenter careful not to trivialize or generalize 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 PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation - was it clear, legible, and concise?
• Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background to the research question being addressed and its significance?
• Did the presentation clearly describe the key results of the research including conclusions and outcomes?
• Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
• Was the thesis topic, key results and research significance and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
• Did the speaker avoid scientific jargon, explain terminology and provide adequate background information to illustrate points?
• 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?

– Please note: The judging panel will not judge the presentation based on the video/recording quality or editing capabilities (optional inclusions). Judging will focus on the presentation, ability to communicate re-search to a non-specialist audience, and 3MT PowerPoint slide. – People’s Choice element - number of votes received (via link survey on The Graduate School website). – Winners announced online and via social media and will be notified via email.

• Guide to the 3MT
• Preparing_Your_3MT_Presentation

All information sessions are listed below. If you were not able to attend one then contact Ricky Saiz at [email protected] who will schedule a special session for your group. Last day to sign up for the 3MT competition is January 31st and all information sessions must be completed prior to this date. An information session is not required in order to compete as long as the student and faculty sponsor feel comfortable about competing. 

2024 Information Sessions 

October 19, 2024 @ 6pm via Zoom

October 20, 2024 @ 6pm via Zoom

October 26, 2024 @ 6pm via Zoom

November 1, 2024 @ 6pm via Zoom

November 8, 2024 @ 5:30pm In-Person

Spring 2024 practice sessions will be scheduled after registration has closed. All sessions will be scheduled once a coach is assigned. If a student chooses their faculty as a coach, then scheduling will be between the student and faculty sponsor. 

3 Minute Thesis Presentations

Winners will be announced at The Graduate and Professional School 2023 Spring Awards Banquet

Grand Champion Damilola Oladimeji

Runner Up Jennifer Snedeker

People's Choice Razaq Jinad

• 2023 Finalists Sarah Vickery Kristina Block Razaq Jinad Holly Moore Taylor Robinson Sarah Hernandez AE Fonsworth Jennifer Snedeker Kushi Gupta Damilola Oladimeji
• Preliminary Presenters & Presentations Cesar Cantu Cesar I. Garza Sanchez Damilola Olademji Holly Moore Jared Estevanes Jennifer Snedeker Kristina Block Taylor Robinson Aileen "AE" Fonsworth Destiny Little Razaq Jinad Khushi Gupta Kiara Osbourne-Willis Liza Allen Sarah Vickery Sarah Hernandez Seth Castillo

Spring 2023 Prelims

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PolyU SCIENCE Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition

Introduction

Eligibility

Judging Criteria

Judging Panel

Training Workshops

The Three Minute Thesis competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by Doctor of Philosophy students of Faculty of Science. Developed by The University of Queensland, 3MT 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.

PolyU SCIENCE 3MT Competition

FS is going to host its 3MT® at 10:00am on 5 June 2024 (Wednesday) in M1603, Senate Room.

Training Workshops (by ELC)

The 3MT briefing and training workshops organized by the English Language Centre (ELC) is provided to all research students. The briefing will be conducted in a hybrid mode, accommodating both in-person and online participants interested in the 3MT competition. The workshops will cover essential strategies that participants need to master for a successful 3MT presentation. Details are as follows:

• Date: 13 May 2024 (Mon)
• Time:11:30 am
• Venue: A302 and Online (Hybrid mode)
• Instructor:  Dr Eric HO, English Language Centre of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Registration: Physical | Online
• Date and Time: (1 st Round) 13 May 2024 (Mon) , 2:30 pm ( Registration )

      (2 nd Round) 14 May 2024 (Tue), 11:30 am  ( Registration )

• Venue: A302
• Instructor:  Dr Andy FUNG,  English Language Centre of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Date and Time: (1 st Round) 14 May 2024 (Tue) , 2:30 pm  ( Registration )

          (2 nd Round) 16 May 2024 (Thu), 11:30 am  ( Registration )

• Instructor:  Dr Issa YING,  English Language Centre of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Date and Time: (1 st Round) 16 May 2024 (Thu) , 2:30 pm  ( Registration )

      (2 nd Round) 17 May 2024 (Fri), 2:30 pm  ( Registration )

• Instructor:  Dr Andy FUNG,   English Language Centre of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Training Workshops (by GS)

A  Training Workshop for 3MT Competition  is organized by Graduate School. This workshop will equip students with techniques and strategies to effectively present technical content to both general and technical audiences. Details are as follows:

• Date: 30 April 2024 (Tue)
• Time: 3:00 - 4:00 pm
• Venue: CD301, PolyU
• Instructor:  Prof. Baochun LI , University of Toronto
• Full-time/Part-time PhD students, who have passed their confirmation of registration and whose award has not been ratified by the Graduate School Board as of 5 June 2024, are eligible to participate.
• Graduates are not eligible to participate.
• All participants must be nominated by their affiliated departments. Each department is allowed to nominate up to 3 eligible PhD students.
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (no poems, raps, or songs).
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech.
• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement’) and 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.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Comprehension and content

• Presentation provided clear motivation, 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.

Cash prizes and certificates will be awarded to the winners of the Competition. 

• Winner: HK$3,000
• 1 st Runner-up: HK$2,000
• 2 nd Runner-up: HK$1,000
• People’s Choice Award (by audience ballot): HK$1,000

The Champion, first and second runners-up will be nominated for the  PolyU 3MT® .

3MT® drafting

Write for your audience

• Avoid jargon and academic language.
• Explain concepts and people important to your research - you may know all about Professor Smith’s theories but your audience may not.
• Highlight the outcomes of your research, and the desired outcome.
• Imagine that you are explaining your research to a close friend or fellow student from another field.
• Convey your excitement and enthusiasm for your subject.

Tell a story

• You may like to present your 3MT ®  as a narrative, with a beginning, middle and end.
• It’s not easy to condense your research into three minutes, so you may find it easier to break your presentation down into smaller sections.
• Try writing an opener to catch the attention of the audience, then highlight your different points, and finally have a summary to restate the importance of your work.

Have a clear outcome in mind

• Know what you want your audience to take away from your presentation.
• Try to leave the audience with an understanding of what you’re doing, why it is important, and what you hope to achieve.
• Proof your 3MT ®  presentation by reading it aloud, to yourself and to an audience of friends and family.
• Ask for feedback.
• Ask your audience if your presentation clearly highlights what your research is about and why it is important.

Before you start work on your slide, you should take the following rules into account:

• One single static PowerPoint slide is permitted;
• No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are permitted;
• Your slide is to be presented from the beginning of your oration; and
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.

Suggestions

You may like to consider some of the following suggestions.

• Less is more: text and complicated graphics can distract your audience – you don’t want them to read your slide instead of listening to your 3MT ® .
• Personal touches: personal touches can allow your audience to understand the impact of your research.
• Creativity drives interest: do not rely on your slide to convey your message – it should simply complement your oration.
• Work your message: think about how your slide might be able to assist with the format and delivery of your presentation – is there a metaphor that helps explain your research?
• An engaging visual presentation can make or break any oration, so make sure your slide is legible, clear and concise.

3MT® presentation

Practice, practice, practice

• Feeling nervous before you present is natural, and a little nervousness can even be beneficial to your overall speech. Nonetheless, it is important to practice so you can present with confidence and clarity. Practicing will also help you gauge the timing of your 3MT ®  so that you keep within the time limit.

Vocal range

• Speak clearly and use variety in your voice (fast/slow, loud/soft).
• Do not rush – find your rhythm.
• Remember to pause at key points as it gives the audience time to think about what you are saying.

Body language

• Stand straight and confidently.
• Hold your head up and make eye contact.
• Never turn your back to the audience.
• Practise how you will use your hands and move around the stage. It is okay to move around energetically if that is your personality, however it is also appropriate for a 3MT ®  presentation to be delivered from a single spot on stage.
• Do not make the common mistakes of rolling back and forth on your heels, pacing for no reason or playing with your hair as these habits are distracting for the audience.

Record yourself

• Record and listen to your presentation to hear where you pause, speak too quickly or get it just right.
• Then work on your weaknesses and exploit your strengths.

Look to the stars!

• Watch your role models such as academics, politicians and journalists, and break down their strengths and weaknesses.
• Analyse how they engage with their audience.
• View presentations by  previous 3MT finalists .
• There is no dress code, if you are unsure of how to dress you may like to dress for a job interview or an important meeting. It is important that you feel comfortable so you can focus on your presentation.
• If you are presenting on a stage that has a wooden floor, be aware of the noise your footwear might make.
• Do not wear a costume of any kind as this is against the rules (as is the use of props).

For enquiries, please contact Faculty of Science by phone 2766 5057 or email  [email protected] .

Acknowledgement 

The Presentation Rules, Judging Criteria and Competitor Guide are based on those developed by the University of Queensland, Australia.

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• Graduate Studies News >

2024 3MT® Winner Hannah Ericson Shares Her Experience

Graduate studies news.

April 22, 2024

Recently, the UGA Graduate School hosted the Three Minute Thesis, a highly engaging international research competition. Better known by the acronym 3MT ® , the competition requires contestants to explain their thesis or dissertation topic and its significance in three minutes or less using only a single static presentation slide.

2024 UGA Grand Prize winner Hannah Ericson , a doctoral candidate in the Department of Genetics , shared more about herself, her research, and her experience with 3MT ® . Her winning presentation was titled “Catalyzing Change: What Helps Department Heads Be Successful?” Congratulations, Hannah!

What is the focus of your research, and whom does it impact?

Higher education institutions have been pushing for instructors to use more evidence-based teaching practices in their classes, and one way to help with that is through how teaching is evaluated. If teaching evaluations can recognize and reward these practices, then that can motivate instructors to start using them in their classrooms. My research focuses on how teaching evaluation has been changing here at UGA, and what has been influencing these changes. I specifically focus on department heads, who are key players in making changes in their units, and how they’ve been facilitating these changes to teaching evaluation.

My work most specifically impacts department heads and other individuals who are looking to lead change within their units. More broadly, my work has implications for faculty, as how they are being evaluated starts to shift.

Hannah Ericson presenting a poster at a conference, summer 2023 (photo courtesy of Hannah Ericson)

How did preparing for 3MT ® help you with your thesis and research?

Preparing for the 3MT competition really helped me take a step back from my work and think about how to present it in a way that is understandable to someone who hasn’t been working on the project for four years like I have. I think it can be easy to start talking about D, E, and F in your research, when someone needs to understand A, B, and C first. Putting together my talk really helped me think about what the fundamental concepts are that someone needs to be familiar with before I can start talking about the nitty-gritty of my project.

What was the competition like for you? How did you feel when you won?

I thought the competition was really fun! I did theater in high school, but it’s been a while since I’ve been up on a stage like that, so it was like a blast from the past. Even down to practicing my talk with my dog serving as the audience! I really appreciated the change to get to talk about my research with a new group of people.

It felt very surreal to win. It took me a few seconds to fully process what had happened. I thought that everyone did an awesome job with their talks, so I fully wasn’t expecting to win!

How do you feel that this competition has prepared you for the next step in your career?

I feel like the competition has given me some valuable practice presenting my work in a comprehensible way to a lay audience. I’ve presented at conferences before, but those audiences were at least generally familiar with my field of study. For the competition, I had to assume that the audience had no idea what I was talking about, so I had to figure out how to take them step by step through the story I was trying to tell. This is an important skill when interviewing for jobs, so I appreciated the lower stakes (and fun!) way to get more practice with it.

How have you charted a path to success in graduate school?

The Graduate School has really given me the opportunity to explore my interests. I came in through the Integrated Life Sciences (ILS) program with only vague ideas about what I wanted to study. I was able to rotate through a couple of different labs, and ended up in my current lab, doing research in a field I hadn’t even known existed before! I really appreciate the opportunity to figure out what I was passionate about and what types of research I wanted to do.

Who is someone that has impacted your graduate career? 

My PI, Dr. Tessa Andrews, has been super impactful on my graduate career. She has been extremely supportive and encouraging, both academically and personally, every step along the way. I really appreciate the experience I’ve gained via working in her lab, and truly don’t think I could have ended up with a better mentor!

What is next for you?

I still have roughly a year left before I graduate from my doctoral program. I have a lot of work ahead of me, including pushing out a few papers. After that, I’m planning on going on to a post doc position, although I’m not sure exactly where that will be, or what that will look like.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I love collecting houseplants! I’m especially partial to unique and interesting succulents. My current favorites are called Mother of Thousands, because they grow little plantlets along the edges of their leaves, which then fall off and start growing new plants. I’ve accumulated something like 50 different plants (and counting!) over the last few years. They’re slowly taking over my apartment!

This year’s 3MT ® competition drew over 70 submissions from students in departments across UGA’s campuses. The 3MT ® annual contest was open to any currently enrolled UGA master’s or doctoral student. Ten students advanced to the finals after scoring well with a team of judges during the preliminary heats.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT ® ) is an academic competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. Learn more about 3MT ® .

Tags: #Committo , #DepartmentofGenetics , #FranklinCollegeofArtsandSciences , #GradStudies , #UGA , #UGAgraduateschool

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UK Graduate School student finishes as finalist in regional competition

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 3, 2024)  —  The Graduate School at the University of Kentucky celebrated a big victory during a recent regional competition. Graduate student Jovita Daraezinwa traveled to Greenville, South Carolina, to represent UK at the regional 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools (CSGS).

“Intrigued by the opportunity to showcase my research in a new format and build upon my existing public speaking skills, I eagerly embraced the challenge,” said Daraezinwa, who is a doctoral student in the UK Department of Chemistry.

The 3MT is a competition designed for graduate students to condense their research into a concise and engaging three-minute presentation for a non-specialist audience aided by one static slide.

“Jovita's success in presenting the 3-Minute Thesis can be attributed to her exceptional oratory skills, evident from her first presentation in our lab group meeting,” said Samuel Awuah , Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences.

For Daraezinwa, the path to 3MT was challenging. She first tested her skills through UK GradResearch Live (3MT) in Fall 2021 and again in Fall 2022. She didn’t make it through the first round either time. But Daraezinwa’s determination would not let her give up.

“Over the years, her skills have improved as she continues to grow as a scientist,” Awuah said. “Noteworthy is her tenacity in pursuing opportunities like 3MT, challenging herself to keep growing and honing her presentation abilities.”

So, in Fall 2023, after some hesitation, Daraezinwa would try again. Support from friends and family gave Daraezinwa the encouragement she needed to get to the next level. She was also able to practice with her Toastmasters group.

“This time it was different, I practiced my speech severally with different groups of non-specialist audiences starting from my graduate writing group, friends and Dr. Patti Meyer, who became my 3MT coach all the way to regionals,” said Daraezinwa.

Fifty-five universities were represented at the regional tournament. The preliminary rounds were in four separate heat groups of about 14 students, all 3MT winners at their universities. Daraezinwa earned first place in her heat group and made it to the top 13 finalists.

“The ability to frame one’s research into an engaging story, understandable and memorable to a public audience, is a critical skill across doctoral careers,” said Morris Grubbs, assistant dean at the Graduate School, whose office sponsors the 3MT competition. “I watched in awe at the regional competition as Jovita held the audience of about 300 people in her hands.”

As for Daraezinwa’s future, she plans to focus on completing her doctoral studies in medicinal chemistry and cancer research in the College of Arts and Science.

“Inspired by my positive experience with science communication during 3MT, I am considering a career path that merges my scientific expertise with my passion for public speaking,” said Daraezinwa.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.   

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Postgraduate Researchers: Tickets available for Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Final

The Academy is hosting the University of Liverpool’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Final on Wednesday, 19 June, with tickets now available. The prestigious competition challenges doctoral candidates to give a compelling spoken presentation of their research to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes, with just one slide.

This is your opportunity to cheer on the nine University of Liverpool finalists from across the three faculties as they battle to be crowned UoL 3MT® champion and have your say on the day, by voting for your favourite 3MT® presentation in the People’s Choice category.

The award-winning spaces at the Spine Building provide the backdrop to the event. The day will afford numerous opportunities for conversation and networking, whilst simultaneously celebrating and supporting the research of our talented PGR Community. It will also feature an exciting workshop on ‘The Art of the Q&A’.

The winner of the University of Liverpool competition will be entered into the quarterfinals of the highly regarded UK-wide competition hosted by Vitae.

We know from last year’s inaugural event that having staff and colleagues from the applicants’ home faculties makes a huge difference to the atmosphere of the event, creating a supportive and exciting environment where our candidates can perform at their best. So please do join us to celebrate this year’s fantastic finalists and encourage others in your respective areas to do the same.

To book your place today please visit the Eventbrite page: https://PGRDev_3MTFinal_2024.eventbrite.co.uk

Or for further information on the University of Liverpool’s 3MT® in 2024, visit the webpage below: www.liverpool.ac.uk/researcher/pgr-development/3mt

Further events and information

3 rd June, Maintaining Momentum for Mid Stage PGRs , in-person, 10am

This workshop will provide an opportunity, for those who are in the middle of their postgraduate research programme, to identify strategies to increase motivation and stay productive.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Use techniques to plan their time in both the long and short-term.
• Consider how to re-plan and adapt their project if needed.
• Identify and develop the self-management that will help them stay well and motivated.

Details for how to book on are available here: https://UoL_PGRDev_MaintainingMomentum_Jun24.eventbrite.co.uk

25 th June, Developing Effective Writing Practices, in-person, 2pm

This interactive workshop will introduce you to different tools and techniques to boost your writing productivity.

• Make use of different writing productivity techniques.
• Understand different writing strategies and what may work best for them.

Details for how to book on are available here: https://UoLPGRDev_EffectiveWritingPractices_InPerson_June.eventbrite.co.uk

The Academy’s Researcher Development and Culture Team is committed to offering support for all researchers, academics, research-enabling staff and postgraduate researchers at all career levels, providing opportunities and developing initiatives that meet their career aspirations. Colleagues are encouraged to regularly access the  Researcher Hub  for a range of on-demand development opportunities to support professional practice, supplementing the live  upcoming researcher development activities

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