Three Minute Thesis (3MT®)

Handbook for Participating Universities

UQ Graduate School

www.threeminutethesis.org
3MT@uq.edu.au
CRICOS PROVIDER NUMBER 00025B
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

EVENT OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................. 3

What is 3MT? ...................................................................................................................................... 3
History ................................................................................................................................................. 3
Why Participate in 3MT?..................................................................................................................... 3
Prizes ................................................................................................................................................... 4
Institutional Requirements ................................................................................................................. 5
Progression ......................................................................................................................................... 6
COMPETITION RULES AND GUIDELINES ................................................................................................ 6
Eligibility .............................................................................................................................................. 6
Rules .................................................................................................................................................... 7
Selecting Your Judging Panel .............................................................................................................. 7
Three Minute Countdown Timer ........................................................................................................ 7
EVENT MANAGMENT RESOURCES ......................................................................................................... 8
FURTHER INFORMATION ....................................................................................................................... 9

www.threeminutethesis.org
Handbook for participating universities
 EVENT OVERVIEW

What is 3MT?
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by The University
of Queensland (UQ). Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students have three minutes to present a
compelling oration on their thesis and its significance. 3MT is not an exercise in trivialising or
‘dumbing-down’ research, but challenges students to consolidate their ideas and research
discoveries so they can be presented concisely to a non-specialist audience.

History
The first 3MT was held at The University of Queensland in 2008 with 160 RHD students competing.
Enthusiasm for the 3MT concept grew and its widespread implementation by universities has led to
the development of an international competition.

Strong support for 3MT exists in Australia and New Zealand with 44 institutions coming together to
participate in the 2013 Trans-Tasman 3MT Competition. The event also hosted special guests from
Fiji and Hong Kong. The inaugural International U21 competition was also launched in 2013. The
global reach of the competition can be seen by the extent of participation with almost 200
universities in more than 18 countries also hosting local 3MT events.

Why Participate in 3MT?

Skills training for research candidates

The exercise develops academic, presentation and research communication skills, while developing
research students' ability to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-
specialist audience.

Building Research Culture in Schools and Institutes

3MT provides a valuable opportunity for RHD students to come together, get to know one another
and talk about their research. It also provides a supportive environment in which Schools and
Institutes can provide presentation skills training.

Building External Relations for the University

Each 3MT winner will go on to represent their university at the Trans-Tasman 3MT Competition
which provides an excellent networking and professional development opportunity. Previous 3MT
finalists have benefited from invitations to a variety of other networking events following their
participation in the competition.

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Handbook for participating universities
 Prizes
Prizes are an important incentive for students entering the competition.

The prizes can vary subject to the discretion of your institution.

For example, UQ awards winners with the following prizes.

• First Prize: $5000 research travel grant

• Runner Up: $2000 research travel grant
• People’s Choice: $1000 research travel grant

Institutional Requirements – (Trans-Tasman competing institutions only)

The Trans-Tasman competition is open to Australian and New Zealand institutions.
Please note that participating universities agree:
 To provide travel, accommodation and associated costs for the competitor representing the
institution;
 That participating universities from outside Australia and New Zealand, agree to participate
as an ‘Invited Special Guest’;
 That the university of the competitor who wins the competition will have the opportunity to
host the 2015 Trans-Tasman 3MT Competition; and
 That if an ‘International Special Guest’ wins the competition, the host university will have
the opportunity to host the next Trans-Tasman 3MT competition.
 That if the University of the competitor who wins the competition does not accept the
opportunity to host the 3MT in the following year, the runner up will have first rights. If the
runner up declines, the host will automatically default to UQ.

The Trans-Tasman competition for 2014 will be hosted by the University of Western Australia. The
competition will be held in early November 2014. For further information regarding the Trans-
Tasman competition please contact Krystyna Haq at: krys.haq@uwa.edu.au

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Handbook for participating universities
 Progression
The following chart outlines the progression of students throughout the competition and highlights
key contacts for each event.

Trans-Tasman 3MT Competition

Grand Final November 2014
The University of Western Australia

University Final
Optional
University Final
Wildcard Final

Faculty Final
(Coordinated by
Faculty Faculty Faculty Faculty Faculty
Faculty)

School Final
(Coordinated by
School) School School School School

School Heats
(Coordinated by Heat 1 Heat 2
School)

NB: it is noted that the above diagram may not align with other universities internal structures. In
those instances the closest equivalent should be used.

Please Note: The winner of each heat or final is expected to represent their School / Faculty /
University at the next stage of the competition. If the winner is unable to attend the final, the
runner-up will proceed to the next round of the competition in their place.

Optional Wildcard Final

UQ has also introduced a Wildcard Final, where the People’s Choice winner from each Faculty and
Combined Institute Final is given the chance to compete in a Wildcard Final hosted by the UQ
Graduate School. The winner of the wildcard event is offered the opportunity to compete in the
University 3MT Final. (If the Faculty winner was also the people’s choice, the runner-up proceeds to
the Wildcard Final). While this is an optional element of 3MT, UQ found it added new energy to the
competition.

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Handbook for participating universities
 COMPETITION RULES AND GUIDELINES

Eligibility
Active PhD candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including
candidates whose thesis is under submission) by the date of their first presentation are eligible to
participate in 3MT competitions at all levels, including the Trans-Tasman 3MT competition.
Graduates are not eligible.

UQ specific eligibility (optional for other institutions):

MPhil and pre-confirmation PhD candidates who are active in their program will still be eligible to
participate in the UQ 3MT competition up to Faculty/Institute finals but cannot advance to the UQ
3MT Final.

Judging Criteria
At every level of the competition each competitor will be assessed on the two judging criteria listed
below. Please note that each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.

COMPREHENSION & CONTENT:

 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?

ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNICATION:

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

 Was the presenter careful not to trivialise or generalise their research?
 Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
 Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience's attention?
 Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and vocal range; maintain a
steady pace, and have a confident stance?
 Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation - was it clear, legible, and concise?

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Handbook for participating universities
 Rules
 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.

Selecting Your Judging Panel

To provide every entrant with a similar experience, the UQ Graduate School recommends
considering the following when composing your judging panel.
 Include between three to five judges on your panel.
 Balance your judging panel by age, gender, academic/professional positions, and discipline.
 Consider including a marketing staff member (for example, a representative from your
marketing team or Graduate School).
 While judges should declare any conflict of interest, they should still vote on each 3MT
presenter’s oration, even if the presenter is from their discipline.

Three Minute Countdown Timer

The UQ Graduate School has developed a three minute countdown timer which is helpful for some
students when presenting. This can simply be displayed on a laptop or tablet device in the front
row facing the student.

Please note that this countdown timer is not compulsory and we recommend asking each student if
they would like to use it or not.
 If a student does not want to see a countdown, the laptop can face the time keeper.
 If a student does want to see the countdown timer, simply angle the laptop slightly on the
front row so both the student and the timekeeper are using the same clock.

We recommend adopting the countdown timer due to its effectiveness in previous years. It will also
assist in familiarising students with the format should they go on to compete in the Trans-Tasman
3MT Competition. Students may also like a visual cue (such as raising a visible yellow card in the air)
to illustrate a 30 second warning, and ringing a bell at the final three minute mark.

www.threeminutethesis.org
Handbook for participating universities
 EVENT MANAGMENT RESOURCES

The UQ Graduate School has developed a number of helpful resources for School and Faculty level
competitions. The Event Management Resources Pack can be downloaded from the 3MT Website
and includes the following:

FOR USE BY

Run Sheet 3MT Event Coordinators

Order of Proceedings 3MT Event Coordinators

Judges - assigning a score to each competitor’s

Judging Sheets
oration.

People's Choice Ballot The audience for People’s Choice voting

Event Resources

PowerPoint Presentation 3MT Event Coordinators

3MT Name Badges 3MT Event Coordinators

3MT Contact List 3MT Event Coordinators

Countdown Timer 3MT Event Coordinators

3MT Logos / Description Marketing - 3MT logo / corresponding text

Promotional
3MT Branding Guidelines Marketing
Resources

3MT Media Release Can be used to promote your event.

www.threeminutethesis.org
Handbook for participating universities
 FURTHER INFORMATION

If you have any queries about the 3MT Competition please contact the UQ Graduate School at The
University of Queensland via 3MT@uq.edu.au or phone +61 7 3346 0511.

www.threeminutethesis.org
Handbook for participating universities