- The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition is a skills development activity that challenges Research Higher Degree students to explain their research project to a non-specialist audience in three minutes.
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by PhD candidates.
Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), the exercise 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.
The first 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2008 with 160 Research Higher Degree students competing. In 2009 and 2010 the 3MT competition was promoted to other Australian and New Zealand universities and enthusiasm for the concept grew.
Due to its adoption in numerous universities, a multi-national event was developed, and the Inaugural Trans-Tasman 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2010.
Since 2011, the popularity of the competition has increased and 3MT competitions are now held in over 600 universities across more than 65 countries worldwide.
In November 2013, the first Universitas 21 (U21) 3MT competition was held with several universities from around the world competing in a virtual competition.
2016 brought an expansion of the Trans-Tasman 3MT competition to include a South-East Asia and North-East Asia. This competition is now called the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition.
In 2020 3MT is held in over 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide.
Active PhD and Professional Doctorate (Research)* 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 Asia-Pacific 3MT competition. Graduates are not eligible.
*Professional Doctorate (Research) program composed of at least 2/3 research and funded via the Research Training Program.
Please note that Australian candidates enrolled in any of the following programs are not eligible for the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition:
WORKSHOP | ||
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Tuesday 4 August, 2pm to 4pm AEST | Online Zoom workshop with Hugh Kearns - 'Preparing for the 3MT: Everything you need to know' | |
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TO ENTER | ||
Video submissions for the UTAS wide Virtual 3MT Competition are now OPEN. Entries accepted until 5pm AEST, THURSDAY 20 AUGUST 2020. Register here. | ||
Email your PowerPoint slide and entry (as a link to your video on Vimeo) to the 3MT Coordinator at Graduate.Research@utas.edu.au (refer to 'Rules and Recording' for instructions). | ||
JUDGES | ||
A panel of experts from different disciplines within UTAS will judge entries across 2 heats (dependent on number of entries received). | ||
The winners from each Heat will progress to the UTAS Finals. The winner will then represent UTAS at the Asia Pacific Final. | ||
Judging Criteria | ||
1. Comprehension & Content |
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2. Engagement |
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FINALS & PEOPLES CHOICE COMPETITION | ||
Friday 28 August | Finalists notified | |
Tuesday 1 September | Finalist video submission entries close | |
Friday 4 September | Audience viewing for UTAS finalists opens, to vote for People's Choice award | |
The UTAS Community will be asked to vote (via an online forum) on who they thought gave the most convincing 3MT presentation (based on their understanding of the judging criteria outlined above). Details of the finalist will be provided to the audience via power point and using an online voting form will be asked to select the number which corresponds to their favourite presenter. It is possible to win a place (First or Runner-Up) and win the People's Choice award. | ||
September | UTAS winners announced and People's Choice awarded | |
ASIA-PACIFIC FINAL | ||
Friday 11 September | Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition closes for the UTAS finalist submission | |
Thursday 1 October | The Virtual Asia-Pacific Final will be hosted by University of Queensland via Zoom (viewing link and registration details still to come) |
Registrations for the UTAS 3MT competition and workshop are now open!
REGISTER HERE and submit your entry to the UTAS competition by 20 August 2020
Please note:
For more information about 3MT please contact the UTAS 3MT Coordinator at Graduate.Research@utas.edu.au
Heats and UTAS finals
Asia-Pacific Final