3mt presentations

• 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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Tips for a successful 3MT presentation

Being successful in the 3MT involves much more than summarizing your research in three minutes. You need to be able to connect with your audience: explain your work in a way non-experts can understand and in a way that makes them interested in hearing what you have to say.

Your talk is the focal point of your presentation. Most of your preparation time should be spent on crafting your talk than on creating your slide.

Prepare your talk

Although your talk is only three minutes, it will take time to craft a concise presentation of your graduate research in a way that can be understood by and is engaging for a non-expert audience. Below are suggestions to help you create a successful 3MT presentation.

Summarize your work verbally

You'll want to prepare your talk in writing, but you might want to start by expressing your thoughts verbally and using an audio or video recordor to capture what you say.

Write for your audience

• Your presentation needs to be understandable and engaging for people who are not experts in your field of study.
• 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.
• Focus on the big picture, not the details that you typically share in a presentation with experts and peers in your field.
• Imagine that you are explaining your research to a close family member or friend. Explain your work in a way that they could understand what you do and why it is important.
• However, also make sure you do not simplify the explanation of your work so much that it becomes trivial.
• 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.

Introduction

• You are not required to introduce yourself in your talk, and it is recommended that you do not introduce yourself because this will count towards your three minute time limit. Your name, degree program, and presentation title will be announced before you give your presentation.

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 humor, but be careful not to devalue your presentation.

Create your slide

Your video should include a single, static slide. Transitions, movement, animations, and sound are not permitted.

Tips for a successful slide

• Your talk, not the slide, is the most critical part of the presentation
• Less is more: Too much t ext and complicated graphics can distract your audience – you don’t want them to read your slide instead of listening to your talk
• Do not rely on your slide to convey your message: The slide should simply complement your oration. If the slide were not displayed, the audience should should still understand and be engaged by your talk
• 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
• Title and introduction: You may include your presentation title on your slide, but it is not required . Your name, degree program, and presentation title will be announced before your video is played. Therefore, you also should not spend time introducing yourself in your presentation because it will count toward your time limit.

Practice, seek feedback, revise

• Proof your 3MT presentation by reading it aloud, or video record yourself, review the recording, and find ways to improve.
• Practice in front of different audiences--colleagues, grad students in other disciplines, family, friends--and ask for feedack
• Ask your audience if your presentation clearly highlights what your research is about and why it is important. Can they explain to another person what you do and why it's important?

Use the One Button Plus Studio

Located in the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab on the first floor of Hale Library, this small studio room features studio lighting, cameras, microphones, a green screen, and recording equipment that operates through minimal effort. It’s ideal for recording presentations, interviews, and podcasts.

How can the studio help me prepare for the 3MT?

• Easily capture a high quality video recording of your presentation to review or share with others to review.
• You might have different ideas for explaining your research. Use the One Button Plus Studio to capture different versions of your presentation. Then review or share with others to help you select the best version of your presentation.

Reserve the One Button Plus Studio To use the studio, users plug in a USB flash drive or portable hard drive and touch the touchscreen interface to activate the studio’s lighting, camera and confidence monitor. The user can then adjust lighting, change the background or simply start recording.

Make a reservation!

Additional resources

• View videos of K-State's previous 3MT® winners and videos of 3MT® winners from around the world for examples of successful 3MT® presentations.
• Your Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Presentation for Presenting on What You Do as a Graduate Student and How it Matters by Brad Rickelman, Meridian Technology Center for Business Development (video presentation)
• Making the Most of Your Three Minutes (pdf) by Simon Clews, University of Melbourne
• The Up-Goer Five Text Editor - Can you explain your thesis using only the 1,000 most commonly used words? Give it a try with this text editor. While we do not recommend that you use this text editor to prepare your entire 3MT® presentation, it can help you identify terms and concepts that may not be well known outside of your field and will require some explanation if used in your presentation. This tool might be especially helpful with developing a presentation title.
• Thesis Gold by Paul Geiger
• Communicating Science: An Introductory Communication Guide for Conveying Scientific Information to Academic and Public Audiences
• The David Attenborough Style of Scientific Presentation (pdf) - This document is designed for preparing a presentation longer than three minutes, but many of the principles are applicable to a three-minute presentation.
• Make an appointment with the Writing Center to receive feedback on how to strengthen your three-minute oration.

Information sessions

Sessions were held in the fall semester to get students acquainted with the 3MT and to share guidance on how to prepare a successful 3MT presentation.

Missed the sessions? Watch a recording View slides from the session (pdf)

• Updated: 1/15/24

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Preparing your 3MT presentation

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• 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]

Copyright © 2024, University of Sussex

Watch 3MT presentations from around the world

• 3MT on Vimeo

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Alex Grayson (Molecular & Cellular Biology)

Comparing Fox and Human Brain Connectivity Patterns

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

Zelin Liu (Classics / History)

Using the Past to Define Group Identity

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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

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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

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

Texas A&M University

Page Not Found

The page you are looking for could not be found.

The URL could have been mistyped or the page may have moved. Return to grad.tamu.edu ( https://grad.tamu.edu/ ) or use the sitewide search at the top of the page to find the information you are looking for.

Graduate Education

Office of graduate and postdoctoral education, three minute thesis competition.

2024 3MT Winners

Master's Winner - $1,000     Karina Bhattacharya     MID, Industrial Design     Co-Design with Neurodivergent Students and Recent Graduates to Reimagine Design Education

Winner - $2,000     Alexandra Patterson     Ph.D., Bioengineering     Next Generation At-Home Diagnostics Powered by CRISPR

2nd Place - $1,500     Kantwon Rogers     Ph.D., Computer Science     What Happens When a Robot Lies to You?

3rd Place - $1,000     Valeria Juarez     Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering     Spatially Patterned Immune Organoids for Vaccine Screening

People's Choice - $500     Kantwon Rogers     Ph.D., Computer Science     What Happens When a Robot Lies to You?

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition challenges students to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. 3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills.

Currently enrolled master's and doctoral students who are actively engaged in original research are eligible to participate in the competition. Students must be available to participate in person for one of the preliminary rounds and for the final competition, if selected. 

Learn More About 3MT

Eligibility, rules, judging criteria and more.

Register for the 3MT competition.

See the 3MT competition timeline.

Past Winners

Access the list of past winners and their award-winning presentations.

View past judges for the 3MT competition.

Additional Resources

Award-winning presentations.

Wondering what award-winning Georgia Tech 3MT presentations looks like? Check out the following videos:

• 2020 Second Place Winner, Muhammad Saad Zia, Mitigating Beam Alignment Errors in Millimeter-Wave Communications to Go Beyond 5G
• 2020 Third Place and People's Choice Winner, Megan McSweeney, AptaTrigger: A Novel Biosensor Platform for Point-of-Care Diagnostics
• 2019 Winner, Paola Zanella, Mitigation of Helicopter Accidents Related to Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness
• 2018 Winner, Nusaiba Baker, Oral Delivery of DNA-enzyme Nanoparticles Ameliorates Inflammation in a Murine Model of Ulcerative Colitis

Curious about what award-winning videos from other 3MT competitions include? Check out this link:

• Presentations from competitions around the world

Campus Partners

The Georgia Tech 3MT competition is coordinated by the Office of Graduate Education in partnership with the following campus partners:

• Center for Teaching and Learning
• Communication Center
• Language Institute
• Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education

For more information about the Georgia Tech 3MT competition:

• Contact: Casey Hendricks at [email protected]

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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.

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University of South Florida

Office of Graduate Studies

Main navigation, three minute thesis (3mt®) at usf.

The Office of Graduate Studies and the Graduate and Professional Student Council are proud to present USF's 3 Minute Thesis Competition (3MT®)!

The Three Minute Thesis, or 3MT®, is an annual competition held at over 200 universities world wide, open to graduate students who present their research in less than 3 minutes, with only one static slide.

Winning presentations are engaging stories that are understood by the broader audience, requiring little expertise in the research area. The competition cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The idea is for students to orally present the significance of their dissertation or thesis using a single static slide in just three minutes.

WORKSHOP: Preparing a Winning 3MT® Presentation

Date: October 4, 2023 (Most recent)  Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Description

Presented by Ruth Bahr, PhD, Dean, Office of Graduate Studies and Tracy Costello, PhD, Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

The Three Minute Thesis , or 3MT® , is an annual competition held at over 200 universities worldwide, open to graduate students who present their research in less than 3 minutes, with only one static slide.  Winning presentations are engaging stories that are understood by the broader audience, requiring little expertise in the research area. 

This lecture is designed to help you understand and develop your best 3MT® presentation so that you're prepared to enter the USF competition in October 2023.  We'll share tips for success including how to frame your research for any audience and considerations for your slide's design. 

The winner and runner-up of the USF competition receive travel awards and are additionally supported to travel and present in the Council of Graduate Schools 3MT® competitions at the 2024 Council of Florida Graduate Schools Conference and the 2024 Council of Southern Graduate Schools Conference, schedule and funding permitting.  

Pictured from left to right: Asim Waqas, Anna Gonzalez, Reham Abuemira (People's choice) , Indira Goldman, Darrail Abercrombie, Alex Seigel, William Cromwell (Runner-up) , Martha McAlister, Alexandra Zamitalo (First Place), Dean Ruth Bahr. 2023 3MT® Competition.

Pictured: 2023 Participants compete with 3MT® presentations during the USF Finals Heat held on the Tampa campus. 

Judges will rate the student's ability to effectively present their research to a multidisciplinary audience in accessible and engaging non-technical language. Developed by The University of Queensland in 2008, enthusiasm for the concept and its adoption in numerous universities has also led to the development of an international competition.

Now, 3MT® is held in over 900 universities across more than 80 countries worldwide.

Why Participate?

Skills Development

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.

Culture of Research

3MT® provides a valuable opportunity for researchers to come together (live or virtually), get to know one another and talk about their research. It also provides a supportive environment in which schools, institutes and universities can provide presentation skills training.

Networking Opportunities

3MT® winners may go on to represent their university at national and international 3MT® competitions 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.

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

Comprehension & 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 & 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.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

An important aspect of the competition is the People’s Choice prize. Following all presentations, the audience is asked to vote on who they thought gave the most convincing 3MT® presentation (based on their understanding of the criteria outline above). A finalist can be the winner or runner-up and still receive the People’s Choice award.

ELIGIBILITY

Active Ph.D. 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. Graduates are not eligible.

• 3MT® Competitor Guide
• FAQs for Competitors

USF holds a series of heats during the fall semester. Winners of the heats go on to compete in the USF 3MT® Finals, which typically take place in early November. 

• First Place: $300
• Runner-up (Second Place): $200
• People's Choice: $100

The First Place Winner moves forward to represent USF at the regional 3MT® competition the following spring.

VIEW: USF 3MT® Winners

First Place: Alexandra Zamitalo Title: Intraocular Marvels: Revolutionizing Techniques for Studying the Eye College: College of Engineering Program: Medical Engineering

Runner-up: William Cromwell Title: The ABOs of Cerebral Malaria College: College of Medicine Program: Medical Sciences

People's Choice: Reham Abuemira Title: Telecollaboration as an Approach to Facilitating Intercultural Communicative Competence and Exposure to Arabic Varieties in Arabic as Foreign Language Classrooms in the US: Exploring Teachers' Perspectives and Practices College: College of Education Program: Technology in Education and Second Language Acquisition

First Place: Kanchana Karunarathne Title: Coloring In Memory: Fluorescent Dyes as a Candidate for Oligomer Detection in Alzheimer’s Disease College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Physics

Runner-up: Efrain Gonzalez Title: Know the Unknown College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Mathematics and Statistics

People's Choice: Shelby Kell Title: One-size-fits-all: Pharmaceuticals For Human Health Care College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Chemistry

First Place: Aditya Chakraborty Title:  A Data-Driven Analytical Process to Monitor Pancreatic Cancer Survival Time College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Mathematics and Statistics

Runner-up: Jing Chen Title:  Membrane Proteins: Starting From a Binary Switch College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology

People's Choice: Minglu Sun Title:  The Effect of the Drug Abuse Prevention Programs on Domestic Violence College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Economics

First Place: Tiffany Miller Title:   Sniffing out COVID-19 with a Gas Sensor Array College: College of Engineering Program: Electrical Engineering

Runner-up: Celine Atkinson Title:  Climate Change, Gut Microbes, and You College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology

People's Choice: Poonan Lathiya Title:   Biotelemetry College: College of Engineering Program: Electrical Engineering

First Place: Aya Elmarsafawi Title:   Long Live Memory Cells College: Morsani College of Medicine Program: Molecular Medicine (Immunology)

Runner-up: Zeinab Motawe Title:   Having a Stroke? Take a Chill Pill! College: Morsani College of Medicine Program: Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology

People's Choice: Sandra Hornung Title:   Respiratory Syncytial Virus Accessorizes Human Proteins College: Morsani College of Medicine Program: Integrated Biomedical Sciences

First Place: Christian Brown Title:   Salamanders in the Sky and How They Try to Fly College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Integrative Biology

Runner-up: Abhijeet Iyer Title:   Air Pollution – Think Inside the Box College: College of Engineering Program: Chemical Engineering

People's Choice: Wainella Isaacs Title:   The Social and Technical Life of Drinking Water Tanks College: College of Engineering Program: Civil and Environmental Engineering

First Place: Karena Nguyen Title:   Parasites, People and the Changing Climate College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Integrative Biology

Second Place: Earnest Hansley Title:   Identification of Individuals from Ears College: College of Engineering Program: Computer Science and Engineering

People's Choice: Saurav Chakraborty Title:   El Niño Neutral Condition and its Influence on the Development of Hurricanes College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Geography

First Place: Kevin Orner Title:   Nutrient Removal and Energy Recovery from Digester Effluent College: College of Engineering Program: Environmental Engineering

Second Place: Karena Nguyen Title:   A Mechanistic Framework for Temperature-Dependent Disease Dynamics: A Novel Approach with Dynamic Energy Budget Theory College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Integrative Biology

People's Choice: Dagmara Monfort Title:   Self-Assembling Nanoparticles for Treatment of Genetic Diseases College: College of Engineering Program: Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

First Place: Simon Bello Title:   Development of an Implantable Pressure Regulating Pump for Glaucoma Studies College: College of Engineering Program: Electrical Engineering

Second Place: Elan Pavlinich Title:   Counterfeit Feminism in Disney's Maleficent College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: English

People's Choice: Parveen Bazard Title:   Plasmonic Stimulation of Electrically Excitable Biological Cells College: College of Engineering Program: Chemical Engineering

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The University of Calgary Three Minute Thesis Competition

Your thesis, three minutes, one slide.

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an internationally recognized research communication competition. Participants have three minutes to deliver a compelling presentation on their thesis research for a general audience using a single, static slide.

The 3MT helps graduate students develop skills in translating their research and its impact for non-specialists. This skill is becoming essential for many purposes:

• Funding proposals
• Transitioning into employment
• Generating interest in, awareness of and support for academic research
• Communicating with confidence and clarity to diverse audiences

The University of Calgary 3MT takes place each year during the winter term. Registration opens in February, with heats taking place in March and finals in April.

"3MT empowered me to be confident in my public speaking skills and to continue sharing my work within and beyond the UCalgary community.”

Aliza Jaffer, 2024 UCalgary 3MT second place winner and people's choice

Master's student, Medical Sciences

Participating in the UCalgary 3MT

Can I enter the UCalgary 3MT?

University of Calgary graduate students who are active/enrolled in thesis-based masters or PhD programs and in good standing with their graduate program and the Faculty of Graduate Studies are eligible.

• A student whose thesis is under submission on the date of their first competition is still eligible
• Presenters must register and present in person
• Graduating students become ineligible upon receiving notification of degree conferral

I'm a visiting student. Can I enter?

Visiting students are not eligible to participate in the UCalgary 3MT.

How else can I get involved?

Not sure about entering? Get involved by volunteering! We need student volunteers to help with heats and finals in a variety of roles. We start looking for 3MT volunteers in February of each year.

UCalgary3MT registrants will have the first opportunity to register for 3MT workshops, with any additional spots being opened up to all UCalgary graduate students.

Designing Your 3MT Talk: February 15, 2024

This presentation will provide a review of the internationally recognized 3MT competition, and how you can approach openings, closings, and your presentation's overall structure for the 3-minute format. You will have time to apply your learning through individual and group exercises such as analysis of winning 3MT talks and crafting an outline using the COMPASS Message Box (compassscicomm.org/). Time will also be made to practice delivering and receiving constructive feedback on your own short talk.    

Presenter: Felicia Glatz, Learning and Design Specialist, My GradSkills, University of Calgary  

Thank you to everyone who attended the workshop.

Designing Your 3MT Slide: February 21, 2024

So, you’ve signed up for the UCalgary Virtual 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) but you’re finding it difficult to fit all you want to talk about in only one slide. Should you use a single image? How can you place multiple images on a slide so they direct your audience’s eye? Should you add that amazing pie chart? Make the most of your one visual aid to frame your presentation!

Attend this workshop and learn about basic design principles that will help you craft a 3MT slide with impact that enhances your presentation instead of being a distraction.  If your slide is not complete, or you haven’t even started to create your slide, that’s ok, all are welcome!   

Rules of the UCalgary 3MT

• 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). Please note that using a slide is optional but strongly encouraged. Images used in the slide must be your own, or you must have permission from the owner of the photo(s) and provide proper credit(s).
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment, laser pointers or note cards) are permitted.
• No notes allowed . Presentations are to be memorized.
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum .
• Presentations that go over 3 minutes will have marks removed in the heats, and will be disqualified in the final .
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• Presentations must be based on research directly related to the student’s graduate program thesis . Research performed for employment cannot be presented.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final .

All heat participants will be mailed a Certificate of Participation. Heat winners also receive a special memento.

All finalists will have their 3MT talks posted on the My GradSkills website. Other prizes for the 3MT finals include:

First Place

• UCalgary 3MT First Place trophy

The winner of the UCalgary 3MT represents the university at the Canadian Western Regional 3MT competition.

Second Place

• UCalgary 3MT Second Place trophy

Third Place

• UCalgary 3MT Third Place trophy

People's Choice

• UCalgary 3MT People's Choice trophy

3MT Judging Criteria

Heats and finals are judged according to three criteria, each of which is given equal weight. Note that each criterion has an emphasis on the audience.

Communication stye

• Was the topic and its significance communicated in language appropriate for non-specialists?
• Did the speaker maintain good eye contact and vocal range, a good pace and a confident stance?
• Did the talk avoid jargon, explain terminology, and provide background information to illustrate points?
• Did the speaker spend the right amount of time on each element of their presentation? Did they rush or elaborate for too long?
• Did the slide enhance the presentation? Was it clear, legible, and concise?

Comprehension

• Did the presentation help the audience understand the research?
• Did the presenter clearly outline the nature and aims of the research?
• Was the significance of the presenter's research clearly outlined?
• Did the presentation follow a logical sequence?
• Did the presentation make the audience want to know more?
• Was the presenter careful not to trivialize or 'dumb-down' the research?
• Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
• Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience's attention?
• Did the presentation make me want to know more about the speaker's research?

3MT History

The first 3MT was held at the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008 with 160 students competing. Enthusiasm for the 3MT concept grew and its adoption by numerous universities led to the development of an international competition in 2010.

The inaugural Trans-Tasman 3MT was held at UQ in 2010 with 33 universities participating. In 2011, 43 universities were represented in the Trans-Tasman 3MT that was hosted by The University of Western Australia. Today students from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Hong Kong take part in their own regional events.

The University of Calgary held the first UCalgary3MT competition in 2013 with 44 participants from 14 departments. Participation and engagement has grown each year.

The University of Calgary hosted the first Western Canada 3MT competition* on May 2, 2014 . Many people came out or tuned-in to the live feed to watch the first Western Canada 3MT competition, where the top 3MT winners from the West competed against each other for a chance at participating in the first Canadian National competition at the end of May. The top finalists advanced to the first-ever Canadian National 3MT, hosted by  Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) .

*Participation in the Western Canada 3MT is open to Western Deans Agreement participating Universities hosting a local 3MT competition. Eligible participants are the winner of their local competition.

The University of Calgary hosted their first VIRTUAL competition in the summer of 2020.  After the original live event was cancelled to due Covid-19 restrictions, the virtual competition was revamped for summer 2020 to include new rules, virtual one-on-one feedback sessions, virtual workshops, and a D2L site with numerous resources to help students prepare for the competition. Instead of presenting to a live audience, graduate students recorded their talks, using a skill not needed in previous competitions. The National competition was not held in 2020.

Six University of Calgary 3MT winners have gone on to Canadian Nationals , including Elizabeth Watt (2015), Aprami Jaggi (2017), Chidera Nwaroh (2018), Laura Rios Carreno (2019), Julia St. Louis (2022) and Dana Lowry (2023). Both Elizabeth Watt and Chidera Nwaroh won Canadian Nationals, while Laura Rios Carreno won the People's Choice award at nationals.

For more information on the history and mission of 3MT, visit the official 3MT website . 

Watch past UCalgary 3MT talks

Ucalgary on the national stage.

To date, six UCalgary 3MT winners have qualified for Canadian Nationals resulting in two national champions and one national People's Choice award winner, making the University of Calgary the most accomplished institution in the history of Canada's 3MT competition.

2023 Western Regional Second Place Winner and Finalist, Canadian Nationals

Program: Kinesiology. Supervisor: Dr. Raylene Reimer De Bruyn, PhD.

Protection with prebiotics: An early life intervention to mitigate negative effects of antibiotics.

Watch Dana's 3MT video

Julia St. Louis

2022 western regional peoples' choice winner and finalist, canadian nationals.

Program: Nursing. Supervisor: Dr. Shane Sinclair, PhD

Learning experiences of NICU nurses in providing end-of-life care

Watch Julia's 3MT video

Laura Rios Carreno

2019 canadian national people's choice winner.

Program: Chemical and Petroleum Engineering. Supervisor: Dr. Martin Jasso, PhD.

Modification of Asphalt with Reactive Polymers for Quality Enhancement of the Pavement.

Watch Laura's 3MT video

Chidera Nwaroh

2018 canadian national champion.

Program: Medical Science. Supervisor: Dr. Ashley Harris, PhD.

A Virtual Biopsy: Detecting Metabolite Changes in the Brain.

Watch Chidera's 3MT video

Aprami Jaggi

2017 western regional champion and finalist, canadian nationals.

Program: Geoscience. Supervisors: Dr. Steve R. Larter, PhD and Dr. Thomas B.P. Oldenburn, PhD

The Ultimate Fate of Oil in the Marine Environment Following Spillage.

Watch Aprami's 3MT video

Elizabeth Watt

2015 canadian national champion.

Program: Physics and Astronomy. Supervisor: Dr. Tyler Meyer, PhD.

Permanent Breast Seed Implant: Improving Patient Experience in Early-stage Breast Cancer.

Watch Elizabeth's 3MT video

Learn more about communication skills for graduate students

The header image is the default header image for the site.

Mizzou 3 minute thesis (3mt).

2023 Mizzou 3MT® Competition will be IN PERSON on November 2, 2023 at 6 pm

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an international research communication competition, designed to help students improve public speaking skills with public audiences. At Mizzou, 3MT® is also a professional development program that includes training (storytelling workshop), practice sessions with feedback, and a public speaking competition.

The rules for the fall 3MT® competition are simple:

• You must be a  doctoral candidate  in a research-based   degree program.
• You will have 1 slide and 3 minutes to effectively explain your research to a lay (non-specialist) audience.

Learning Outcomes

The overarching aim of Mizzou 3MT® is for graduate students to acquire effective public speaking skills.

This professional development program includes storytelling training; presentation seminars; practice sessions with feedback; individual consultation with feedback; and a fall public speaking competition, Mizzou 3MT®.

A student who fully participates in the program will be able to:

• capture and hold the attention of a large audience;
• effectively use voice inflection, body language, and gestures to teach;
• create an educational visual aid in support of a presentation;
• deliver a message that will be retained by the audience; and
• articulate how their research benefits society (broader impacts).

Reaping the Benefits of Public Speaking

Conquering your fear of public speaking – and honing your talent – will set you apart on the job market: Multiple surveys have shown that verbal communication skills are in high demand by employers across job sectors.

Once you develop the ability to communicate your ideas effectively, you will be able to apply the skill during job interviews, conference presentations, classroom instruction, or pitching your innovation to potential investors.

Eligibility & Rules

Official 3MT® Eligibility According to the official 3MT® rules at the University of Queensland, “Active PhD and Professional Doctorate (Research) candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone ([i.e., comprehensive exams;] including candidates whose thesis is under submission) by the date of their first presentation are eligible to participate in 3MT competitions at all levels… Graduates are not eligible.”

Mizzou-specific 3MT® Eligibility

Mizzou’s 3MT® competition is open to all PhD candidates in research-based degree programs who:

• submitted the signed consent form that includes the support of their primary dissertation advisor;
• passed comprehensive examinations and have a signed D-3 form on file with the Graduate School;
• attend one of the mandatory Mizzou 3MT orientation sessions;
• complete Mizzou 3MT training & practice sessions  or  an equivalent public speaking program  or  a graduate course on research outreach; and
• meet all Mizzou 3MT deadlines.

Those who have successfully defended during the fall semester may still participate in 3MT, as Mizzou graduate degrees are not conferred until December commencement. Those who have have graduated are  not  eligible.

You MUST be available for orientation, and all competition rounds (based on the number of participants, it may be necessary to hold preliminary rounds, semifinals, and finals). If selected as one of the Mizzou’s 3MT® winners, competitors must also agree to (a) further professional development to hone presentation skills and (b) participate in a regional 3MT® competition in Spring 2024. Travel expenses will be paid for by the University.

The presentation must be made in English.

Official 3MT® Rules*

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations, or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed. 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. Competitors exceeding 3 minutes (i.e., those who continue to talk) are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g., no poems, spoken word performances, songs).
• Presentations are to commence from the stage (or front of the room).
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

*Additional rules for Mizzou’s 3MT® contest: When the planning committee notifies you of your presentation time (about a week before the competition), you must re-confirm your participation AND submit your single slide for the competition. Failure to confirm or submit your slide by the deadline will result in disqualification.

What to Expect

The Mizzou 3MT competition rounds will be held in a campus auditorium. Depending on the location we are able to reserve, you may be presenting from a stage, but without a podium. Your one slide will appear on a screen behind you. There are no microphones, so be prepared to speak loudly so that you can be heard and understood clearly.

Types of 3 MT Rounds

The number of contestants will dictate the number and type of rounds we hold. It is possible to have preliminary rounds, a semi-final round, and a 3MT final round.

Recommended Attire

We recommend professional or business attire. No jeans.  Truman’s Closet  is service for Mizzou students who wish to borrow business attire for special events and job interviews free of charge.

Procedure for all Rounds

• You  must  present your 3 minute speech during your assigned dates/times.
• On the date(s) of the competition, check in at the registration desk 45 minutes prior to your scheduled speaking time.
• We will ask you to sign a photo/video release. You may decline, but mark your form accordingly.
• Report to your presentation room 30 minutes prior to speaking. Check your presentation slide. (You submit your presentation slide at the time you confirm, so it will be pre-loaded onto a computer.)
• You must remain in the room until dismissed.
• A timekeeper will notify you when it is your time to present. Move to the front of the room.
• When the judges are ready, the timekeeper will tell you that you may commence with your presentation.
• Once you begin speaking, continue to deliver your entire speech. Even if you lose your place, the clock will continue to run. You cannot restart.
• The timekeeper will hold up a 30-second warning sign to let you know that you are nearing the 3 minute mark.
• The timekeeper will stop you at exactly 3 minutes.  At that point, all you can say is “thank you.”
• If you keep talking and exceed 3 minutes, you will be disqualified.
• After each round, the panel of judges will convene to make decisions.
• While the judges convene, you may leave the room. It is suggested that you stay nearby.

Announcement of Winners

• Everyone will be invited back into the room for to hear the judging results.
• At the preliminary rounds and semi-final rounds (if offered), the names of contestants who advance will be announced.
• At the final event, plaques and prizes will be awarded for first place, runner up, and People’s Choice award.
• The Mizzou 3MT winner will become eligible to represent the University of Missouri at regional and national competitions, expenses paid.
• Prizes will be processed after the event.

Judging and prizes

Official 3mt® judging criteria.

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

Criterion 1: 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, 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?

Criterion 2: Engagement & Communication

• 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?

How Judges will be Chosen

3MT® competitions help doctoral candidates fine-tune their public presentation skills with a long term goal of improving public scientific literacy. Toward this goal, competitors are required to present their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist (lay) audience. Therefore, the Mizzou 3MT planners have invited people from a variety of backgrounds to judge the competition.

Mizzou 3MT® Prizes

• First Place will receive a plaque and $500 in professional development funds. The first place contestant will represent Mizzou at a regional 3MT contest in March 2024. Travel expenses will be paid for by the University.
• Runner-up  will receive a plaque and $300 in professional development funds
• People’s Choice  will receive a plaque and a $200 in professional development funds.

Elements of successful presentations

What does it take to win 3mt®.

First,  understand the two official judging criteria because this is how your Mizzou 3MT® presentation will be scored by the judges.

Strategy:  When you practice your presentation in front of family, friends, faculty, or research colleagues, give them a copy of the judging criteria. Ask them to rate your presentation. They should be able to respond to  every  question with a “yes.” Of utmost importance: Your ability to explain your research without technical terms and jargon.

Second,  your slide must be engaging. It should enhance, not detract, from your educational message. Images should be top quality.

Strategy:   Ask your mentor, colleagues, and family to critique your slide. Do they respond favorably to the image(s)? Is any part of the slide confusing or difficult to see? Do they believe your slide enhances your public education message?

Third,  in a 3MT® competition, what you say will be important, but  how you deliver your message  will be the key to winning.

Strategy:  Critique several research-related presentations designed for public audiences. Identify what makes certain public speakers more effective than others, then practice those skills. As you watch and listen, ask these questions:

• Note: At the start, what did the speaker say and do to  immediately  capture the audience’s attention?
• Listen: How did the speaker’s tone, volume and tempo help sustain audience interest?
• Observe: How did the speaker use eye contact, hand gestures, and/or body movement to emphasize points?
• Evaluate: Did the presenter avoid jargon and explain technical terms?
• Assess: How did the speaker make the research both meaningful and memorable for the audience?

Helpful Handouts and PowerPoints on 3MT®

Simon Clews from University of Melbourne:  Making the most of your three minutes.

Danielle Fisher from UCSD  10 Hints for Improving Presentations for the Three Minute Thesis Competition

Dr. Inger Mewburn from ANU:  “How to win the 3 minute thesis ”

UQ GradSchool:  3MT Student Handbook  see pp. 9 & 10

Flinders University:  Hot tips for students

Training, practice & events

See information at the top of the page for: Information Sessions, Orientations, and Practice Sessions

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility questions: candidacy, required forms, and defense dates.

Are  all  degree candidates eligible?

To be eligible, you must be actively pursing a  research-based  doctoral (PhD) degree. Master’s students are  not eligible. For this current competition, you must have your or D3 (doctoral) form and advisor consent form on file by the stated deadline.

What is the D3 Form?

These are forms that  officially  document you have reached candidacy status toward earning a degree. Once you have passed comprehensive examinations, the D3 must be filed with the Graduate School. Check with your degree program office for more information.

I’ve already defended. Am I still eligible to participate? 

Yes. In accordance with official policy, you remain a degree candidate until the next commencement (in December), when your degree will be conferred. If you have already graduated, you are not able to participate.

I have my candidacy meeting scheduled after the registration deadline. Can I still participate?

Yes, as long as your D3 form is turned in to the Graduate School no later than 5 PM on the deadline.

I have plenty of research data, but I have not yet reached candidacy (i.e. no D3 has been filed). Will I be able to participate?

No. To participate, you must be a degree  candidate  (with a D3 form on file) by the deadline.

Eligibility Questions: Master’s and International Students

Are international doctoral candidates eligible? What if English is not my native language?

Yes, international students at Mizzou who are degree candidates in research-based graduate degree programs are eligible. The three minute presentation must be made in English.

Can master’s students who are pursuing research-based degrees participate? 

No. However, due to popular demand by students, we hope to create a Master’s Division in the future.

Application Questions

Why do I need my advisor’s signature on the Consent Form?

In some disciplines, research findings must be embargoed until the study is published. This is especially true of students working in classified labs. We need to make certain that your advisor is aware, and approves, of your participation in this event.

Competition Questions

What is the dress code? 

Dress is either business casual or business attire. No jeans, please! Here’s why: Mizzou 3MT® is a key professional development event for research-based degree candidates. Because of the significance, it is most appropriate for participants to dress as a professional – no different than attending a disciplinary conference or job interview. Another consideration: professional attire can potentially enhance your stage presence, especially because all of our judges are professionals too.

If cost for professional attire is prohibitive, Truman’s Closet is service for Mizzou students who wish to borrow business attire for special events and job interviews.

Do I have to use a slide as part of my presentation?

Yes, because the effectiveness of your visual is part of the judging criterion. Remember that the slide is static: No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed. Also, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration. Deadline: Submit your slide as a pdf file to [email protected] by the published deadline. Note: If you move forward in the competition, you must use the same slide (i.e., you cannot modify your slide during the Mizzou competition.)

Do the judges “favor” presentations by STEM students over those in the social sciences or humanities?

Not at all! The competition is open to all research-based degree programs. The judges follow the official scoring criteria when making their decisions. No preference is given to one discipline over another.

Will you have separate rounds for life sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, etc.?

At Mizzou 3MT, everyone competes together. In the future, if the competition grows substantially, we may offer disciplinary preliminaries.

Why are people from higher education on the judging panel?

As you know, our intent with Mizzou 3MT is to select a winner who can best describe research to a lay (public) audience. Thus, we make every attempt to find people in the local community (outside of higher education) to serve as judges. This proved to be a challenge, so we also invited faculty and administrators from inside higher education to serve as judges. That said, all judges are volunteers (not paid) and they do their best to follow the scoring criteria. Be assured that they are committed to spirit and intent of the Mizzou 3MT competition.

Will I get to see the judges’ comments?

No, for several reasons. Foremost, Mizzou 3MT® is a professional development, public speaking program that culminates with a competition event. The training sessions (e.g., storytelling) we offer in the months prior to the event are designed for you to practice and receive constructive feedback in order to improve your public speaking skills. The second consideration is our volunteer judges, many of whom prefer to keep their comments confidential.

Remember that the results of any judged competition is based on subjective opinion. A 3 minute presentation that resonates with one judge may not appeal as much to second or third judge.

Tip:  Please seek feedback on your slide, content, and presentation style  before  the competition. In the past, many of the finalists took advantage of the storytelling training and/or practice session. Their success proves it pays to practice!

Who Won at Mizzou?

2019 winners.

Amir Mofrad (left); Clarissa Steele (center); Majid Mufaqam Syed Abdul (right)

Majid Abdul’s speech, titled Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Role of Sugars, earned him the first place title in Mizzou’s 2019 3 Minute Thesis Competition. Majid is a doctoral candidate in the Nutrition Sciences program. Clarissa Steele , doctoral candidate in Management, came in second place with her speech titled Taking Care of Business. Amir Mofrad , doctoral candidate in Chemical Engineering won the People’s Choice Award with his speech titled Exploring Computational Materials Science.

Other 3MT Contestants:

• Bitty Balducci, Marketing
• Lauren Borkowski, Biomedical Sciences
• Parijat Ghosh, Rural Sociology
• Nathan Katz, Sociology
• Jason McKinney, Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
• Amir Mofrad, Chemical Engineering
• Meredith Shaw, Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
• Lisa Shepard, Physics
• Haejung Shin, Communication
• Clarissa Steele, Management
• Levi Storks, Biological Sciences
• Majid Mufaqam Syed Abdul, Nutrition Sciences
• Al Willsey, Philosophy

Judges for the evening were: Dr. Gavin King, Associate Professor, Physics and Biochemistry; Dr. Susan Renoe, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research, Extension, & Engagement; Eric Stann, Research News Strategist, MU News Bureau

Emcees for the evening were Kasey Lynch & Blake Willoughby, Theatre.

2018 Winners

Electrical Nerve Stimulation: Improving Voice after Injury was the title Megan Haney chose to introduce her speech, which earned her the title of 2018 Mizzou 3 Minute Thesis winner. Megan was a doctoral candidate in Pathobiology Area Program. Second place winner was Clarissa Steele, Business Administration. Audience members voted Li Lee from Biomedical Imaging the People’s Choice winner.

Other 3MT contestants:

Ghazwan Alwan, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Michael, Appenteng, Chemistry Glenn Baker, Psychological Sciences Josh Bramlett, Communication Mary Decker, Special Education Megan Haney, Area Pathobiology Briana Kille, Psychological Sciences Li Lee, Biomedical Imagine Tareq Lehmidi, Pathobiology Area Rayne Lim, Biomedical Sciences Deanna Maynard, Special Education Aditi Mishra, Biological Sciences Marco Navarro, Biological Sciences Tunde Ojewola, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Joel Reed, Communication Clarissa Steele, Business Administration Anna Valiavska, Organizational Communication Sangkwon Woo, Anthropology Nasibeh, Zanjirani Farahani, Industrial Engineering & Manufacturing Systems

Judges for the evening were Dr. Jeni Hart, Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Vice Provost for Advanced Studies; Dr. Susan Renoe, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research, Extension, and Engagement; and Dr. Sheila Grant, Associate Vice Chancellor of Research and Strategic Initiatives.

Emcees for the evening were Kate Busselle and Blake Willoughby, Theatre

2017 Winners

Can You Avoid a Colonoscopy? Using Bacteria to Detect and Treat Colon Cancer That was the message delivered by the 2017 Mizzou 3 Minute Thesis winner Susheel Bhanu Busi , a doctoral candidate in Molecular Pathogenesis and Therapeutics. Audience members also voted Susheel as the People’s Choice winner! Second place was awarded to Freddie Jennings , a doctoral candidate in Communication.    

• Nettie Brock, Communication. A Thousand TV Shows.  Mentor: Dr.  Ben Warner.   
• Ryan Dibala, Natural Resources. Trees Providing Forage for Livestock. Mentor: Dr. Shibu Jose.
• Anna Perinchery, Biological Sciences. You are what you eat! Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth King.
• Zach Rubin, Sociology. Lifestyle and Activism: The Key Ingredients. Mentor: Dr. Victoria Johnson.
• Lisa Groshong, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. Climate change doesn’t care. Mentor: Dr. Sonja Wilhelm Stanis.
• Liga Wuri, Animal Science. Vitrification for Fertility Preservation. Mentor: Dr. Yuksel Agca.
• Alex Howe, Philosophy. Citizenship Goes to the Dogs. Mentor: Dr. Peter Vallentyne.

Judges for the evening were Provost Garnett Stokes; Dr. Jeni Hart, Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Vice Provost for Advanced Studies; and Dr. Keven McDonald, UM System Chief Diversity Officer & MU Vice Chancellor for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity.

MC for the evening was Rachel Bauer, doctoral candidate in Theatre.

2016 Winners

First place winner was Jacqueline Gamboa (middle); second place Dr. Michael K. Fink (right), and People’s Choice Megan Sheridan (left).

2015 Winners

About 3MT® worldwide

Three  Minute  Thesis  (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by The  University of Queensland  (UQ) in Australia. The exercise challenges doctoral* candidates to present a compelling oration on their thesis (dissertation) topic and its significance in just three minutes.

3MT® develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development of research students’ capacity to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

View 3MT® presentations

To view winning presentations from around the world, go to the  3MT® Showcase  on the official UQ site.

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Preparing for Grad Slam Step-by-Step

I’m interested, but i have no idea where to start.

Don’t worry, GradPro is here to help! There are a variety of resources available to help you prepare for the Grad Slam competition. Walk through these four steps on your own, using the online resources below, or attend GradPro’s workshops to help you develop and prepare your speech and your video submissions.

December 2023: Study the Grad Slam Rules and Watch Some Sample Talks

• Read this page thoroughly to make sure you understand the rules. Then, watch previous Grad Slam videos, both from the UC Berkeley campus competition and the UC systemwide competition (from disciplines as varied as metabolic biology, sociology, and earth & planetary sciences, and more).
• Analyze the content and structure of several talks; choose some that are from your own discipline, and some from unrelated fields.
• Attend a Grad Slam Information and Prep Session hosted by GradPro on Thursday, December 14, 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m . , or Monday, December 18, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

December 2023: Create a Compelling Story about Your Research

• Within any research project, there are many compelling stories to tell. A successful Grad Slam talk tells a single, clear, engaging narrative from start to finish. This could mean telling the story of why your research is exciting to you; it could mean connecting your research to ideas or experiences familiar to the general public; it could mean explaining why your research is urgent and impactful. Read the disciplinary resources below to see a variety of different, successful strategies and write out your talk and prepare your slides.

January 2024: Memorize, Practice, and Record Your Presentation

• As former Grad Slam champion, Joe Charbonnet, put it, public speaking is “a psychomotor skill, not an innate talent.” Take some time to learn tips and techniques that can make you a better speaker. Then, practice and get lots of feedback! View the presentation resources below, attend a session of Toast of Berkeley (a Toastmasters club), or recruit a friend to be your sounding board.

January 2024: Submit your application

The Deadline for video submissions using this APPLICATION FORM is January 31, 2023, 11:59 p.m. (PST)

Disciplinary Resources on Communicating to Wider Audiences:

• TED Talks You Should Be Watching from the American Historical Association
• SciComm Blog , from PLOS
• Object Lessons series, from The Atlantic and the National Endowment for the Humanities
• LSE Impact Blog , from the London School of Economics and Political Science

Resources for Humanists and Social Scientists:

• Interview with Alberto Sanchez Sanchez (Ph.D. student, Architecture): Read about Alberto’s experience competing in Grad Slam.
• Lilith Acadia, Rhetoric
• Alberto Sanchez-Sanchez, Architecture
• David Wheeler, Ancient History and Mediterranean Archaeology
• Marissa Stevens, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures
• Leslie Rith-Najarian, Psychology

Tips for Very Short Presentations:

• Making the Most of Your Three Minutes for 3MT: The Three Minute Thesis by Simon Clews, Director, Writing Centre, University of Melbourne
• Top Ten Tips for Writing and Delivering Very Brief Speeches by Bill Cole, Founder and CEO of William B. Cole Consultants
• Guidelines and Tips for Five-Minute Presentations , by Department of History, University of Chicago

Presentation and Public Speaking Tips:

• How to Talk like TED by Carmine Gallo, Article by Guy Kawasaki
• 10 Most Common Rookie Mistakes in Public Speaking by Terry Gault, Managing Partner and Vice President of the Henderson Group
• Giving an Academic Talk by Jonathan Shewchuk, Associate Professor in Computer Science, University of California at Berkeley
• “Giving Oral Presentations,” from English Communication for Scientists by Jean-luc Doumont (ed.), Nature (2010)

Need inspiration? Watch these talks:

• TED Talks : “ Fascinating History ”
• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “ The Danger of a Single Story ”
• Jill Bolte Taylor, “ My Stroke of Insight ”
• Hans Rosling, “ The Best Stats You’ve Ever Seen ”
• Ph.D. Comics Two-Minute Thesis : Ph.D. Comics challenged graduate students to explain their work in two minutes – the best have been turned into videos!

• Back to Hood.edu

3MT Winner Spotlight | Amanda Wise

"The BMS program allowed me the flexibility and freedom to learn about the things I love for the joy of learning and expanding my skillset, with more opportunity for experimentation."

Amanda Wise, M.S. Biomedical Science

• Biomedical Science (M.S.)
• Graduate School
• Graduate Student
• Biomedical & Environmental Graduate Programs

Amanda Wise is a current graduate student in the biomedical science M.S. program at Hood College. Wise also works as a senior quality assurance specialist. Before Hood, Wise graduated from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s in biology.

This semester, she participated in the  3-Minute Thesis  (3MT) Competition and won first prize at the event. We spoke with Wise about her experiences in the graduate school, and what it was like to present her thesis at 3MT.

Could you briefly explain your career and educational background?

I received my bachelor’s in biology from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, and after graduation, I entered the world of biotechnology. I began my career as a quality control microbiologist and later transferred into quality assurance. My current job entails assessing production lots of clinical trial materials to ensure patient safety. I have been fortunate to witness the cutting edge of progress in the development of Ebola virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus and HIV therapeutics or vaccines.

What drew you to Hood College?

Hood College is not only local to me as a Frederick resident, but it also drew me in based on the program offerings. When I was considering graduate school, I was split between pursing a degree in public health or a degree in biomedical science. I chose Hood College because the variety of science courses was very attractive to me as were the small class sizes and virtual options.

What interested you about the biomedical science (BMS) program? 

The BMS program offers students the opportunity to tailor their coursework to their academic and professional goals. Biotechnology is a very regulated industry in order to ensure the health of the world’s citizens, but the restrictive environment can come at a cost.

It is more difficult to pursue knowledge for the sake of understanding, rather than a strict parameter-based approach. The BMS program allowed me the flexibility and freedom to learn about the things I love for the joy of learning and expanding my skillset, with more opportunity for experimentation. I have learned so much in this program and feel so much more confident in myself and my career.

Could you briefly describe the thesis you presented?

My thesis focuses on a specific human papillomavirus (HPV): HPV67. 

HPV67 is related to extremely carcinogenic (cancer-causing) HPVs, but almost never causes cancer. I am seeking to understand what is different about HPV67 on a genetic level and to understand what sets it apart from carcinogenic HPVs.

What preparations did you do for the 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition?

I prepared for the 3MT in many different ways. I attended the practice session that  Dean April Boulton set up. I brought a totally different slide to the practice session than the one I presented on the night of the competition thanks to the helpful feedback from Dean Boulton. I found previous 3MT winner presentations on the Hood website and watched those to try to understand what made for concise and exciting presentation.

Additionally, I typed out my entire talk and practiced speaking it out loud to grasp if the presentation had a good flow. Lastly, I tried to read my presentation with the mindset of a complete beginner and eliminated anything that was too technical and simplified concepts that were too complicated.

Overall, what was the competition like? Do you have any takeaways from it?

I have never attended a 3MT competition before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was relieved to find out I was the third person to present, as I was so nervous! 

Once my talk was over, I was so glad to relax and be able to learn about all of the exciting research being done by my peers. My biggest takeaway from the night is that Hood has a cohort of dedicated, inspiring students who will be assets to their fields.

Would you have any advice for people interested in participating in the next 3MT Competition?

My advice would be to attend the practice session! Dean Boulton gives helpful tips about presenting and will give you feedback that can’t be missed. I would recommend practicing the presentation in the space you will present from, that way it doesn’t feel so foreign on the night of the competition.

My biggest tip is to tell the people who care about you that you are presenting. I was hesitant to invite anyone to the competition because I was so afraid that I would mess up. It turned out that having the support of my loved ones and my thesis adviser made me feel braver and more confident. They celebrated the success right along with me, and that felt as good as winning.

Are there any fun facts or trivia about yourself that you would like to share?

I enjoy reading and especially love reading books to my honorary niece, Addison. In my spare time you’ll find me hanging out with my boyfriend and my pets. My fantasy job is to be an astrobiologist and explore the potential for life on exoplanets.

Encouraged by Amanda’s success at the 3MT Competition? Ready to  #GOFURTHER  in your career? Learn more about Hood College’s graduate programs, such as  biomedical science , by clicking  here .

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Economic Outlook

Shaheen 3MT Competition at the University of Notre Dame

Season 19 Episode 18 | 26m 46s  |  Video has closed captioning.

Students at the University of Notre Dame are doing important research in a wide variety of fields. Recently graduate students competed in the 3MT competition, where students had 3 minutes to convey the essence of their research to many outside their fields of study. We’ll dive deeper into the competition with this year’s winners, coming up on Economic Outlook.

Aired: 04/30/24

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Hi, I'm Jeff Rea, your host for Economic Outlook.

Welcome to our program.

We hope you enjoy the show.

Please make plans each week to join us as we discuss the region's most important economic development initiatives with a panel of experts.

Students of the University of Notre Dame are doing important research in a wide variety of fields.

Recently, graduate students competed in the 3MT competition, where students had three minutes to convey the essence of their research to many outside of their fields of study.

We'll dive deeper into the competition, with this year's winners coming up on economic outlook.

Notre Dame recently hosted the 2024 Shaheen 3MT competition on campus, where graduate students from a wide variety of fields had an opportunity to convey the essence of their research and findings to people outside their field.

Each student had three minutes to frame the research and its findings, and convey why it mattered to a panel of judges and a large audience of students, faculty, and the community.

We're sitting down with the winners and organizers today to hear more about the competition.

Joining me for that conversation are Mary Ann McDowell, the associate dean for professional development at the Graduate School at the University of Notre Dame.

Henry Downes, a PhD student in economics at the University of Notre Dame and first place winner of the 3MT competition, and Josephine Lechartre, a PhD student in peace studies and political science at the University of Notre Dame and a second place winner in the 3MT competition.

That was a mouthful, guys.

Thank you for coming and being here today.

We really appreciate it.

Had a chance to be a part of it.

Got to see you both.

do your presentation.

You did a phenomenal job.

So excited to have you here today to talk a little bit more about it just for framing of of for our viewers.

Mary Ann, let me come to your way.

And maybe just a quick introduction, sort of who you are and what you do at the university.

Sure, sure.

I'm the associate dean for professional development in the grad school, as you said, and my role is to promote professional development among our graduate students.

And part of that is running the 3MT competition, as well as providing a variety of services grant writing, consultation, writing work, and other opportunities.

I'm also a professor of biological sciences, and so I work on infectious diseases and I'm part of the Institute for Global Health.

Appreciate it.

Good to have you here.

So, Henry, I'll give you a quick introduction.

Student in economics.

But give us tell us a little bit more about Henry.

So I'm a fifth year student.

So getting close to the end now.

but I'm originally from the Hartford, Connecticut area.

I did my undergrad at the University of Alabama.

worked some odd jobs for a while.

Came back to school here in 2019, and, I work mostly in, economic history, but I also have some work in housing and more contemporaneous policy settings.

We're good.

I'm glad to have you here.

So just fine.

How about you?

So tell us a little about yourself.

so I'm a recent PhD, actually just defended my dissertation, in studies in political science, and I am from France originally, where I did my undergrad and came here for the PhD at Notre Dame.

And I'm mostly a scholar of political violence.

So trying to understand how experiences of violence actually affect the political engagement of survivors.

And I'm also interested in solving things.

So in conflict resolution and peacebuilding as well.

Great, good.

Well, a terrific panel.

So we'll talk a little bit more about Mary Ann let me come back your way.

So maybe talk more before we get into more talk more globally about just research at Notre Dame.

It feels like in recent years there's a lot more attention to research that's happening on campus and different things students are doing.

Could you just give us a a snapshot of some of the stuff, your work or some of that work?

So certainly since I've been at the university since 2001 and we've increased our, grant revenue substantially since that time, which supports, research across the institution, a lot of that in science and engineering.

But that, includes social sciences and humanities as well.

at Notre Dame, the bulk of the research actually is conducted by graduate students, as opposed to some universities, like maybe medical schools, where there would be postdoctoral fellows that are in the workforce.

so we benefit greatly from that.

so they learn how to do research, whatever their field is.

But mostly it's to critically think, and so they may not go and become a professor somewhere, but they go into all sorts of fields and it just gives them, a real ability to evaluate literature data, and make, decisions that are informed.

Them can be very technical about your journey and coming here.

What was it about, the University of Notre Dame that attracted you to come here and do your, do your graduate studies?

So I before coming back to school, I had worked some in the nonprofit world, so I'd work for an affordable housing nonprofit, and I'd worked for Medicaid in Tennessee.

and so I was really interested in kind of working in policy settings where you could really try to help disadvantaged communities.

but I didn't feel like I had the skills always to make the kind of difference that I wanted to make.

And so, I was really drawn by Notre Dame's emphasis on research, especially in our department and economics, which is what I can speak to the most of research that's kind of for the common good.

there's, the lab for Economic Opportunities is housed within Notre Dame's econ department, and that that had a ton of opportunities for graduate students to get involved in cutting edge research that was directly in conjunction with community partners that were making a difference for folks.

And so it was kind of just econ with a conscience, in a way.

And so that was, if the fit felt really good.

And when I came and visited, it was just a great culture here at Notre Dame.

So I've, I've really enjoyed it here.

And just feeling similar questions.

So tell us about your journey that brought you here to Notre Dame to do research.

I came here after working in Columbia.

I worked on, I worked in an advocacy organization that helped victims of the armed conflict in Columbia that has, gone through a 70 year civil war that recently came to an end.

And so I was helping the victims, claim their rights after after the end of the armed conflict.

And as I was doing this work there, I stumbled upon the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies here at Notre Dame, which is one of the institutions that is ensuring that the peace agreement is being implemented properly in Colombia.

And I was really seduced by the idea of coming to the United States and, doing that work for peace and justice.

And as Henry was saying, work for good in the community.

And so getting engaged on the project that the university has to, monitor the implementation of peace, but also help victims of the armed conflict and, also the strong, emphasis at Notre Dame on Latin American studies at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, and in general, just this, this vibrant community engagement that they're trying to promote.

We're glad to have you both here.

So thank you.

And we'll get into a little bit more of your research in a second.

Mary Ann let me come back your way.

So, so so we teased a little bit about 3MT, but those watching don't know what that was.

I didn't honestly know what it was until I had a chance to be involved this year.

Give us a, tell us a little bit more about that.

Sure it is.

It stands for three minute thesis competition.

That started in the University of Queensland, in 2008 and quickly spread.

It's now being run in over 600 universities, across, I don't know, 65 different countries.

And the goal of it is for researchers to be able to describe, make their research accessible, maintaining the the importance of it, but making it accessible for the broad, community, which I think the, the pandemic certainly, highlighted that, researchers sometimes have a problem doing that.

So we really promote that in, our education policy, to help students articulate their work, you know, to their crazy uncle at Christmas or, or someone in the grocery store line, to just, so people can understand the relevance and so speak a little bit to just, maybe ahead of this year, just the last, what, 7 or 8 years?

I think you've you've been doing that.

What what was the experience like some of your winners or anything you can share about just sort of the competition before this year?

It's always just amazing the diversity.

And, I learn a lot every time.

a lot of times we do have science and engineering people win, and partially that's the structure that we have.

It set up the preliminary rounds.

it's partly the structure of the university.

so I think that'll be changing in the future.

the winner.

So we have three winners, first place and second place, and then the People's choice, the winner goes on to a regional competition, which Henry had the, opportunity to participate in.

and so it's fantastic.

And we'd love the community to come out next year.

You know, I think what amazed me a little bit, just the range of fields is history.

It's economics, it's biochemistry, it's chemistry.

It's, a lot of different, things and many topics are above my, understanding level.

And so I love the topic of sort of how do you make this, make it make this understandable.

So Henry let me come your way.

So, so let's let's talk first, maybe more specifically about your your research before we talk about your experience sort of in the competition a little bit.

But so tell us about, the, the research that you were doing that you presented on at the competition.

So, I mentioned I came to Notre Dame because I was really interested in kind of contemporary policy context.

And then I became, also interested in economic history, which is most of what I spend my time on now.

And so, at in the econ department, we take field courses.

one of those courses that I took was in economic demography.

And so we learned a lot about, the economic determinants of why people get married, have kids or why they don't.

And one of the things that I became really interested in was this really important, sort of pivotal social cultural phenomenon in the 20th century in the US and also in other countries, which was the baby boom, and the fact that economists and other social scientists just frankly didn't have, consensus on what caused it.

And so I started I have a somewhat history background.

And so I was thinking about this other things that were going on during that time.

And I think the story that most people have in their heads about the baby boom is, World War II ended, soldiers came home, they got married, got a house with the GI Bill, started filling it up with lots of kids.

and that for sure happened to an extent.

my grandparents had a story kind of like that, but actually the birth rates were increasing about 10 to 15 years before the end of World War II, which is, has been noted, but it hasn't sort of been no one's sort of close the loop on what was causing that.

And so, where I came in is I have basically a new hypothesis that I introduced, which has to do with the rise of labor movement in the US.

And so the first thing you should ask is like, well, what exactly do labor unions have to do with fertility?

but really it's it's about labor unions to an extent, but really it's about economic precariousness.

So the to the extent that labor unions were effective in reducing economic precariousness for folks in this period through higher wages, through better job security, through pension plans, health insurance, other fringe benefits.

These are really important factors for folks in this period.

And if you think about the decision to get married, buy a house, have kids, a lot of that is going to be downstream of just your level of economic security.

And so my work is really just putting together these two literatures, one that says that, you know, unions are doing certain things, and then one that says that these are the determinants of fertility.

And then, trying to see how much of the baby boom can be explained by this, the rise of the movement.

I love the title.

Did Organized Labor Induce labor was very catchy there.

So yeah, I've got two little ones at home, so maybe, I borrowed from some of the jargon that I was hearing as they were prepping for deliveries and things like that.

I love it, it caught my attention.

Yeah, guys, we're gonna leave the studio real quick.

We're going out into the field.

George Lepeniotis we sent him to campus to do some additional research for us over there.

George, let me toss it to you.

Thanks, Jeff.

I'm here on the University of Notre Dame's campus, and I'm joined by a PhD candidate, Amandhi Mathews.

Amandhi thank you for being with us.

Amandhi you have a special relationship with my co-host, Jeff Rea, but we'll get there in a right before we get to that, let's talk a little bit about your journey and what brought you here.

You originally from Sri Lanka and you came to United States to get an education.

You started off at, in Texas, is that right?

And what was your undergraduate in?

So I did my bachelor's in biology at the University of Dallas.

it's a very small liberal arts school.

had a wonderful time there.

I wanted to stay in research, and I applied to graduate school right after, and then I came back to nerdy.

That's awesome.

So you are in the process of your PhD?

they call that a doctorate, right?

And you're in your third year.

And you are doing as part of that program, you have to do some research and you've chosen a real specific topic, haven't you?

What is it that you're focusing on?

So I'm very interested in understanding how neurons form sensory circuits very early in development.

So a lot of my work is basic biology, but it really is the foundation of the kind of work that helps you build therapies against things like neurodevelopmental disorders, that originate later in life.

so I look at how these sensory neurons kind of navigate all the way to the spinal cord and make these circuits that help you to sense and like, take stimuli from your environment, which is a really important process for survival.

Is it fair to say that the human nervous system is still somewhat misunderstood?

And that injuries or disease can cause real major concerns.

So your hope is to go all the way back to the beginning, right.

to understand how it's formed.

Because understanding the the molecules and the genetic paradigms that are important for the proper formation of the nervous system is really the blueprint of the nervous system.

So in order to you, for us to construct a building, we need to know how the blueprint is.

and that's kind of primarily what my lab does in the kind of work that I do.

And we didn't come with a blueprint, unfortunately, by the way.

So you are in the process of recreating or helping to recreate the blueprint of our of our nervous system.

Now, recently, you took part in the competition, right.

And tell me a little bit about that competition.

What was it, what was it called?

it was called three minute pieces competition.

And essentially you present, your work in three minutes to a very general audience.

and like, you know, a lot of people think that it's easy to talk about your science, if you're given a short time, but it's actually harder because you have to kind of focus in on the most important aspects and tell people why it matters.

and then you have to kind of cut out all the scientific jargon.

but it was really fun kind of curating my three minute talk and then being able to talk to this really big audience and have all my friends and colleagues there, and compete together with other people from different departments and hear about their stories.

And that was here at the university.

And I hear you did very well.

Yes, I did win the People's Choice Award.

so it was truly, I guess, exciting.

And it was just nice to have all my people there.

So do you feel like was the more difficult part condensing the science or making it digestible for those of us that have no real clue what you're talking about?

I think a little bit of both.

I think the part that I really enjoyed was kind of that curation process.

Like, how do I tell a story that's scientifically accurate and representative of the work that I do, but at the same time very accessible.

And I think, like, it kind of hones a muscle that as scientists, we don't always do.

so really thankful to geneticist and honestly, I guess I enjoyed both parts of that.

And as I said, my co-host Jeff was one of the judges.

And, he actually sent me out here to talk to you because he said you were amazing and a great story.

And it was a real refreshing, presentation that you put on, as you look to the future now and, you know, I say that the three minute thesis is a great competition because it is oftentimes we find ourselves doing what I call the elevator pitch, right where we are telling people what we do quickly.

But yet those small conversations can often lead to larger connections, opportunities for growth.

So but looking to your future, where do you see yourself going?

so I really love the work that I'm doing.

and I think at my center and really committed to service.

So I want to give back to the community the science that I do.

and part of that also is mentorship.

Like, I really enjoy being able to kind of talk to the next generation of scientists and like, be a part of that training.

So I think, like kind of centering on what I care about.

I see myself going into academia and being a faculty member.

but I do see also myself, like staying in research, and continue to work in neuroscience, using zebrafish, which is the animal model that I use for my work, in the progress of my work.

So, yeah, we mentioned you mentioned that before going on air, that the zebrafish is very closely related to our anatomy.

We share like 70% of genetic homology, which is like simultaneous with zebrafish.

So it makes it a really wonderful, model organism.

Study things like neurodevelopment.

And that's awesome.

Well, I'm glad you found a place here at Notre Dame.

And I'm glad that, we got to know you.

And thank you for telling us a little bit more about your stuff.

Jeff, back to you in the studio.

I'm sure you knew already, but it's great to see that zebrafish are helping us build a blueprint to the human body.

So appreciate that.

Look at what's going on on campus.

And again, some great research for one of our other award winners.

So Josephine, let me come back to you.

And so as we were right for a break, we were talking to Henry a little bit about his research.

And so I got to in the session here lot about yours, but help our audience understand a little bit about the research you're doing on campus.

so I am interested in general in how being exposed to violence affects people willingness to engage in politics.

So do people who experience violence vote more or less engaging in protest, engaging in civic associations, etc..

So how do people really react to political violence and how does this impact their political engagement in the aftermath?

And the research I presented at the 3MT competition had to do with refugees.

So I talked about how refugees experience of violence and then their lives.

They live in refugee camps, affect their long term political engagements.

And something that I thought was interesting is that I found that whenever the refugees had more input into designing policies for the administration of refugee camps, they became more engaged as well.

They became more engaged citizens.

And I believe this has really important implications, because a lot of refugees are, in refugee camps for a very long time, and the refugee crisis is only continuing globally.

And as they withdraw from those refugee camps, as they resettle somewhere else, they, actually undertake more, civic engagement when they have had this experience, of participation in refugee camps than when they have not.

And so this is really important to know what kind of citizens the refugees are going to be, in the long term, as we're thinking about whether they're going to be returning home or settling somewhere else, like the U.S, for instance.

So some phenomenal, topics there, and I appreciate it.

So so let's talk for a second.

just about what's next.

So so just final state.

We'll stay with you for a second.

So you so you have been doing this research or finishing your studies?

what do you want to do next or what?

What are you thinking about?

so some exciting news for me.

I'm going to be moving to New Orleans this summer.

I will be a postdoctoral researcher at Tulane, where I will keep working on this, refugee work.

And how about you?

So I have one more year here.

and then they're going to be, I'll be on the job market, and so I'll be applying broadly, but, hoping to get a job as an academic economist somewhere.

Sounds good.

Come back your way.

So let's talk competition in particular because because both of you are doing sort of a lot of research and you sort of got to boil this down into something very distinct, and you've got to be able to connect with an audience like me who isn't quite as smart and doesn't understand all these just just walk us through that process of how you, how you're kind of trying to get your arms around the most important things and then convey that to, to an audience.

Yeah, it's it's really something that we as academics, I think, don't practice as much as we should.

And and it's not something that most folks are, intuitively have a grasp for how to do it.

And so because usually, like if we have a paper, we'll write an abstract or an intro.

And that's concise usually, but it can have a lot of jargon and it might not be accessible.

And so I think you have to start from an empathetic perspective, kind of like you're teaching like if you're teaching undergrads, they're all smart, but they might not know the exact topic that you're about to lecture them on.

As much as, you know, you think.

So, so I think part of being a good teacher, too, is about having that empathy and thinking about what are the parts that I need to give them to make sure that they get interested and excited and, and the hook, how to how you know they're going to want to learn if I can get them hooked on this topic.

And so I think you can kind of channel that inner teacher mindset and that can help a lot.

And we'll, we'll, we'll ask you to build upon that a little bit, because you too have sort of a pretty complicated topic that you have to, to narrow down and, and have a, an uninformed audience.

not uninformed, but maybe not not as knowledgeable about the topic.

tucked into that mindset, I think the, the difficulties to make it accessible without simplifying too much because you don't want to lose the substance or make sure that, you know, people get the the important stuff of your research.

But more than that, I also think we have a duty as academics to make our research accessible.

Part of our research is funded through public money.

So I think it's important personally that, the people who contribute to that research, who their taxpaying money or, or participate as research participants, get something back and actually understand what we're doing, at universities behind the walls of, of Notre Dame that actually benefits the greater public.

And in fact, something I like to say to my family said, everything in our lives is research.

It's based on research, the TV we're on, the the chairs we're sitting on everything.

At some point was research.

So this is really important for us to convey that so that people know what we're doing, but also why it's important that we do the type of research to improve everyone's lives.

Henry, some people are more comfortable than others in front of an audience, sort of articulating different things.

You sort of need to do both, right?

Because you could be sort of the the best writer in the world, but also, so to speak, a little bit to, to that need to kind of have the communication skill in addition to the writing, research, thinking brain there.

Yeah, I think it's just a lot of practice.

I think probably there are some folks that are naturally, more inclined than others.

But at the end of the day, some of the best talks that I've seen in academics settings are, again, they're they're actually quite accessible and they're by people that just practice a lot.

And I think, that's as people get more experience, you know, you'd think maybe they don't practice as much.

But it actually, I, I think it's the case that the people just really need, to keep working on, their delivery.

There's so many little nuances of connecting with a large audience, that are quite different from an academic talk.

And so, I think all of the contestants in the 3MT competition, did a really good job with, with practicing a lot and then and then doing it on the big stage.

You know, as interesting as the clock is, is ticking down and your head is going through, I still got to get information done.

Talk about the pressure of sort of, of, of staying on task, getting that information out.

But the clock ticking at the same.

Well, I must say, that's probably one of the most stressful things I've done.

being on stage in front of an audience, having this pressure of the clock.

So, as Henry said, it was heavy preparation.

I even went to the room of the competition beforehand to, you know, be on stage and do my speech and make sure, things worked and not try not to move too much on stage.

And, so I would say practice, practice, practice.

And I've had professors tell me that they've been teaching for 30 years, and any time they teach a new class or they in front of a new class room, or they're in one of the settings where they have to present, they get a little nervous.

So I think if anything, this is teaching us how to master and channel that fear towards something productive.

Mary Ann coming your way in our last couple minutes here.

So just talk about the advice to students as they're thinking about this.

So you have this job of sort of, recruiting students to get involved in this in the first place, but also then helping advise them as they're thinking about how this comes together.

Talk a little bit about what you might tell them.

Well, practice, practice, practice and get feedback.

and certainly this is a group effort.

It's not just me.

There are units across campus that help in particular, grad career services, I think, met with everybody individually, tell them the rules and, and critique, their presentations as well as they have an opportunity to be taped and see themselves, which is, horrific.

I will not watch this episode right.

and and a lot of the advice is to not use jargon.

It's really easy.

Like my daughter, she'll ask me, definition of something, and then she'll get really mad.

Mom, you explained it with words I don't understand.

So it's hard for academics to sometimes remember that.

If people wanted to find out more information about the competition, any advice?

Where would you send them?

To the you could just Google Notre Dame, 3MT and it'll come up.

it's called the Shaheen 3MT competition because the Shaheen family has endowed it so that we can keep and offer nice prizes and send the first place winner to compete regionally.

That's great.

I encourage you to our our viewers to go the videos from each of this year's presentations throughout the series.

You guys, thank you for joining us.

Really appreciate the conversation.

Congratulations and good luck on your next chapters there.

That's it for our show today.

On behalf of the entire team here at PBS Michiana Wnit, thank you for watching or listening to our podcast.

To watch this episode again or any of our past episodes, you can find Economic Outlook at wnit.org or find our podcast on most major podcast platforms.

Let's encourage you to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

I'm Jeff Rea, I'll see you next time This Wnit local production has been made possible in part by viewers like you.

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Niveditha Kalavakonda will be presenting at this year’s UW Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition ! Niveditha’s talk is titled ‘Surgical Scene Understanding Towards Human-Centered Collaboration in Robotic Surgery.’

This event is scheduled for  Thursday, May 23, 2024 3 pm – 4:30 pm, – Auditorium, Alder Hall . Doors open at 2:30 pm.

I cordially invite graduate students, staff, and faculty in support of Niveditha. Free light foods and refreshments will be available during the reception.

RSVP  (requires log in with UW NetID):  https://forms.office.com/r/7Th7wSBS3S

UW 3MT is a professional development competition that celebrates the exciting capstone and research experiences of master’s and doctoral students at the University of Washington. The competition supports graduate students’ capacity to effectively explain their research or capstone project in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a public audience. 

In front of a general audience and an esteemed panel of judges, graduate student presenters will each compete by doing a three-minute presentation for First Place, Runner Up, and People’s Choice awards. Audience members will get to vote for People’s Choice. This event is organized by The Graduate School’s Student Affairs office and the UW Libraries Research Commons.

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Iisc celebrates dubuque partnership.

The Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) capped another ambitious community project on May 2. University of Iowa students from a variety of programs offered presentations to local representatives and community members of Dubuque. With a focus on climate action, the City of Dubuque provided learning opportunities for more than 100 Iowa students this year. These included the Alternative Transportation Action Plan by the School of Planning and Public Affairs as well as the Stormwater Design for Climate Resilience and Cool Roof Design for the Five Flags Civic Center by the Civil & Environmental Engineering department.

Mason Koelm, a student at the College of Law, took part in the Community Empowerment Law Project which works with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque to better understand the issue of chronic absenteeism among Marshallese students and make recommendations for new policies and improved communication.

The law student says working with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque was an important lesson in community perspective.

“It was especially refreshing working with a broad range of folks, from recent high school alumni to retirees who all share a passion in making the world a better place, and often sharing perspectives on what that better place looks like. Seeing so many wonderful community members and leaders in Dubuque working to better the lives of a marginalized community was really eye-opening,” he notes. “Everyone we met with respected, valued, and welcomed our involvement, and that was extremely rewarding. As much as we worked to empower, include, and provide a sense of belonging and purpose for Marshallese students, our work in this project empowered us.”

Koelm adds that the project has offered valuable experience as he heads into the job market.

“I am able to finish my education and transition to a career with a project that had direct impact and exposed me to the power of a community banding together for a common cause,” he affirms.

During the partnership celebration, Gina Bell, Director of Sustainable Dubuque, and Mayor Brad Cavanagh accepted the award for Outstanding Community Partners on behalf of the City of Dubuque. Daria Fisher Page (Law) was recognized with an Outstanding Faculty Award for her leadership of the Community Empowerment Law Project (CELP).   

Hannah Lyons, a graduate student in Sustainable Development, also accepted the award for Outstanding Student for her dedication to Dubuque's first comprehensive Affordable Housing Action Plan. Her four-person team set out to consolidate existing documents, analyze the state of affordable housing in Dubuque, and provide tailored recommendations of innovative and best-practice solutions for the city. Lyons says projects like this are a win-win for education and communities.

"For students, IISC partnerships help with the transition from in-the-books to on-the-ground. For cities, IISC partnerships provide not only additional capacity to address community priorities like affordable housing, but also fresh perspectives," she explains. "Personally, this project was empowering because I knew that my work would go beyond the gradebook, offering me the opportunity to learn while making a real difference for Dubuque residents."

  Further reading: https://iisc.uiowa.edu/partners/dubuque