Welcome to the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition

Faculty of XXX heat

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

What is the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) ?

• 3MT is a university-wide competition for research-based masters and doctoral students in which participants present their research in 3 minutes or less to a panel of non-specialist judges.

• The challenge is to present complex research ideas in an engaging and compelling way, using only one static slide.

History of the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT)

• The 3MT was established by the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008 and has quickly gained momentum in the years following it’s inception. In September 2010 the first Trans-Tasman competition was held, with 33 universities participating from Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

• University of British Columbia (UBC) was one of the first Canadian universities to host the event in 2011.

• In 2013 more than 15 Canadian universities are hosting a 3MT competition, with the Ontario provincial finals being held at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario in April 2013.

3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition at University of Waterloo

3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Prizes

First prize winner: will be awarded $1000 and will advance to the provincial 3MT finals on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario.

Runner up: will be awarded $500 and will advance to the provincial finals at Queen’s University on April 18, 2013.

People’s choice: will be awarded a prize.

3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition rules

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide translations, animations or ‘movement’ of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the presentation.

• 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 considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.

• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Judging Criteria

• Communication style – was the thesis topic and its significance communicated in language appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience?

• Comprehension – did the presentation help the audience understand the research?

• Engagement – did the oration make the audience want to know more?

Judging Panel

TBA (Chair)TBA

TBA TBA

TBA TBA

TBA TBA

TBA TBA

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

NAMEDepartment/School/Faculty3MT presentation title

Short break for the judges to deliberate

And the winner is……..

Thank you for attending the Faculty of xxxx

3 Minute Thesis (3MT) heat!

• University of Waterloo 3MT semi-finals: March 20-21, 2013

• University of Waterloo 3MT finals: March 27, 2013

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