Three Minute Thesis
The Three Minute Thesis* (3MT) competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by graduate students around the world. Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), 3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to explain their research effectively in three minutes and in a language appropriate for a non-specialist audience. Participants have three minutes to present a compelling oration on their dissertation or thesis and its significance. 3MT is not an exercise in trivializing or “dumbing-down” research; it challenges students to consolidate their ideas and research discoveries and present them concisely to a non-specialist audience.
*While “thesis” generally refers to master’s-level research projects in the U.S., the term includes doctoral dissertations in much of the world.
3MT Details and Instructions - Click Here
成人头条’s 2022 3MT competition will include preliminary competitions followed by a final competition on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.
- 3MT Info Session (optional) — Monday, September 26, 2022, 3:00-4:00pm (MT)
- 3MT Workshops and Preliminary Competitions — To be announced
- Practice Session (optional) — to be announced
- Final Competition — Wednesday, November 9 2022
Eligibility:
- 成人头条 3MT is open to post-candidacy PhD & EdD students and post-proposal MA/MS students completing a thesis.
- The 成人头条 3MT committee may approve the participation of other advanced students completing major research projects at the request of the faculty advisor.
- Participants will have successfully defended their thesis proposal or attained candidacy by October 18, 2022. In the event a student defends or reaches candidacy after prelims, their invitation to the final exhibition is contingent on their successful defense.
To participate:
Eligible students must first participate in a preliminary competition in order to receive an invitation to the final competition.
- to see winning examples of the 3MT.
- to see the 3MT competitor guide.
Prizes:
- Winner
- Runner-up
- People’s Choice
Rules:
- A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration).
- No additional electronic media (e.g., sound and video files) are permitted.
- No additional props (e.g., costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
- Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
- Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g., no poems, raps or songs).
- Presentations are to commence from the stage.
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
- The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
Judging criteria:
- 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?
- Were 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?
- Engagement
- 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?
- People’s choice:
An important aspect of the competition is the People’s Choice prize. Following all presentations, the audience votes on who they thought gave the most convincing 3MT presentation (based on their understanding of the criteria outlined above). A finalist can be the winner or runner-up and still receive the People’s Choice award.
3MT Official Status and Regional Participation:
The University of Queensland’s global 3MT program recognizes 成人头条’s 3MT competition. The first place winner of 成人头条’s 3MT is eligible present at the in March 2023. (Exact date/time TBD). If the first place winner is unable to attend, the runner up will be eligible to compete on behalf of 成人头条.
Questions about 3MT may be directed to:
gradpd@utep.edu
Next Competition: October 2022
Fall 2021 成人头条 3MT Finals Recording
Spring 2021 成人头条 3MT Finals Recording
Congratulations to all past & present #utep3MT Finalists & Winners!
2021 Fall Finalists & Winners:
Mariana Marcos-Hernandez |
1st Place & People's Choice |
Chemistry (PhD) | Dino Villagran, Mentor |
Priyanka Gade |
2nd Place |
Chemistry (PhD) |
Chu-Young Kim, Mentor |
Mariana Benitez | Finalist | Civil Engineering (PhD) | Jeffrey Weidner, Mentor |
Soochan Choi | Finalist | Business Administration (PhD) | Edward Ramirez, Mentor |
Jacqueline Lechuga |
Finalist | Psychology (PhD) | Michael Zárate, Mentor |
Anindita Nath | Finalist |
Computer Science (PhD) |
Nigel Ward Mentor |
Mohamed Sanad-Noufal | Finalist | Environmental Science & Engineering (PhD) | Sreeprasad Sreenivasan, Mentor |
Ana Vargas | Finalist | Biomedical Engineering (PhD) | Sangeeta Tiwari, Mentor |
2021 Spring Finalists & Winners:
Anapaula Themann |
1st Place & People's Choice |
Psychology (PhD) | Sergio Iñiguez, Mentor |
Katalina Salas | 2nd Place |
Environmental Science & Engineering (PhD) |
Deana Pennington, Mentor |
Isabelle Clough | Finalist | Psychology (PhD) | April Thomas, Mentor |
Anna Drozdova | Finalist | Psychology (PhD) | April Thomas, Mentor |
Israel Garcia Carachure |
Finalist | Psychology (PhD) | Sergio Iñiguez, Mentor |
Rebeka Isaac | Finalist |
Latin American & Border Studies (MA) |
Josiah Heyman, Mentor |
Yi-Yu Liao | Finalist | Teaching, Learning, & Culture (PhD) | Mourat Tchoshanov, Mentor |
Yuqing Ye | Finalist | Chemistry (PhD) | Jorge Gardes Torresdey, Mentor |
2020 Finalists & Winners:
Julie M. Schlichte | 1st Place | Biology (MS) | Jerry Johnson, Mentor |
Maria Tays Mendes | 2nd Place & People's Choice | Biological Sciences (PhD) | Igor Almeida, Mentor |
Elvira Carrizal-Dukes | Honorable Mention for People's Choice | Rhetoric & Composition (PhD) | Kate Mangelsdorf, Mentor |
Moinul Morshed Porag Chowdhury | Honorable Mention for People's Choice | Computer Science (PhD) | Christopher Kiekintveld, Mentor |
Jenna Lynn Faith | Finalist | Geological Sciences (PhD) | Diane Doser, Mentor |
Angel F. Garcia Contreras | Finalist | Computer Science (PhD) | Martine Ceberio, Mentor |
Nakul N. Karle | Finalist | Environmental Science & Engineering (PhD) | Rosa Fitzgerald, Mentor |
Erick Saldes | Finalist | Biological Sciences (PhD) | Kyung-An Han, Mentor |
2019 Finalists & Winners:
Kathryn Wedemeyer-Strombel | 1st Place | Environmental Science & Engineering (PhD) | Tarla Rai Peterson, Mentor |
Marisol Dominguez | 2nd Place | Geology (PhD) | Hugo Guitierrez, Mentor |
Angel I. Solis | People's Choice | Computer Engineering (MS) | Patricia Nava, Mentor |
Jessica R. Bray | Finalist | Psychology (PhD) | Stephen Crites, Mentor |
Robert Diaz | Finalist | History (MA) | Brad Cartwright, Mentor |
Grecia Daniela Medina | Finalist | Biology (MS) | Kyung-An Han, Mentor |
Daniel Michael Mejia | Finalist | Computer Science (PhD) | Natalia Villanueva Rosales, Mentor |
Mahdi Saghafi | Finalist | Civil Engineering (PhD) | Soheil Nazarian, Mentor |
Erick Benjamin Saldes | Finalist | Biological Sciences (PhD) | Kyung-An Han, Mentor |
Ana Margarita Vargas | Finalist | Biomedical Engineering (PhD) | Luis R. Martinez, Mentor |
2018 Finalists & Winners:
Bing Yu | 1st Place | Materials Science & Engineering (PhD) | Devesh Misra, Mentor |
Rocio Acevedo | 2nd Place | Teaching, Learning, & Culture (PhD) | Alberto Esquinca, Mentor |
Anna Mwangi | People's Choice | Geological Sciences (PhD) | Laura Serpa, Mentor |
Marisol Dominguez | Finalist | Geological Sciences (PhD) | Hugo Gutiérrez, Mentor |
Mohammad Shafinul Haque | Finalist | Mechanical Engineering (PhD) | Calvin Stewart, Mentor |
Yashwanth Injeti | Finalist | Materials Science & Engineering (PhD) | Devesh Misra, Mentor |
Miguel Juarez | Finalist | History (PhD) | Paul Edison, Mentor |
Venkata Vignesh Natarajan | Finalist | Materials Science & Engineering (PhD) | Devesh Misra, Mentor |
Paloma A. Valenzuela | Finalist | Biological Sciences (PhD) | Giulio Francia, Mentor |
Emmanuel Zubia | Finalist | Environmental Science & Engineering (PhD) | Mahesh Narayan, Mentor |