Event
Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition
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Wed 2 May 18
14:00
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Colchester Campus
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Event type
Lectures, talks and seminars
Three Minute Thesis (3MT) -
Contact details
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition challenges research higher degree students to present a compelling oration on their thesis and its significance in just three minutes in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.
The 3MT competition is a great opportunity to focus on the message of your research. It will allow you to consolidate your ideas and crystallise your research discoveries. Communicating your research to a non-specialist audience will challenge you to think in a fresh way about your ideas and develop your presentation skills..
Taking part
The 3MT competition will be held on Wednesday 2 May 2018 and is a great opportunity to focus on the message of your research. It will allow you to consolidate your ideas and crystallise your research discoveries. Communicating your research to a non-specialist audience will challenge you to think in a fresh way about your ideas and develop your presentation skills.
Taking part in the competition will help you to:
- improve your public speaking skills
- build your confidence
- share your passion for research
How the competition works
Entrants have three minutes to present their thesis to the panel of judges and the audience. The judges are academic staff from the University. The panel of judges choose the winner and the audience choose an ‘audience’s choice’ winner.
- Prizes Judges’ Winner £200
- Judges’ Runner Up £100
- Audience’s Choice Winner £100
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 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 either movement or speech.
- The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
Judging criteria
Comprehension and content
- Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed, while explaining terminology and avoiding jargon?
- Did the presentation clearly describe the impact and/or results of the research, including conclusions and outcomes?
- Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
- Was the thesis topic, research significance, results/impact and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
- 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 and communication
- Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
- Was the presenter careful not to trivialise or generalise their research?
- Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
- Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience's attention?
- Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?
- Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation - was it clear, legible, and concise?
Meet the judges
- Professor Florence Myles, Department of Language and Linguistics.
- Dr Magda Abou-Seada, Essex Business School
- Dr Matthew Grant, Department of History
- Professor Ian Colbeck, School of Biological Sciences
How to get involved
If you would like to take part, you will need to submit a 300 word summary of your research to 3MT@essex.ac.uk. The deadline for submitting your summary is Monday 12 March 2018. The most informative and engaging summaries will be selected and those students will be invited to speak in the University finals. You will be informed of the outcome by Friday 23 March 2018. If you're shortlisted you will be offered additional training prior to the competition to help you prepare your presentation.
Eligibility
To be eligible to enter this competition, you need to:
- be a doctoral student
- have had your registration status confirmed as PhD
- have not yet had your viva at the time of the local competition
Watch the 2017 Judges’ Winner
In May 2017, 15 students from across our University were selected to take part in the competition and shared their enthusiasm and commitment to their research areas.
The winner of the competition was Tuesday Watts, from the Department of Psychology, who has been researching genetically identical twins - where one is gay or bisexual and the other is straight.
Further information
For more information about the competition taking place at the University, please contact 3MT@essex.ac.uk.
