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The Vitae Three Minute Thesis ( 3MT ) competition challenges Doctoral candidates to present a compelling spoken presentation (using one single slide) on their research topic and its significance, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience, in just 3 minutes.

Developed by The University of Queensland, 3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes.

3MT 2024 Finalists

We are delighted to announce the UWS 3MT 2024 Finalists below: 

Alexander Dow

3MT Title : Work Smarter, Not Harder: Bringing Autonomous Drones To Urban Environments With LiDAR

Biography : Alexander's research focuses on the use of LiDAR sensors to enable autonomous drone flight. Ground-to-ground autonomous driving object detection techniques were modified and applied to an aerial drone-to-drone context. Real-time sense and detect on onboard systems has been made achievable through modifications made to sparse convolutions, and the work has been applied practically to point cloud data cleaning.

Amina Manal Zidi

3MT Title : Home and Away: The Lived Experiences of UK-based Algerian Doctoral Graduates on Returning Home to Algeria.

Biography : Amina Manal Zidi is currently pursuing her PhD at The University of The West of Scotland. She is curious about gaining insights into the experiences of international students who have completed their doctoral degrees and how they navigate their return to their home country (Algeria) after studying in the UK.

Annabel Simpson

3MT Title : Fighting Fit - Supporting the Development of a Health-Associated Oral Microbiome

Biography : Most dental research focuses on harmful bacteria which cause conditions like tooth decay and gum disease. However, some bacterial species carry out reactions which benefit you and support oral health. My research focuses on how the growth of these ‘good’ bacteria can be encouraged by improving oral hygiene and increasing physical activity levels.

Cezar Anicai

3MT Title : IoT and Machine Learning Enabled Estimation of Health Indicators from Ambient Data

Biography : Cezar Anicai is currently pursuing a PhD degree in Computing at the University of the West of Scotland. He holds a MSc degree in Advanced Computing and a BEng degree in Automatic Control and Computer Engineering. His research interests include machine learning, deep learning, bio-inspired and evolutionary algorithms, internet of things and distributed learning.

Chantal van Drimmelen

3MT Title : Do not throw your phone into the water – Impact of rare earth elements on waterflea behavior

Biography : I want to contribute to the betterment of this world through my research within the field of ecotoxicology. My PhD focuses on a metal group called the rare earth elements and their potential toxic effects on our aquatic ecosystems. In my research I apply standardized and out-of-the box experimental approaches. There is still so much to discover!

Carol Becckwith

3MT Title : How Songs Help

Biography : Carol Beckwith is a PhD student in the School of Health & Life Sciences. Her PhD research looks at how someone who cares for a person with dementia makes sense of what it means to be a carer by writing songs that articulate that experience.

Ellis Larcombe

3MT Title : Addressing Microbiological Problems Within the Ornamental Fish Trade.

Biography : My research is on refining the use of “over the counter” fish medicines in treating pet fishes. I am investigating fish behaviour, physiology and the effects these products have on bacterial communities to ultimately improve standards of welfare for the most numerous pets in the UK.

Johanna Imiela

3MT Title : Navigating Human Rights in Government-Supported Business: A Focus on State Export Credit Agencies

Biography : Human rights impacts are pressing issues within international trade and supply chains. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights offer guidance for states and business to address these concerns, though practical implementation remains challenging and is largely unexplored in economics. My project aims to pinpoint strategies for safeguarding human rights in the context of state Export Credit Agencies.

Julia Donnelly

3MT Title : Breaking menstrual taboos: one kick at a time

Biography : Julia’s research focuses on understanding the landscape of menstrual health, literacy, and support within elite and adolescent soccer. Through identifying a perception from players of the menstrual cycle negatively impacting performance, this research has targeted support structures within soccer to promote normalizing the conversation surrounding the menstrual cycle and ensure players health and wellbeing is prioritized throughout their progression through sport.

Khrisnamurti

3MT Title : Behind the Tales: Unveiling the Craft of Tourist Guides

Biography : Khrisnamurti is a PhD candidate at UWS. His work explores the intricate communication strategies used by heritage interpreters and their impact on shaping visitors' attitudes and behaviours at cultural heritage sites. This research also investigates how heritage interpreters acquire and refine their knowledge to craft compelling and interpretation narratives.

Philip Wölki

3MT Title : What information is required to develop an Employer Value Proposition?

Biography : Philip Wölki is a student at UWS in collaboration with HAW Hamburg, in the School of Business & Creative Industries

Thorben Ortmann

3MT Title : Virtual Worlds, Real Emotions: Recognizing Facial Expressions of Virtual Reality Users

Biography : Thorben Ortmann holds a master's degree in computer science. He works as a Research Associate at the Hamburg University of Applied Science. His research interests lie in the interdisciplinary field of affective computing. As part of his doctoral research, he investigates deep learning techniques to recognize human emotion in virtual reality environments.

3MT Title : Integrating AI and IoT for Advanced Indoor Air Quality Monitoring

Biography : My research employs IoT sensors to monitor ambient environmental conditions, analyzing correlations between occupants and air parameters. Utilizing machine learning, it predicts future trends and occupancy, aiming to enhance occupants' health and well-being.

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All 2023 entries can be viewed here

Three Minute Thesis

2024 Competition

How to Apply

Applications for 3MT are open, and will close at 5pm on Monday 27 May 2024. Please note we are unable to accept applications after the deadline.

The 2024 competition will take place in-person, Friday 14 June 2024 at 1pm in Queens LT2, Queens Building, Streatham Campus.

The prizes for this year's competition are as follows:

• 1st prize £100 voucher
• 2nd prize £75 voucher
• 3rd prize £50 voucher
• People's Choice winner £50 voucher

We are running two webinars to enhance your presentation skills:

• Creating impactful public engagement content , Wednesday 1st May, 10am-12pm
• Public speaking and presentation skills , Wednesday 8th May, 10am-12pm

Looking for advice on how to put together your Three Minute Thesis presentation? Our 2022 winner Michael Schraubden offers his thoughts and tips in this blog post .

An 80,000 word thesis would take 9 hours to present.

Your time limit…3 minutes!

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a National competition for postgraduate research students, run by research organisation Vitae. 3MT® challenges doctoral candidates to present a compelling spoken presentation on their research topic and its significance in just three minutes. The first 3MT® was held at The University of Queensland in Australia in 2008, and has been nationwide in the UK by Vitae since 2014. More information about the history of 3MT® can be found on the  Vitae  and  3MT®  websites.

We are continuing to run the 3MT competition according to guidance from Vitae, and the rules set out by The University of Queensland. The process will be as follows:

• This competition is open to all current 'in progress' PGRs at any stage of their doctoral journey. MRes students and students on interruption are not eligible due to international rules.
• PGRs who wish to enter the competition should complete the  application form   by 5pm on Monday 27   May. Please note that we are unable to accept applications after this deadline. 
• Participants will be contacted for a timeslot to present their 3MT in-person to a panel of judges in an in-person event on Streatham Campus in Queens LT2, Queens Building, on Friday 14 June, 1-3pm.
• Participants will be asked to send their single PowerPoint slide to [email protected] by 3pm on Monday 3rd June.
• These live presentations will be judged by the judges in-person with the PowerPoint slides, who will independently score the presentations
• The scores will be combined and an average taken to identify our top three entries
• We will invite PGRs and staff to join us on campus to support our participants and enable the wider community to vote for a People’s Choice winner.

Training courses

Check out our Presentation skills for researchers course material on ELE for tips. We also have a blog post from the 2023 3 Minute Thesis winner Michael Schrauben , which contains some handy advice and the benefits of doing a 3 Minute Thesis presentation.

Registration for Three Minute Thesis 2024 will open on Monday 18 March , and will close at 5pm on Monday 27th May .

You will need to prepare a brief abstract (maximum 650 characters inc. spaces) for your presentation, which will need to go in your application form.

Three Minute Thesis Rules

Make sure you read the international 3MT® rules before applying:

• 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.

Conditions of entry

All entrants must be a current ‘in progress’ doctoral postgraduate researchers at the University of Exeter – MRes students and students on interruption, are not eligible due to international rules.

Three Minute Thesis 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?

The head judge this year will be:

• Professor Stacey Hynd,  Dean of Postgraduate Research and the Doctoral College

The rest of the judging panel will be confirmed closer to the date.

3 Minute Thesis 2023

Our 2023 competition has now taken place and the winners were:

• 1 st  place -   Nell Hartney , Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy  -  Weather in a puddle: using simple models in forecasting research
• Joint second place –   Jamie Plaatjes , Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy - Circular Businesses Representing the Social Interests ; Belinda Li , Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences -  L2 Motivation, Career Choices, Gender
• 3 rd  place - Hind Sabah Bilal , Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences -  Representations of Women’s Agency in Iraqi Plays about War and Terrorism
• People's Choice Award :  Belinda Li , Faculty oF Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences - L2 Motivation, Career Choices, Gender

You can watch the 3MT event here .

3 Minute Thesis 2022

Our 2022 competition has now taken place and the winners were:

• 1 st  place -   Michael Schrauben , College of Medicine and Health - Harnessing Gene Editing tools to understand Alzheimer's Disease 
• Joint second place –  Fatma Sabet , College of Social Sciences and International Studies - Sustainable school meals in England: A realist evaluation;  Ollie Lewis , College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences - Measuring Humidity: Plane and Simple!
• 3 rd  place - William Rees , College of Humanities - Manifesting Decadence: How Nineteenth Century Decadence Shaped 1970s Disco Culture  

You can  watch all the presentations online now .

3 Minute Thesis 2021

Our 2021 winners were:

1st place-  Communities of Risk: Dealing with the Unpredictable in the Age of Sail - Jake Dyble

2nd place-  Stick to the status quo: How justifying the justice system affects juror verdicts - Maddy Millar

Joint 3rd place-  Remote sensing for heritage preservation and tracing possible archaeology- Israa Kadhim

Joint 3rd place-  Social Identity Switching - How effective is it and how much control do we have- Anna Zinn

People's Choice-  Communities of Risk: Dealing with the Unpredictable in the Age of Sail - Jake Dyble

3 Minutes Thesis 2020

Our 2020 winners can be found below:

1st place-  Jessica Hill- 'You've got Mail'

2nd place-  Shayma Alathari- 'Development and application of genomic tools for ISKNV outbreaks in tilapia: Giving Power to Farmers' 

3rd place-  Asqa Farooq- 'Fighting Fake News: How to save a generation from misinformation' 

People Choice Vote:

-  Paige Robinson- 'The gift of knowledge: Do the experience a fish have help their future generations deal with the world?

-  Jane Masoli- 'Blood pressure in older adults' 

You can view all the entries for this year's  competition here . 

3 Minutes Thesis 2019

Our 2019 prize winners are as follows:

• 1st Place – Jennifer Finlay (CLES) -  Cleaning up salmon farming with lumpfish
• 2nd Place – Hannah Meinertzhagen (CLES) -  How does wind affect seabirds?
• 3rd Place – Nina Van Volkinburg (UEBS) -  Disruption to Destruction: The Effects of Digital Disruption on the Value Creation Processes within the Fashion Industry
• People's Choice - Jennifer Finlay (CLES) -  Cleaning up salmon farming with lumpfish

Jennifer Finlay went on to represent the University of Exeter in the National Semi-Finals.

3 Minute Thesis 2018

Our 2018 prize winners were as follows:

• 1 st  Place – Harriet Goodrich (CLES) –  Using integrative physiology to optimise diets for sustainable aquaculture
• 2 nd  Place – Joo Hou Ng (CLES) -  How willingness to adapt to British culture shapes international students’ experiences of, and performance within, different spaces on campus
• 3 rd  Place – Anne Blancflower (SSIS)  -  Kurdish cross-border, multi-party cooperation from the 1890s to the present

Harriet Goodrich went onto represent the University of Exeter in the National Semi-Finals.

3 Minute Thesis 2017

Our 2017 prize winners were as follows:

• 1 st  Place –  Tim Gordon Marine Biology (CLES) –  Helping Nemo Find Home
• 2 nd  Place –  Holly East  Geography (CLES)  -  Maldivian Coral Reef Islands: A Drowning Nation ?
• 3 rd  Place -  Elisabeth Matthews  Astrophysics (CEMPS)  Through the Looking Glass

Tim Gordon went on to represent the University of Exeter in the National Semi-Finals.

View our photos from the 2017 3 Minute Thesis competition here .  

3 Minute Thesis 2016

Our 2016 prize winners were as follows:

• 1st Place- Simon Dickinson Geography (CLES) - How is Welfare Constituted Post-disaster? Exploring Emergent Spaces of Public Action After the Christchurch (New Zealand) 2010-11 Earthquakes
• 2nd Place- Lauric Ferrat Mathematics (EMPS)-   Emulation of Mathematical Models to Study Epilepsy
• 3rd Place- Elisabeth Matthews- Astrophysics (EMPS)-   Using Telescopes and Rainbows to Take Photographs of Planets

Simon Dickinson went on to repsent the University of Exeter in the National Semi-Finals. 

Doctoral College

Three minute thesis (3mt).

Congratulations to Rebecca Evans. Rebecca impressed the jury with a presentation on 'What do school girls want?' and is the University of Warwick's entry into the Vitae 3MT Competition 2022.

We would also like to congratulate the two runners-up, Eleanor Molloy and Busola Oronti on their great presentations.

The Challenge

Can you present your thesis in just 3 Minutes? Are you up for the challenge? You have three minutes, one static slide, no props, and no materials – just you! If you get through the first round we will train and support you so that you are ready for a live Warwick final. The winner of this will get put forward to the regional finals – and who knows maybe the National Final.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition for doctoral students, originally developed by The University of Queensland. It challenges you to present a compelling oration on your thesis topic and its significance in just three minutes.

3MT develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills by challenging you to effectively explain your research in engaging, accessible language to a non-specialist audience.

What are the judges looking for?

Here are the Rules of entry and Judging criteria

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) 2021 Competition

Evette hillman winner of 2021 warwick competition.

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video. Here is a link to the video instead.

Helen Pocock Runner up of 2021 Warwick Competition

Useful links:.

• Online 3MT help via Moodle Link opens in a new window  
• Prezi by Inger Mewburn

• Schools & departments

About 3 Minute Thesis

Information about the competition and details of who to contact.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia.

About the competition

The 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition requires doctoral researchers to compete to deliver the best research presentation in just 3 minutes (and one slide). It is based on a concept developed by the University of Queensland which quickly spread across Australia and New Zealand, and has gone global.

The University of Edinburgh has run a 3MT competition every year since 2013.

• 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.

Eligibility

Active PhD and Professional Doctorate (Research) candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including candidates whose thesis is under submission) by the date of their first presentation are eligible to participate in 3MT competitions at all levels. Graduates are not eligible.

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?

More information about 3 Minute Thesis

Find detailed information about the 3 Minute Thesis Competition, including tips on how to prepare, in our new handbook for participants:

3 Minute Thesis participant handbook (PDF)

You may also find our web information helpful:

• How to enter and competition criteria  
• Frequently asked questions

College Prizes

At each College heat, three winners will be selected to go through to the University final; further prizes to be confirmed.

University Prizes

All those who take part at the University competition will have their presentations filmed and uploaded to the University YouTube channel. Our thanks go to the Principal for the generous donation of funds for this year’s prizes for the winners of the 3 Minute Thesis Finals. We are very grateful for this support, and are happy to announce this year’s prizes:

1st Prize : £1000

Runner up:  £400 

Peoples’ Choice Award : £400 

The winner of the University of Edinburgh competition is then entered into the UK Competition and the international Universitas 21 Competition.

Details of the final prizes are still to be confirmed by Universitas 21.

Feedback from previous winners

Read our guest blog posts from Owen Gwydion James 2018 winner of the UK competition,  Chen Zhao, 2015 Competition Winner, Emma Hodcroft, 2014 Competition Winner, and Mara Götz, 2013 ‘People’s Choice’ Winner on their experience of the competition:

Read Owen Gwydion James's guest blog post

Read Emma Hodcroft's guest blog post

Read Mara Götz's blog post on participating in 3MT

Read Chen Zhao's blog post

Contact information

Please contact Louise if you have any questions:

Louise McKay

Events Operations and Doctoral Programme Manager

Contact details

• Work: 0131 651 7189
• Email: [email protected]

This article was published on 2024-02-26

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Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) 2024

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University of Manchester Three Minute Thesis Competition 2024

Once again the University of Manchester will be taking part in the national Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition in 2024. Postgraduate Researchers from across the University are invited to present a compelling spoken presentation on their research topic and its significance in just three minutes only using one static PowerPoint slide.

In the UK, the 3MT national competition final is hosted by  Vitae.  Individual UK universities run their own competitions and put forward one winner per participating institution for the national finals. 

Why take part?

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

You will also have access to exclusive   3MT participant training  on 28th March 2024.

Also, don’t forget the prizes…

• Winner – £500
• Second prize – £250
• Third prize – £100

What are the rules?

The  rules  are simple:

• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes (presentations exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified).
• 1 static slide is required to accompany the presentation.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment and animated backgrounds) are permitted within the recording.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted within the video recording.

All presentations will then be judged according to the same  3MT judging criteria . 

Am I eligible?

The competition is open to all active second to final year PhD candidates (including candidates in their submission pending period or whose thesis is under examination) by the date of the registration deadline (2nd April 2024). 

How do I register?

You have until Monday 8th April to register. You can register using the  online form .

What is the timeline?

• Sign up for 3MT  online training session  on Thursday 28th March 2024.
• Complete the  registration form  for your expression of interest by Monday 8th April 2024.
• Create your presentation slide and  film your presentation .
• Submit your final 3MT presentation / slide by Tuesday 23rd April 2024- please use  https://wetransfer.com/  (or similar) to email your video file and slide (either PDF or JPG) to  [email protected] . 
• Video Judging (Wednesday 24th April – Tuesday 7th May)
• Finalists announced – Tuesday 7th May
• Finalists training session with individual feedback – Tuesday 14th May.
• UoM Final Event – Wednesday 5th June, 2 – 5 pm, Zochonis Building Lecture Theatre A  
• National Final – September 2024 (date TBC)

Is there any guidance on how I should construct my slide and video?

Yes, we have created a  guide  to help you create your slide and video. There are also some useful external guides / resources that you might want to refer to:

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

How to Talk About Your Thesis in 3 Minutes – The Thesis Whisperer

This presentation by the Dr. Inger Mewburn (aka the Thesis Whisperer), provides some useful insights and practical exercises to get thinking about you can present your own thesis to others in just 3 minutes.

We particularly like this top tip “ Is there a story that you can use to talk about your research? Better still – can this story make us feel emotionally involved? Sometimes good stories are behind why we are doing the research in the first place .”

https://prezi.com/jwhwyydfzqxo/how-to-talk-about-your-thesis-in-3-minutes/

3MT Student Handbook – The University of Queensland

This helpful guide (*) gives you low down on background to the competition, the rules, shared experiences from postgraduate researchers who have previously taken part in 3MT as well as top tips for writing, creating and practicing your presentation.

We particularly like this top tip for slide design: “ Less is more – Text and complicated graphics can distract your audience – you don’t want them to read your slide rather than listen to your 3MT. “

Download the  3MT Student Handbook  (pdf)

Making the Most of your Three Minutes – Simon Clews, University of Melbourne

This practical guide will help you think about the development of your 3MT presentation in two key phases – pre-production and performance.

We particularly like this top tip “ Every good performance – even the most spontaneous looking ones – is the result of a great deal of careful preparation and an enormous amount of rehearsal. You’ve only got three minutes …. so make every second count .” Download the  Making the Most of your Three Minutes Guide  (pdf)

2021 Winners

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Connect With Us

The University of Manchester

Samantha O'Sullivan (Physics / African American Studies)

Gullah Physics: Challenging English Language Hegemony in Science

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Sahar Mariam Mohammadzadeh (Government)

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Stephanie Alderete (Psychology)

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Alex Grayson (Molecular & Cellular Biology)

Comparing Fox and Human Brain Connectivity Patterns

Javin Pombra (Computer Science)

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

Zelin Liu (Classics / History)

Using the Past to Define Group Identity

Jerrica Li (Comparative Literature)

Diaspora: A Genre for This New Planetary Reality

Jahnavi Rao (Government)

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Daiana Lilo (Government / Data Science)

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Researcher Hub

Three Minute Thesis

An 80,000 word PhD thesis would take nine hours to present. Your time limit... three minutes.

The Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition was developed by the University of Queensland to celebrate the exciting research conducted by doctoral research students. Since the inaugural event at the University of Queensland in 2008 the popularity of the competition has reached truly global heights with 900 universities holding events across 85 countries.

In 2024, The Academy will host the competition to decide who will represent the University of Liverpool at the national 3MT competition run by  Vitae .

Please note, the deadline for submissions for the 2024 competition has now passed. However, you can watch the finalists compete and support the PGR community by joining us on 19th June 2024 at the 3MT Final.

Book by clicking here

Why should I take part?

• Develop your presentation and public speaking skills
• Develop your research communication and public engagement skills
• Networking opportunities
• The winner will represent the University of Liverpool at the National Vitae 3MT competition
• Raise your own researcher profile
• Prizes to be won
• Watch the videos of the previous year's finalists and winner, and learn more about their work here . 

Competition 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 considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final

Key dates and information

7th February 2024: 3MT Introductory Session (online)

The Academy Researcher Development team will provide a Three-Minute Thesis Introductory session online on 7th February 2024. This session will cover all aspects of the University of Liverpool competition process, including eligibility and how to enter. This session will be recorded and made available online for those who cannot attend live.

This session was recorded and as is available here .

25th March 2024: Three Minute Thesis workshop

Dr Jamie Gallagher, public engagement expert and former international 3MT winner, will provide a workshop on 25th March to help to prepare PGRs to enter the UoL 3MT competition. This workshop will offer guidance on presentation narrative, slide design, and presentation style. Book your place here .

Dr Jamie Gallagher has captured his top tips for producing a winning 3MT presentation in the following four videos:

• Rules and Judging

Drop-In Sessions

In order to help you produce your application, and to make sure the process is as accessible as possible to everyone interested in applying, we will be holding drop-in sessions over the coming weeks as we move toward the deadline of 2pm on 8th April 2024.

• The in person drop in will take place on Tuesday 2nd April 2024 from 11am-12pm in the RD Development Studio (Room 316) in 126 Mount Pleasant.
• The online drop in will take place on Wednesday 3rd April 2024 from 2pm-3pm on Zoom - link will be made available in the PGR Development Canvas module. If unable to access, please email [email protected]  

This is designed to be a short drop-in to allow you to ask any questions about the application process. 

8th April 2024, 2pm: Deadline to submit entry video for faculty heats

See how to enter section (below) for more information and guidance.

Early May: Faculty winners announced

The winner of each faculty will receive a £50 voucher.

Mid-May 2024: 1:1 Individual coaching sessions for finalists

Each finalist will have 1:1 coaching session with Dr Jamie Gallagher, former international 3MT winner and public engagement expert.

19th June 2024: University of Liverpool 3MT Final  

This year the 3MT final will take place at the University's first ever PGR Development Conference.

Celebrate the exciting research conducted by postgraduate researchers at the University of Liverpool and watch the finalists battle it out to be crowned the 3MT® champion. The winner will receive the prize of a £100 voucher and will go on to represent the University at the national Vitae competition. 

Support our finalists and have your say on the day by voting for your favourite presentation for the people’s choice award, who will win a £100 voucher. 

Bookings now open!  Click here to register.

June 2024: University of Liverpool Winner 3MT® enters national competition hosted by Vitae

Please send any queries about how to join to [email protected] and good luck with your applications! 

How to enter

Find out how to enter the competition and eligibility requirements on our  How to enter page.

Frequently asked questions

Back to: Researcher Hub

Judges will be selected from a variety of academic and professional roles across the University of Liverpool.

Judging criteria*

At every level of the competition each competitor will be assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.

Comprehension and content

• Presentation provided clear background and significance to the research question
• Presentation provided clear positionality of the presenter to the research and research approach
• 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 and 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

* Judging criteria set by the University of Queensland

Faculty Heats

Judges’ winner: £50 voucher

University of Liverpool Final

Judges’ winner: £100 voucher

People’s choice award: £100 voucher

The Academy Researcher Development team will provide a Three-Minute Thesis Introductory session online on 7th February 2024 . This session will cover all aspects of the University of Liverpool competition process, including eligibility and how to enter. This session will be recorded and made available online for those who cannot attend live.

Dr Jamie Gallagher, public engagement expert and former international 3MT winner will provide a workshop on the 25th March 2024 to help to prepare PGRs prepare their entry to the UoL 3MT competition. This workshop will offer guidance on presentation narrative, slide design, and presentation style.

External resources

How to prepare your 3MT - Competitor guide 3MT®, University of Queensland  

How to record your 3MT  – Video recording competitor guide 3MT®, University of Q

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

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

3MT: Three Tips to Help You Prepare a Winning Presentation , Australian National University

The three most common 3MT mistakes  from the Australian National University

Watch winning 3-minute thesis presentations from around the world

Watch the 2022 Vitae UK 3MT® competition

The deadlines are there to enable us to meet the timeline for the national Vitae competition. Therefore, it is imperative for you to meet these deadlines for consideration in the competition.

If your viva will take place before the date of the university final you are not eligible to enter the competition.

There is no stipulated dress requirement such as ‘smart casual’. Some have worn suits with ties, others t-shirts and jeans. Please wear whatever is comfortable for you, although no costumes are allowed.

One single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. In preparing the slide, remember that 'less is more'. It does not have to include text. Visual cues are very effective in assisting the presenter's explanation of their research (no slide transitions, animations, sound or 'movement' is permitted).

Quotes can be included from a poem or song if it is relevant to the presenter's thesis topic. Poetry and song lyrics are not permitted to be used to present the entire 3MT and their use should be very limited.

Yes, it is possible for you to win a place (first, second, etc.) and win the People’s Choice Award at the university finals.

The top 3 entries from each Faculty heat are expected progress to the next stage of the competition. If a Faculty finalist is unable to attend the university final, the next runner-up will proceed to the next round of the competition.

Yes, palm cards and/or speech notes are acceptable, however this option may detract from the delivery of the 3MT and is not recommended.

In total, there will be up to nine finalists that progress to the university final from the faculty heats. At the university final a judges’ first prize will be awarded alongside the people’s choice award. Only the overall judges’ winner will be entered into the Vitae national competition.

Please contact the Academy's Researcher Development team at  [email protected] .

We do not explicitly require your supervisors’ permission to enter this public engagement competition.

If your research is based across multiple faculties you will be given an option to select which faculty heat you would like to enter on the online registration form. You may only enter one faculty heat.

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Three-minute thesis

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®)   is a competition established by the University of Queensland in 2008 that has since spread to more than 600 universities across the world.

Could you explain your thesis in 180 seconds?

Doctoral students are challenged to condense their research into a talk of three minutes or less that is engaging, inspiring and entertaining for a non-specialist audience.

One static PowerPoint slide, no other resources or props, and a three-minute countdown timer.

Visit the official  3MT website  to learn more about the competition history and rules, gain valuable preparation tips, and check out videos.

The University of Surrey 3MT® competition 2023 is now open.

The Three Minute Thesis competition celebrates the amazing research conducted by Postgraduate Researchers at Surrey.

PGRs from all faculties who have passed their confirmation milestone are invited to submit a three-minute video.

This professional research communication competition – originally founded by the University of Queensland – cultivates PGRs’ academic, presentation, and professional communication skills. Along with the opportunity to win prizes, it is an opportunity to raise the profile of your research and boost your career.

Additionally, you can use your 3MT® video:

-          On LinkedIn for professional networks and prospective employers to see.

-          On other social media (e.g. Twitter, TikTok, Instagram) as a means of communicating your research to your wider networks.

Zoom briefing session

To find out more about the competition, sign up HERE for our virtual briefing session on 27 th March 2023, 15.00-16.00 (UK time).

Training Workshops

To support the development of communication and presentation skills, knowledge of the competition and to help build confidence PGRs are invited to participate in one of the following virtual 3MT skills workshops:

-          Friday 14 th April, 10.00-12.00 (UK time).

-          Tuesday 18 th April, 14.00-16.00 (UK time).

These workshops are useful for skills development, even if you are unsure whether you want to participate in the competition, and there is no obligation to participate after attending the training. For full workshop details and to book your place, please log into  Surrey Self Service .

Submit your video

To submit your recording please complete the  3MT submission form   where you will be asked to upload your video file. The deadline for recorded 3MT submissions is Tuesday 2 nd May, 10am (UK time).

Finalists, winners and prizes

The Surrey 3MT Judges’ Choice Winner and the People’s Choice Winner will be announced at the  2023 PGR & ECR Research Conference, 15 th of June .

Six Surrey Finalists will each win £50 worth of Amazon vouchers and the overall Judges’ winner will win £100 voucher, with the Judges’ Runner up and the People’s Choice Winner each receiving £50 worth of vouchers.

The Judges’ Choice Winner will be entered into the national competition, coordinated by Vitae.

Watch a Three Minute Thesis

King's College London

Three minute thesis, what is the three minute thesis.

Could you explain your doctoral research to a lay audience in just three minutes?

Our Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition challenges doctoral candidates to present the complexities of their research in a clear, concise and accessible way to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes. It celebrates the exciting research conducted by doctoral candidates across King's College London and gives them the opportunity to develop their academic, presentation, and research communication skills.

The rules are simple:

• explain your research to a non-specialist audience in three minutes
• you can only use one single static PowerPoint slide
• no props, sound, moving images, poems, raps, songs or mimes are allowed

Each year, the winner of the King's 3MT competition progresses through to the national competition, where they will be considered for a spot at the Vitae Three Minute Thesis UK finals.

More details about the 2025 King's 3MT Competition will be announced later this year.

Three Minute Thesis 2024

We're delighted to announce the winners of this year's King's 3MT Competition:

• Winner: Beth Gallimore , I nstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, 'Voices of Barbados: Lived Experiences of Mental Health Stigma and Help-Seeking among Young People'.
• Runner Up: Obianuju Nzelu , Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine , 'Do uterine fibroids increase the risk of blood clots?'
• People’s Choice Award: Syed Alhafiz bin Syed Hashim , Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, ' Cracking the Code of Breast Cancer: Empowering Our Immune Response to Reveal the Hidden Hideouts.'

Beth Gallimore will go onto represent the university at the national UK 3MT competition later in the year.

Three Minute Thesis 2023

• Winner and UK 3MT Semi-Finalist: Sean Maroney , Faculty of Arts & Humanities, 'Empathy and Understanding Our Own Emotions'
• Runner-Up: Hogan Wai , Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, 'The War for Bacterial Supremacy in Paediatric Eczema'
• People's Choice Award: Hannah Deasy , Faculty of Arts & Humanities, 'The Boy Chorister through his Voice'

Sean represented the university at the national 3MT competition and was selected as one of the twelve UK national semi-finalists.

You can watch all of our 2023 3MT finalists entries below.

Three Minute Thesis 2022

Winner and UK 3MT Finalist: Julia Fajardo-Sanchez , Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, 'Seeing the Whole Picture.'

Runner-up: Alex Martin , Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, 'The role of the father in reducing the risk of depression within families.'

Julia represented the university at the national 3MT competition and was selected as one of the six UK national finalists.

Read our blog post, King’s 3MT Grand Final 2022 , to learn more about the 2022 finalists and their advice for future participants. You can also watch the finalists presentations from this year and previous years below.

More about the doctoral experience

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About the Centre of Doctoral Studies and available student support.

Find your course

• Aston Graduate School

3MT - Graduate School

Three minute thesis (3mt).

An academic competition challenging doctoral researchers to present their research topic and its significance in just three minutes. 

 About Three Minute Thesis (3MT)

Aston Three Minute Thesis competition, run according to guidance from Vitae and the official 3MT rules set out by the University of Queensland, celebrates the exciting research conducted by our doctoral researchers at Aston University.

Learn about the projects our doctoral researchers are conducting and vote for your favourite.

Watch the videos below and vote for your favourite here . Voting closes on Tuesday 21 May . The top five will go through to the Aston University final. 

Aston University winners will be announced during the 3MT celebration event (in-person) on Tuesday 11 June, 14:00-15:30, on campus. If you would like to meet the 3MT presenters, the academic judging panel and vote for the people’s choice winner please book your place by Monday 3 June .

Register to attend the event  

There will be three prizes and the Aston 3MT winner (chosen by the judging panel) will represent Aston University in the national 3MT competition organised by Vitae.  

• Aston 3MT winner - £200 and submitted to the national competition organised by Vitae.
• People’s Choice - £175
• People's Choice Runner Up - £150
• Aston University semi-final voting ends: Tuesday 21 May
• Aston University 3MT in-person final and winners announced: Tuesday 11 June 

Comprehension and content

• Presentation provided clear motivation, background and significance to the research question;
• Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research; and
• Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research.

Engagement and 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; and
• The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience’s attention.

2024 video submissions 

Alaa Alamoudi Shifting Sands: The Unseen Path of Saudi Women in Academia. Business and Social Sciences

Aisha Bibi Are we, breathing, drinking and eating micro- and nanoplastics? Engineering and Physical Sciences

Xiaohao Dai A collective garden by open strategy. Business and Social Sciences

Annelise Garrison Warning! Cellular Construction Goes Wrong. Health and Life Sciences

Evelyn Murray Liking, Sharing or Scrolling: The key to supporting our wellbeing. Health and Life Sciences

Nadeesha Naradde Vidana Pathirana Fighting Loneliness with an AI Voice Companion. Engineering and Physical Sciences

Nona Pop Myelin repair: why sidekicks are just as powerful as superheroes. Health and Life Sciences

Kiah-Rose Sargant Co-designing a therapeutic intervention: for families and their young people struggling with mental health difficulties. Health and Life Sciences

Yixuan Shi  Grafting the Digital Platform into Motor Businesses. Engineering and Physical Sciences

Calum Upton Nano-syringes - the future of therapeutic drug delivery? Health and Life Sciences

Watch doctoral researchers who competed in the 2023 Aston University competition:

Aston 3MT Winner :   ​​Diana Galiakhmetova - Dementia treatment by light. Diana reached the semi-finals of the national 3MT Competition organised by Vitae. 

People’s Choice Winner : Calum Upton - Chemotherapy with no side effects? 

People's Choice Runner Up : Ayah Al-Rababah - Do cataracts affect perception of speed? 

The future of food? How scaling production could bring cultivated meat to your local supermarket.

Caroline Godfrey:

The battle for English is metaphorical: A conflict hidden in plain sight.

Daniel Addae:

Paving the sustainable future with modified cold mix asphalt.

Mohammed Alhumayzi:

Factors affecting employees' acceptance of blockchain in HE institutions.

Paul Jones:

Moving from survive to thrive.

Rebecca Preston:

The backbone of the primary classroom, our humble English textbook.

Sadri Shadabi:

Let's take a journey to the Earth and bring back a low-carbon souvenir for others.

Saira Hussain :

Little ears

How to get people to go green for home heating

Other Links

• At Parturient Porta Vestibulum Integer Sociosqu Vitae Aptent Aptent Praesent Rhoncus Urna

Other Links 2

• Rhoncus Urna Integer Sociosqu Vitae Aptent Elementum At Parturient

Other Links 3

Pitt three minute thesis (3mt®) competition.

2024 Pitt 3MT Competition Timeline

The 2024 Pitt 3MT Competition is now open to ALL eligible PhD and SJD students.

• February 2024: 3MT preparation workshops
• March 2024: School-level 3MT competitions
• Monday, April 1, 2024: Pitt 3MT Competition

See the winners of Pitt's 2024 3MT Competition

New this year:

• April 26, 2024: The winner of Pitt’s competition will advance to the virtual 3MT Competition hosted by the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS) on April 26, 2024.
• December 2024: The NAGS winner and runner-up will progress to the Council of Graduate Schools’ national 3MT Competition in December 2024.

This annual event is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and University Library System with support from the University Center for Teaching and Learning.

What is a 3MT competition?

The 3MT competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) students. Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), 3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. 

Who is eligible to enter?

PhD and SJD students who have successfully completed the dissertation proposal defense (candidate status) and are actively in the dissertation stage of training are eligible.

Prizes for the Pitt 3MT Competition

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost and University Library System.

School Competitions

As part of the events leading up to the main competition, several schools will be hosting their own individual competitions from which they will send finalists (one per school) to compete on April 1.

The school competitions occurred between March 6 and March 28 and included:

• Arts and Sciences
• Computing and Information
• Dental Medicine
• Engineering
• Public Health

Online Competition

Eligible students from the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, the School of Education, the School of Nursing, the School of Law, the School of Social Work, the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs can compete online to represent their school in the April 1 University-wide event. To compete online, you will need to do the following:

• Create a 3MT presentation that is less than three minutes and one 3MT presentation slide.
• Record your 3MT presentation and upload it to a YouTube account. Note that if you do not already have a YouTube account, you will need to set one up. The video style and recording quality will NOT be considered when judging. Your 3MT slide does NOT need to be visible in the video.
• The YouTube link and presentation slide in PDF format was due no later than Wednesday, March 20.
• After entries were received and judged, winners were notified by email by Wednesday, March 27. One winner from each school was selected to compete in the April 1 competition.

Presentation Resources

To learn more about the competition history, rules, and to gain valuable preparation tips, visit the official  3MT website .

We are following the 3MT competition rules suggested by the University of Queensland, which founded the event.

Judging Criteria

Check back to see who our distinguished judges will be—and who will hear our competitors talk about their research.

Competitors are assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.

• 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?
• 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?

Email [email protected] .

Student News

Wednesday, 15 may, search for news, browse student news stories.

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Postgraduate Researchers: Tickets available for Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Final

The Academy is hosting the University of Liverpool’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Final on Wednesday, 19 June, with tickets now available. The prestigious competition challenges doctoral candidates to give a compelling spoken presentation of their research to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes, with just one slide.

This is your opportunity to cheer on the nine University of Liverpool finalists from across the three faculties as they battle to be crowned UoL 3MT® champion and have your say on the day, by voting for your favourite 3MT® presentation in the People’s Choice category.

The award-winning spaces at the Spine Building provide the backdrop to the event. The day will afford numerous opportunities for conversation and networking, whilst simultaneously celebrating and supporting the research of our talented PGR Community. It will also feature an exciting workshop on ‘The Art of the Q&A’.

The winner of the University of Liverpool competition will be entered into the quarterfinals of the highly regarded UK-wide competition hosted by Vitae.

We know from last year’s inaugural event that having staff and colleagues from the applicants’ home faculties makes a huge difference to the atmosphere of the event, creating a supportive and exciting environment where our candidates can perform at their best. So please do join us to celebrate this year’s fantastic finalists and encourage others in your respective areas to do the same.

To book your place today please visit the Eventbrite page: https://PGRDev_3MTFinal_2024.eventbrite.co.uk

Or for further information on the University of Liverpool’s 3MT® in 2024, visit the webpage below: www.liverpool.ac.uk/researcher/pgr-development/3mt

Further events and information

3 rd June, Maintaining Momentum for Mid Stage PGRs , in-person, 10am

This workshop will provide an opportunity, for those who are in the middle of their postgraduate research programme, to identify strategies to increase motivation and stay productive.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Use techniques to plan their time in both the long and short-term.
• Consider how to re-plan and adapt their project if needed.
• Identify and develop the self-management that will help them stay well and motivated.

Details for how to book on are available here: https://UoL_PGRDev_MaintainingMomentum_Jun24.eventbrite.co.uk

25 th June, Developing Effective Writing Practices, in-person, 2pm

This interactive workshop will introduce you to different tools and techniques to boost your writing productivity.

• Make use of different writing productivity techniques.
• Understand different writing strategies and what may work best for them.

Details for how to book on are available here: https://UoLPGRDev_EffectiveWritingPractices_InPerson_June.eventbrite.co.uk

The Academy’s Researcher Development and Culture Team is committed to offering support for all researchers, academics, research-enabling staff and postgraduate researchers at all career levels, providing opportunities and developing initiatives that meet their career aspirations. Colleagues are encouraged to regularly access the  Researcher Hub  for a range of on-demand development opportunities to support professional practice, supplementing the live  upcoming researcher development activities

• Student Featured 2
• The Academy

Four Win Prizes in Annual Three Minute Thesis Competition

by Holly Foster

May 14, 2024

Express Yourself

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Open to all members of the senior class, the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition offers cash prizes to students who can most effectively summarize their senior research projects in three minutes or fewer. In addition, participants must tailor their explanations to a broad audience.

The first,- second-, and third-place prizes were determined by a panel of judges from the Clinton and Utica area; the People's Choice Award goes to the speaker with the most audience votes.

History major Hannah Jablons ’24 took second place with her presentation titled Dan’s Manhattan Plaza , and interdisciplinary concentrator in public health Aliana Potter ’24 won third with Primary Care Provider Practice Patterns in Health Provider Shortage Areas and non-HPSAs. Biology major Bobbi Roca ’24 won the People’s Choice award for her speech  Climate Change and Trees: Which ones are built different.

Hamilton is one of only a few undergraduate institutions that sponsors the competition. Three Minute Thesis traditionally “celebrates the exciting research conducted by Ph.D. students. Developed by the University of Queensland, the exercise cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills.”

Funding for the 3MT at Hamilton comes from the Ferguson Endowment, which advances oral communication across campus.

Related News

Six Win Prizes in Annual Public Speaking Competition 

Six students won prizes in three categories at Hamilton’s annual public speaking competition held on March 1 in the Chapel. Presentations were either persuasive or informative in nature, and in one category, students addressed an assigned topic.

Opportunity Program Takes to the Mic 

Hamilton is among several New York State colleges that administer the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program, known on the Hill as simply “the Opportunity Program” or just “OP.” The Opportunity Program, designed to support students whose transition from high school to college may be made more difficult by their educational, socioeconomic, or personal circumstances, helps 30 to 40 new students each year acclimate to the College’s academic standards and social life.

Help us provide an accessible education, offer innovative resources and programs, and foster intellectual exploration.

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Pelletier to Present in UW’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition!

Posted: 5/15/2024 (CSDE Research)

CSDE Trainee Lizzy Pelletier (Evans School of Public Policy & Governance) will be presenting at this year’s  UW Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition ! Lizzy’s talk is titled ‘Does Paid Leave Help All Parents?’. 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. The event will occur on Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 3:00-4:00 in the auditorium of Alder Hall. Doors open at 2:30 pm. RSVP here and cheer Lizzy on!

Virtual competition

• Hold a 3MT competition Access resources to run a 3MT competition.
• Using the 3MT brand Request permission to use the 3MT brand.
• Virtual competition rules Learn more about the competition rules.
• Judging criteria and panel Find out how the 3MT competition is judged.
• Eligibility, progression and wildcard Who is eligible to participate? How do they progress?
• 3MT video recording competitor guide Fine-tune your 3MT video presentation
• Prizes Prizes are an important incentive for HDR candidates.

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2024 Birkbeck Three Minute Thesis Competition

When: 16 May 2024, 18:00 — 19:30 Venue: Birkbeck Clore Management Centre

Book your place

On Thursday 16 May we will be holding the Birkbeck 2024 Three Minute Thesis Competition. You are invited to join the audience for this exciting event which provides opportunities to celebrate a diverse range of work from Doctoral Researchers across the College. 

Following the competition there will be a celebration and reception for the winners and attendees.

About the competition

Join a selection of Birkbeck's PhD students as they compete to communicate their compelling thesis topics in just three minutes. The winner will be chosen by an expert panel of judges who will award:

• £500 to the overall winner
• £250 to the runner up

The competition will take place in front of a public audience and will be filmed and available online after the event. The audience will also get a chance to have their say by picking a People’s Choice winner who’ll win a special prize. You can find out more about previous 3MT competitions at Birkbeck here on the BGRS blog .

Who can can enter as a competitor?

Competitors must be current Birkbeck doctoral students and be at least 6 months into their research studies.They must also have the permission of their supervisor. All potential competitors for the Three Minute Thesis Competition must attend the training sessions . This training will enhance your presentation skills as well as preparing you for the competition.

Contact name: Birkbeck Graduate Research School

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https://www.vitae.ac.uk/events/three-minute-thesis-competition/3mt-2021/vitae-3mt-finalist-semi-and-quarter-finalists-2021

This page has been reproduced from the Vitae website (www.vitae.ac.uk). Vitae is dedicated to realising the potential of researchers through transforming their professional and career development.

• Vitae members' area

Vitae 3MT® finalists, semi-finalists and quarter finalists 2021

Congratulations to vitae 3mt ®  2021 winners, judge's choice winner.

Ana Pavlovic , Kingston University,  Prestress losses of pretensioned BFRP reinforced concrete beams

People's Choice Winner 2021

Manuela Carnaghi , University of Greenwich,  Houston - the mosquito has landed

Finalists Vitae 3MT ®  2021 

Mohammed Farooqui , University of Huddersfield,  An exploration of the factors favouring positive educational outcomes at GCSE of male Pakistani learners in a Northern Mill City

Theo Issitt , University of York,  The Smell of Cells

Mike Richardson , University of Bath,  Seeing with the tongue

Alena Vdovchenko , Queen Mary, University of London,  Key to the brain: open your mind to drugs

Congratulations to all our 2021 quarter and semi-finalists! Each is the winner of their institution’s Three Minute Thesis competition. Presentations were reviewed, scored and discussed by our quarter and semi-final judging panel.

Semi-finalists 2021.

Clayton Bevas , University of Surrey,  Between a steel and a hard place: The interface chemistry of MDI and steel surfaces

Gemma Donovan , University of Sunderland,  Texting Alice: a community pharmacy intervention to support medication taking

Minerva Fadel , University of Westminster,  Building Peace & Inclusion Through Architecture

Simone Hatchard , University of South Wales,  Understanding the use of digital forensices in the preventions and investigation of major crime in England and Wales

Lydia Mapstone , University College London,  Genetic Engineering for Spirulina for Future Settlers on the Red Planet

Sanne Van Den Berg , University of St Andrews,  From 1st Century Stories to the News Today

Quarter finalists 2021

Zina Alfahl, Queen's University Belfast, The relationship between bacterial number, clinical measures and quality of life in people with bronchiectasis

Jane Bates, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Wellbeing, poverty and advanced cancer in Malawi : can palliative care help?

Gabriela Belsley , University of Oxford, 3D T1 Mapping of the Liver

Rachael Blakey , Cardiff University, Mediation's potential in our family justice system today

Shirsha Bose , Loughborough University, MIND THE GAP!!! Dry vs Wet Collagen

David Burke , Bath Spa University, The Hydra, Many-Headed and Immortal: Developing a Critical Methodology for Mapping Theoretical Continuities and Discontinuities in Metal Music Studies

Valeria Carini, Liverpool John Moores University, When 2+2=5: the potential of lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles as efficacy-enhancing, anti-infective delivery systems

Jakub Ciesielczuk, University of Lincoln, Participation of non-state actors in regimes regulating conservation and sustainable use of marine genetic resources

Jazmin Conway , Plymouth University, Deep Sea Sponges as a Novel Source of Biologics

Faye Davis , University of Hertfordshire, Radio AGN in Dwarf Galaxies

George Dransfield , University of Birmingham, Planet Hunting from Antarctica

Jake Dyble , University of Exeter, Communities of Risk: Dealing with the Unpredictable in the Age of Sail

Fiona Fairbairn, University of Kent, Raising the Wealthy: Philanthropy, Children and the Inter-Generational Transfer of Wealth

Iosto Fodde, University of Strathclyde, The impact of a large asteroid with Earth poses an enormous danger for humanity.

Rosie Ford , University of Bristol, Fungal secondary metabolites: exploring a kingdom of possibilities

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Seven yalies to hone leadership skills as knight-hennessy scholars.

Top row, from left, Daviana Berkowitz-Sklar, Tilly Brooks, and Gabe Malek. Second row, Qusay Omran, Henry Smith, Lina Volin, and Barkotel Zemenu.

A Yale College senior and six Yale alumni are among 90 scholars from 30 countries to be named Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University. The scholars were selected for their independent thought, leadership, and civic-mindedness.

At Stanford, the cohort will pursue graduate degrees in 45 degree programs across all seven schools.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars is a multidisciplinary, multicultural graduate scholarship program that helps develop future leaders. The scholars receive up to three years of financial support to pursue graduate studies at Stanford while also engaging in experiences that prepare them to tackle global challenges.

The seven Yale affiliates named to the 2024 cohort of Knight-Hennessy scholars follows:

Daviana Berkowitz-Sklar ’23, who studied ecology and evolutionary biology as an undergraduate at Yale College, will pursue a Ph.D. in oceans at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. Raised in Costa Rica and California, Berkowitz-Sklar aspires to develop collaborative, science-based solutions to improve the health of ecosystems and the people who depend on them. She is interested in marine spatial ecology and socio-ecological systems and has conducted research in Costa Rican fishing communities with the DynaMAR Project at Stanford. She was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship as well as a Yale postgraduate fellowship to research whale migrations at OKEANOS-University of the Azores and a Rohr Reef Resilience Fellowship to study coral reef resilience at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. Berkowitz-Sklar is the co-founder and president of a nonprofit organization, Nature Now International, through which she leads programs to engage youth in community-based science and conservation, including hands-on work with wildlife, citizen science, and STEM education.

Tilly Brooks  ’23, who was a linguistics major as a Yale College undergraduate, will concurrently pursue a Ph.D. in linguistics at Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences and a J.D. at Yale Law School. Brooks, who is from New Haven, studied Indo-European philology at Yale before discovering an interest in action-based research and the relationship between language and law. Focusing both on the effects of law and policy decisions on marginalized linguistic communities and the application of linguistic theories, research methods, and tools to interpretive legal processes, she researches what she calls “the law of language and the language of law.” In the long term, Brooks aims to draw communities of legal scholars, linguists, and legal practitioners together with the common goals of advancing linguistic justice in the practice of law, and refining the use of linguistic evidence and tools for law and policy purposes.

Gabe Malek ’20, who was a double major in American studies and anthropology at Yale, will pursue a J.D. at Stanford Law School. He aspires to leverage commercial law, financial regulation, and tax policy to accelerate the clean energy transition. Malek has served as chief of staff at Fervo Energy, a next-generation geothermal power developer, and deputy chief of staff to Mark Carney, co-chair of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero and former governor of the Bank of England. He began his career at Environmental Defense Fund, where he helped formalize and scale the organization’s investor engagement strategy. At Yale, Malek received the Edward Sapir Prize for his research on international climate finance and the Institute for Social and Policy Studies Director’s Fellowship for his commitment to public service.

Qusay Omran ’21, who studied chemistry as an undergraduate at Yale College, will pursue an M.D. and Ph.D. in genetics at Stanford School of Medicine. He aspires to develop innovative therapies for cancers and immunologic disorders through research in chemical and synthetic biology. In college, he studied nucleic acid chemical biology at Yale and the National Cancer Institute, publishing his senior thesis on a novel self-splicing assay. Omran also led the Yale Review of International Studies, where he edited and published academic essays on global affairs solicited from around the world. Originally from Bahrain, Omran is a passionate advocate for displaced populations. He worked at Havenly, a nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty for refugee women. He earned a Dwight Hall Community Response Fellowship and the Berkeley College Fellows’ Prize for his contributions to the greater community.

Henry Smith  ’22, who was a double major in mathematics and statistics at Yale, is pursuing a Ph.D. in statistics at Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences. Through his Ph.D., Smith, who is from Hanover, Pennsylvania, aims to improve statistical understanding of machine learning algorithms so they can be more confidently applied across various domains. After graduating from Yale, he spent a year conducting research at the University of Cambridge, where he and a team developed a novel machine learning algorithm to solve a challenging problem in multi-drone flight. At Yale, Smith served as a leader of the Yale Votes Coalition to strengthen university voting policy and managed data for numerous political campaigns. He also spent three years preparing taxes for low-income New Haven residents. At Yale, Smith received the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, an award for the best undergraduate thesis, and Yale’s Emerson Tuttle award for scholastic achievement.

Lina Volin ’19, who studied history at Yale, is pursuing a J.D. at Stanford Law School. Volin, who is from Hollywood, Florida, also holds a Master of Science degree in modern Middle Eastern studies from the University of Oxford. She aspires to advance access to health care and improve health outcomes through policymaking that centers equity and addresses intersecting social, economic, and legal issues. For three years, she served at the White House Gender Policy Council, most recently as director for health policy, where she worked on policy development and litigation response related to reproductive rights and helped to launch a new White House initiative aimed at closing critical research gaps in women’s health. Volin previously served as the council’s chief of staff and led efforts to advance pay equity and strengthen worker protections.

Barkotel Zemenu , an intensive physics major will graduate from Yale College this month, will pursue a Ph.D. in physics at Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences. Zemenu, who is from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has conducted in research on three continents, including work that has spanned particle physics, quantum gravity, and observational astronomy. At Stanford, he plans to leverage this background to investigate fundamental questions in cosmology, with a focus on the elusive neutrinos and the hidden dark sector. As a Yale undergraduate, Zemenu was selected to join the 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Physics, named Top Oral Presenter at the annual international conference hosted by the American Physical Society, and awarded multiple national scholarships by the American Institute of Physics. At Yale, he enjoyed being a physics tutor and studying numerous foreign languages.

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• University of Wisconsin-Madison

Spring 2024 Mechanical Engineering Design Showcase

Departments:, categories:.

Forty-six project teams made up of 187 mechanical engineering senior level students presented their work at the spring 2024 design showcase event earlier this month!

“The Showcase displayed a diverse group of projects (from Industry, Community Service, Research, and Student Design Competitions) that represent the diverse interests of our student body and the discipline of mechanical engineering, which is what makes this event so engaging,” shared course instructor and Assistant Teaching Professor Michael Cheadle .

Over the ten years that Cheadle has been running the course, the ME senior design program has seen incredible growth. In fall 2024 there is a new influx of entrepreneurial senior design project opportunities coming from the Borgen Design Fund and at this spring showcase, ME alumni Tim and Tom Smart announced the very first Smart Brothers Design Awards!

Special thanks to the project judges Tim Smart, Tom Smart, Lennon Rodgers, Jesse Darley, Jay Bowe, Joey Andrews, and Xiaoping Qian for their time, expertise, and appreciation for the hard work of our students!

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Featured image: The crowded atrium at the May 2, 2024 showcase event.