three minute thesis kent state

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Three Minute Thesis

The Division of Graduate Studies will host our third annual Three Minute Thesis  (3MT®) competition at Kent State University in October 2017.

Preliminary rounds are scheduled for October 18, 19, 20 at 12pm .  The top presenters from each preliminary round will be selected to present in the 3MT Finals on Friday, October 27 at 12pm .

Registration for the 2017 3MT will open in mid-September.

3MT was developed at the University of Queensland and is now offered at over 170 universities.  The exercise develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development of graduate students' capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes in a language appropriate to an intelligent, but non-specialist audience.   3MT is not an exercise in trivializing or 'dumbing-down' research but forces competitors to consolidate their ideas and crystalize their research discoveries. 

The trademarked name of this event is Three Minute Thesis, but students are able to present research they are conducting for a thesis, dissertation, terminal project, or any other research project they are engaged in.  Students may present on research that is in progress.  All currently enrolled graduate students are eligible to participate and compete for cash prizes. Students are given just three minutes and one powerpoint slide that they can use to discuss their research in an engaging and concise manner.   View the Complete Rules and Judging Criteria .

Review the 2016 preparation workshop presentation on 3MT .

2016 3MT Award Winners

• First Place : Crystal Oechsle, doctoral student in Biomedical Sciences: Cellular and Molecular Biology
• Second Place : Gaelle Muller-Greven, doctoral student in Biomedical Sciences: Cellular and Molecular Biology
• Third Place : Michael Levinstein, doctoral student in Higher Education Administration
• People's Choice : Mel Dickey, master's student in Higher Education Administration

You can view all four presentations on our  3MT playlist .

View highlights from the 2015 3MT competition at Kent State below.

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Samantha O'Sullivan (Physics / African American Studies)

Gullah Physics: Challenging English Language Hegemony in Science

Second prize expand_more

Sahar Mariam Mohammadzadeh (Government)

The Impact of Twitter on the Supreme Court

Third prize expand_more

Stephanie Alderete (Psychology)

Preschoolers' Ability to Think about Alternative Possibilities

Finalists expand_more

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)

The Spillover Potential of a Nudge

Daiana Lilo (Government / Data Science)

A Great Personality: How Different Characteristics Can Predict Supreme Court Decisions

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Three Minute Thesis Resources

How do I prepare for the competition?

Start preparing your presentation..

For the final presentation, you must use one PowerPoint slide with no moving images (that includes film and animated gifs). The official website has some additional tips for preparing . You may also want to consider the judging criteria when preparing your slides.

The three-minute rule is not flexible. Make sure you can do your presentation in the allotted time.  

Attend a Workshop!

February 2, 2024 12:00 pm - Tips for Creating a Great 3MT Slide & Speaking to the Audience for Your Presentation

Workshop Handout

Presenters:   Dr. Mary Jon Ludy and Kim Fleshman, Graduate College

Guest Speaker:  Dr. Crystal Oechsle, Biological Sciences and 2016 Kent State 3MT Winner

Recording of this workshop

Competitor's Handbook

The Three Minute Thesis competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by Master's and doctoral students. Developed by The University of Queensland, the exercise 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.

The first 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2008 with 160 Research Higher Degree students competing. In 2009 and 2010, the 3MT competition was promoted to other Australian and New Zealand universities, and enthusiasm for the concept grew. Due to its adoption in numerous universities, a multi-national event was developed, and the Inaugural Trans-Tasman 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2010.

Since 2011, the popularity of the competition has increased, and 3MT competitions are now held in over 600 universities across more than 65 countries worldwide.

In November 2013, the first Universitas 21 (U21) 3MT competition was held with several universities from around the world competing in a virtual competition.

2016 brought an expansion of the Trans-Tasman 3MT competition to also include universities from the North-East and South-East Asia regions.  This competition is now called the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition and is hosted annually by UQ.

The Graduate College will host its annual Three Minute Thesis Competition at Bowling Green State University on Thursday, February 15, 2024 from 2:30pm - 4:00pm in the BTSU Theatre.  PowerPoint slide submissions are due Friday, February 9, 2024 at 5:00pm.   

Prizes will be awarded to winners of the competition, as decided by the judges.

1 st place: $500

2 nd place: $300

3 rd place: $200

The winner of the BGSU competition will be eligible to compete in the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools' Three Minute Thesis competition.

Competitors must meet the following criteria

• Must be a current BGSU graduate student (part-time or full time) during Spring semester 2024 or have graduated in summer or fall of 2023.
• Have a significant amount of work completed on your thesis or dissertation. Official completion is not required.
• Official approval of thesis/dissertation topic and committee by the Graduate College. [ See here for information regarding this process ].

“Significant amount of work” should mean that you have completed a draft of several of your chapters and completed your data collection.

It is strongly recommended that you inform your committee chair that you plan on entering the competition.

You may submit a previously completed thesis or dissertation if: (1) It was completed through a BGSU graduate program, and (2) you are currently enrolled as a graduate student in a different department or degree program.

All those wishing to compete must complete the online registration form .

The deadline is Friday, February 2, 2024 .

Your final PowerPoint slide is due to the Graduate College via OneDrive on February 9, 2024 . A link will be sent to you via email. 

There is no cost to the student to enter and/or compete.

• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum, and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech (timing does not include the 3MT title slide).
• A single static slide is permitted in the presentation (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description).
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment, or animated backgrounds) are permitted.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps, or songs).
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound or video files) are permitted.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
• Please submit your PowerPoint (.pptx) slide to the OneDrive link sent to you by February 9, 2024 at 5:00 pm EST.

Please note : WBGU will live stream and record this event.  The winner will be submittted to represent BGSU at the MAGS 3MT competition.  If this event changes from a live event to a video event, the WBGU video of the winning presentation will be submitted to MAGS.   

Write for your audience

• Avoid jargon and academic language.
• Explain concepts and people important to your research - You may know all about Professor Smith’s theories, but your audience may not.
• Highlight the outcomes of your research, and the desired outcome.
• Imagine that you are explaining your research to a close friend or fellow student from another field.
• Convey your excitement and enthusiasm for your subject.

Tell a story

• You may like to present your 3MT as a narrative, with a beginning, middle and end.
• It’s not easy to condense your research into three minutes, so you may find it easier to break your presentation down into smaller sections.
• Try writing an opener to catch the attention of the audience, then highlight your different points, and finally have a summary to restate the importance of your work.

Have a clear outcome in mind

• Know what you want your audience to take away from your presentation.
• Try to leave the audience with an understanding of what you are doing, why it is important, and what you hope to achieve.
• Proof your 3MT presentation by reading it aloud, to yourself and to an audience of friends and family.
• Ask for feedback.
• Ask your audience if your presentation clearly highlights what your research is about and why it is important.

Before you start work on your slide, you should take the following rules into account:

• One single static PowerPoint slide is permitted;
• No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are permitted;
• Your slide is to be presented from the beginning of your oration; and
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.

Suggestions

You may like to consider some of the following suggestions.

• Less is more: Text and complicated graphics can distract your audience – You don’t want them to read your slide instead of listening to your 3MT. 
• Personal touches: Personal touches can allow your audience to understand the impact of your research.
• Creativity drives interest: Do not rely on your slide to convey your message – It should simply complement your oration.
• Work your message: Think about how your slide might be able to assist with the format and delivery of your presentation – is there a metaphor that helps explain your research?
• An engaging visual presentation can make or break any oration, so make sure your slide is legible, clear and concise.

Practice, practice, practice

• Feeling nervous before you present is natural, and a little nervousness can even be beneficial to your overall speech. Nonetheless, it is important to practice so you can present with confidence and clarity. Practicing will also help you gauge the timing of your 3MT so that you keep within the time limit.

Vocal range

• Speak clearly and use variety in your voice (fast/slow, loud/soft).
• Do not rush – find your rhythm.
• Remember to pause at key points as it gives the audience time to think about what you are saying.

Body language

• Stand straight and confidently.
• Hold your head up and make eye contact.
• Never turn your back to the audience.
• Practice how you will use your hands and move around the stage. It is okay to move around energetically if that is your personality; however, it is also appropriate for a 3MT presentation to be delivered from a single spot on stage.
• Do not make the common mistakes of rolling back and forth on your heels, pacing for no reason or playing with your hair as these habits are distracting for the audience. 

Record yourself

• Record and listen to your presentation to hear where you pause, speak too quickly or get it just right.
• Then work on your weaknesses and exploit your strengths.

Look to the stars!

• Watch your role models such as academics, politicians and journalists, and break down their strengths and weaknesses.
• Analyze how they engage with their audience.
• View presentations by  previous 3MT finalists .
• There is no dress code. If you are unsure of how to dress, you may like to dress for a job interview or an important meeting. It is important that you feel comfortable so you can focus on your presentation.
• If you are presenting on a stage that has a wooden floor, be aware of the noise your footwear might make.
• Do not wear a costume of any kind as this is against the rules (as is the use of props).

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 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?

Fancy hearing an 80,000 word thesis explained in less than 180 seconds?

Research students from across the globe are doing just that in preparation for the Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT®).

Established by The University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008, 3MT® is now held in at least 600 universities across more than 65 countries worldwide.

The Dean of UQ’s Graduate School, Professor Alastair McEwan, said 3MT® was designed to develop skills that will give students an important career advantage once they complete their studies.

3MT® provides a unique opportunity to profile and celebrate the innovative research conducted by postgraduate research candidates from around the world.

“It is a reality that many PhD students will need to communicate their ideas and results to people who may not necessarily have expertise in their field,” Professor McEwan said.

“3MT® develops the ability of students to communicate the significance and outcomes of their project in a short space of time.”

3MT is a competition that challenges research students to communicate the significance of their projects to a general audience in just three minutes.

3MT® contestants must condense their research into a brief, engaging presentation for a non-specialist audience, using a single presentation slide.

More information about 3MT® is available at

www.threeminutethesis.org

(Please note these are for informational purposes and not officially related to the 3MT competition or BGSU.)

BGSU Graduate College provides PD.education to graduate students.  Link to login and login information on the website.  Once logged in, go to Getting Published and click on Past Webinars .  Click on Preparing for Presntation or 3MTs . This recording is about 45 minutes long.

How to sell your thesis in three minutes or less

How to talk about your thesis in three minutes

11 Tips for Three Minute Thesis Contenders 

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) coaching session [video]

Winning Tips for Preparing a Successful Three-Minute Thesis 3MT® Presentation [video]

3MT: the three most common mistakes [video]

The competition

Submissions due by:, 5pm on friday, february 9, 2024, 1st place: $500, 2nd place: $300, 3rd place: $200, graduate college.

110 McFall Center Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH 43403 419-372-2791 [email protected]

Updated: 02/05/2024 10:13AM

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Graduate School Updates>

The latest COVID-19 news and information is available at  Penn State's Coronavirus Information website . 

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Update

On March 11 th  the University announced that beginning March 16 th  instruction for all students will be moving to a remote delivery format. Graduate students enrolled in resident courses should plan on participating remotely, and not coming to campus specifically for face-to-face instruction. Learn more at gradschool.psu.edu/covid19 .

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Three Minute Thesis

•  /  Career and Professional Development
•  /  Three Minute Thesis

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. Through the competition, graduate and professional students can hone their academic and research presentation skills and their ability to effectively explain their research to a general audience. Each competitor has three minutes to speak and can use only one presentation slide.

The Graduate School will be hosting the 2024 Three Minute Thesis competition in partnership with the Graduate and Professional Student Association and the Graduate School Alumni Society .

Watch the Final Round

3MT at Penn State in 2024 

Penn State’s first University-wide 3MT Competition will take place over two rounds. To compete, graduate students must upload a video presentation during the submission period (January 8–February 9) and be available for the final, in-person round on Saturday, March 23, on the University Park campus.

Competitor Information

Learn more about eligibility requirements, the upcoming timeline, prize money, and more.

Judge Information

Learn about remote judging for the opening round, who can be a judge, judging criteria, and more.

Prizes 

• First Place: $1,000
• Second Place: $500
• People's Choice: $500

Competition Format

Opening Round — Video Format expand_more

Open call to any Penn State graduate or professional student conducting research to submit three-minute videos. Submissions will be judged by alumni, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, staff, and others. The top 10 students get invited to the final round as well as a free lunch at Penn State’s annual Doctoral Alumni Recognition Luncheon hosted by the Dean of the Graduate School. 

Final Round — In-Person Format expand_more

Saturday, March 23  10:00-11:15 a.m.  Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center 

The final round will be live streamed from the University Park campus and will include a people’s choice prize selected by virtual and in-person audience ballots. Winners will be announced shortly after the competition.

Regional and National Competitions expand_more

The top-scoring Ph.D. student from Penn State’s final round will be invited to the regional 3MT competition hosted by the Northeast Association of Graduate Schools in April 2024 (exact date to be determined). Winners of the regional competition are invited to the national competition hosted by the Council of Graduate Schools. Students in master's and professional degree programs are eligible to participate in Penn State's competition but are not eligible for the regional or national competitions.

Why participate?

Megan Rossi, past 3MT winner at the University of Queensland, discusses how the 3MT competition helped her career.

Contact  

Direct all questions about Three Minute Thesis at Penn State to: [email protected] .  

Three Minute Thesis, Graduate Exhibition, or Both?

In spring 2024, Penn State graduate students can participate in two major research and scholarship communication events, the Three Minute Thesis and the  Graduate Exhibition . Students are welcome to participate in both but should be aware that each event has its own application process and deadlines.

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Ball State University

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Prepare for the 2024 Competition

An 80,000-word thesis could take hours to present. their time limit... 3 minutes.

In the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, graduate students convey the essence and importance of their master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation research in an engaging way to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes using one static PowerPoint slide.

This research communication competition originally developed by The University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008. Over time the contest has exploded in popularity, and 3MT contests now occur worldwide at over 900 universities across more than 85 countries.

3MT is not an exercise in trivializing or ‘dumbing-down’ research but challenges students to consolidate their ideas and research discoveries so they can be presented concisely to a non-specialist audience. The challenge for participants is to take all the months spent on research and writing their thesis or dissertation and distill it down to a three-minute summary! The first-place winner of the competition will receive $1,000. The second-place winner will receive $700. The third-place and People's Choice winners will each receive $500. The first-place winner will also represent Ball State at the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Conference in St. Louis, MO on April 5, 2024 with all expense paid! 

REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 PRELIMINARY ROUNDS (CLOSED)  

Important Dates 

Thursday, January 18, 2024 3MT Information Session 3:30 p.m. (View Recording)

Wednesday, January 31, 2024 3MT Preliminary Rounds Registration Ends 11:59 p.m. Registration Closed

Monday, February 5, 2024 3MT Preliminary Round Session 1 3:30-5:30 p.m. SC 301

Tuesday, February 6, 2024 3MT Preliminary Round Session 2 5:30-7:30 p.m. SC 301

Thursday, February 22, 2024 3MT Final Competition 6:00-8:00 p.m. Ball Brother's Hospitality Suite, Emens Auditorium

Competition Details

Eligibility and requirements.

• A student must be enrolled in a Master’s or Doctoral Program; the student must be actively enrolled in their program at Ball State at some point in the 2023-2024 academic year.
• The student’s program of study must contain an original research project. This can be at any point in the course of study and can be attached to a required class or a capstone or independent project.
• The degree program need not formally require a thesis or dissertation; however, the presentation topic must cover an original research project.
• Minimally, some preliminary data must be collected on the topic. 

Judging Criteria

• How well was the research motivated (i.e. background and significance)?
• How well was the research design explained (i.e. methods or approach)?
• How well were results, conclusions, or outcomes described?
• How well did the presenter capture and hold your attention?
• How well did the presenter make their work comprehensible (i.e. avoided jargon)?
• How well did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation?
• 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.

Helpful Tips

A special thanks to Ms. Mary Moore , Senior Lecturer of Communication Studies, for developing the helpful video recordings below. 

• Five tips for recording
• Advice on Delivery
• Introductions & Conclusions
• Speaking to a general audience

Previous Winners

See our past winners at Events & Recognition .

For answers to your questions or to get more information, please contact Dr. Nathan Hitchens . 

Three Minute Thesis

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is a research communication competition that challenges master's and Ph.D. students to describe their research topic and its significance in just 3 minutes to a general audience.

3MT seeks to enhance the profile of graduate students both within university communities and the wider community. 3MT develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development of research students' capacity to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. 3MT is not designed to trivialize or "dumb-down" research, but rather encourage students to consolidate their ideas and crystalize their research discoveries.

Students are allowed to use one static slide, and no additional transitions, animation, video, or props. Presentations are all spoken word, and exclude songs and theatrical performances.

First place: $750 Second place: $500 People's choice: $750

The first place winner will be entered in the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools competition in March. In the event the first place winner is unable to attend, the second place winner will attend. Prizes are taxable.

Who can compete?

Any Illinois State master's or doctoral student enrolled during the current academic year is eligible. The 10 university finalists must submit an advisor consent form .

Each college selects a winner(s). Colleges have the choice to run their own heats or nominate students. For information about your college's competition, contact your college research coordinator:

College of Arts and Sciences

Laura Vogel

College of Applied Science and Technology

Cara Rabe-Hemp

College of Business

Somnath Lahiri

College of Education

Mennonite college of nursing, wonsook kim college of fine arts.

Sara Semonis

Ten finalists will compete at the Normal Theater, February 29, 2024. For information about the university wide competition, contact Dana Davidson .

• 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 judging panel is final.

Judging criteria

Comprehension and content.

• Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background to the research question being addressed and its significance?
• Did the presentation clearly describe the key results of the research including conclusions and outcomes?
• Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
• Was the thesis topic, key results and 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 and communication

• Did the presentation 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?

Milner Library has video recording equipment available to record your 3MT presentation. Milner also rents equipment.

History of the 3MT

3MT was developed by the University of Queensland (UQ) and has spread to over 18 countries and 200 universities worldwide. UQ owns the rights to the program and branding of the logo while providing extensive resources to host local competitions. In the United States 3MT is fast growing and has expanded to regional competitions (eg. Midwest Association of Graduate Schools) and potentially to a national competition at the annual Council of Graduate Schools meeting. UQ has expanded their Australian competition to the Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition to include Australia, New Zealand, and a select number of Asian institutions.

Learn more at the Three Minute Thesis website .

View past Three Minute Thesis finalists

• 2022 Finalists
• 2021 Finalists
• 2020 Finalists
• 2019 Finalists
• 2018 Finalists
• 2017 Finalists

Meet the 2024 Three Minute Thesis competition finalists

CAST selects Three Minute Thesis Competition winner

Series assists Redbirds applying to graduate school

Additional links.

• Apply to Graduate School
• Our Graduate Programs

University Resources

• K-State home
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• Three Minute Thesis

The Three Minute Thesis Competition , or 3MT®, first held at The University of Queensland in 2008, is an academic competition that challenges graduate students to present a compelling oration on their thesis/dissertation topic and its significance to a non-expert audience in just three minutes using a single, static slide.

2024 Three Minute Thesis final round winners

Final round judges selected a first and second place winner from among 12 finalists who competed in the final round of the competition held February 22 in the Union Ballroom. The audience selected a people's choice award winner. The first place presenter will represent K-State at the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) 3MT® Competition on April 5. Please read the press release for more details about the 3MT winners. You can also watch the entire competition on YouTube .

3MT Finalists

Finalists were selected from the first round of the 3MT competition that included 69 participants.

Irosha Wanithunga PhD student in Agronomy Nitrogen Fixing Microbial Products: A Solution for Nitrous Oxide Emissions & Sustainable Agriculture?

Dena Bunnel PhD student in Security Studies Growing Peace: The Impact of Agricultural Development on Resilience in Conflict-Affected Nigeria

Hazel Scribner MS student in Entomology Pest Management is Buckets of Fun

Kendra Marstall MS student in Public Health Physical Activity in Rural Long-term Care

Shivaprasad Doddabematti Prakash PhD student in Grain Science Unwrapping the Sweet Mystery: Is Your Cookie Dough a Safe Delight?

Fei Xyza Asuncion PhD student in Biological and Agricultural Engineering Improving the Effectiveness of Insect Control by Predicting the Motion of Insecticide Particles

Megan Bourns PhD student in Agronomy Sustainable Sufficiency: Phosphorus Fertility, Reimagined

Juhwan Lim PhD student in Hospitality Administration Interview Behaviors Tell Personality Traits for Better Hiring Decisions

Ryley Griffin MS student in Grain Science Whole Soybeans: Trash or Treasure?

Kylee Jennings Master's student in Regional and Community Planning Are Mobile Homes the Solution to the Affordable Housing Crisis?

Endy Lopes Kailer PhD student in Agronomy Rooting for Change: Soil Fungi and the Future of Climate Resilience

Jordan Williams MS student in Civil Engineering The End is not The End: Swine Manure, a Love Story

Eligibility

• Must be enrolled in a master's or doctoral program at Kansas State University in the Spring 2024 semester.
• A student’s program of study must contain an original research project. The degree program need not formally require a thesis or dissertation. However, the 3MT® presentation topic must cover the original research project that is being conducted as part of the student's K-State graduate degree program.
• The presentation must address research the participant conducted during their graduate career at K-State (not undergraduate research or graduate research conducted at another institution).
• Students are not required to have reached a particular point in their research, but those who are further along in their research activity are likely to be more competitive.
• Graduate students must receive approval from their major professor prior to registering for the competition.
• The first place winners from previous competitions are not eligible to compete this year; previous second place and people's choice award winners are eligible to participate in this year's competition.

Rules and Requirements

• Present a compelling oration of your original research topic and its significance using language appropriate for a non-specialist audience
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g., no poems, raps or songs)
• Time limit: 3 minutes. Competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified
• Prepare a single, static PowerPoint slide that represents the purpose and importance of your original research; no slide transitions, animations, or 'movement' of any type are allowed; the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration
• Props, sounds, and other materials may NOT be included in the presentation
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech
• The decision of the judging panel is final

Guidance for 3MT success!

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

Judging Criteria

Presentations will be evaluated on the following 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 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?

Note that the common theme among the judging criteria is the impact of the presentation on the audience.

Previous Winners

Click on presentation titles to view videos of winning presentations.

2023 Winners

Read a news release recognizing the winners.

Abigail Kreznor PhD student in Chemistry Moving brain cancer: Studying cells in inexpensive ways

Endy Lopes Kailer PhD student in Agronomy The hidden heroes – Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and the Future of Climate Mitigation

People's choice

Aspen Streetman PhD student in Human Ecology, specialization in kinesiology Does resistance training empower women? And should you care?

Watch the full 2023 final competition

2022 Winners

1st place and people's choice.

Mehreen Iftikhar MS student in Grain Science Accelerated shelf-life study of rice with added nutrients

Kiana Schulze PhD student in Kinesiology Pulmonary hypertension: Not just a lung disease?

Watch the full 2022 final competition

2021 Winners

Manjot Kaur Rekhi MS student in Agronomy Sensing nutrient dynamics using soil-based microbial fuel cells

Lara Dsouza PhD student in Biology Little Warrior vaccinia: Using Vaccinia virus to treat breast cancer

Priyasha Fernando MS student in Civil Engineering Power of Pig Poop

Watch the full 2021 final competition

2020 Winners

Cameron Osborne PhD student in Entomology Can a livestock pest control itself?

Mikaela Rader MS student in Geology LA-ICP-MS zircon geochronology of granulite xenoliths from the Geronimo Volcanic Field, SE Arizona: implications for crustal evolution since 2.4 Ga

Kristen Sikorsky MS student in Horticulture and Natural Resources Ready for takeoff: Using drones to protect our parks

Watch the full 2020 final competition

2019 Winners

Chris Omni Master's student in Public Health Black Butterflyz: Making Black Women's Health a Capital Concern

Grace Craigie MS student in Entomology Fantastic Pests and How to Find Them

Narmadha Mohankumar PhD student in Statistics Is my advisor hiding in their office?

Watch the full 2019 final competition

2018 Winners

Dave Hoffman PhD student in Counseling and Student Development Purple Stride: Prospective Engineering Students and First-Year Retention

2nd place and people's choice

Tennecia Dacass Economics, PhD Intergenerational Effects of Mass Incarceration

Watch the full 2018 final competition

2017 Winners

1st place and people's choice.

Tuyen Nguyen PhD student in Chemistry Tiny Superhero Fights against Cancer

Anil Pant PhD student in Biology Vaccinia Virus Develops New Taste

Watch the full 2017 final competition

2016 Winners

Ryan Schmid PhD student in Entomology Hessian Fly Smart-Trap Design and Deployment Strategies

Bondy Kaye MS student in Mass Communications Same Song, New Dance: Competition and Market Structure in the Digital Music Aggregation Industry

Jere Noel MS student in Animal Science Utilizing Electromyography to Identify Causes of Fatigue in Pigs

Watch the full 2016 final competition

Questions about the Kansas State University Graduate School’s 3MT® competition may be directed to Dr. Megan Miller, Assistant Director of Graduate Student Success, [email protected] or 785-532-6191.

• Updated: 3/18/24

• Tahiya Tarannum selected as a 3 Minute Thesis Finalist

Penn State held its inaugural 3 Minute Thesis competition in March, where doctoral candidates were invited to explain their research to a broad audience in less than 3 minutes. McPhillips Lab PhD student Tahiya Tarannum was a finalist in the competition, presenting on her research on duckweed for nutrient remediation. Congrats Tahiya!! link to PSU news story

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Rhody Today

Graduate students recognized with ‘three minute thesis’ awards for influential research.

KINGSTON, R.I., – April 22, 2024 – Three Ph.D. students at the University of Rhode Island have been recognized for their ability to communicate their research effectively to the public as part of URI’s inaugural Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Each student who entered the competition was challenged to present the content and contributions of their research in a 3-minute “ elevator pitch ” that attempted to  capture the attention of a non-specialist audience in a vivid, cogent, jargon-free style – without reverting to academic language – while relying on only a  single static slide as a visual aid.  

“An 80,000 word Ph.D. thesis would take 9 hours to present.  Your time limit… 3 minutes” according to the University of Queensland , which founded the 3MT competition in 2008.  3MT is now replicated at over 900 universities around the world.  “3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills, . . . and supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in 3 minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience,” according to University of Queensland.

The finals of URI’s 3MT competition took place last month, in Lippitt Hall before an audience of nearly 100 spectators. Winners are: Sarah Davis, who is studying biological and environmental sciences; Md Abdullah Al Rumon, a student in electrical engineering; and Helani Singhapurage, who is studying physics.

“Graduate programs are the secret sauce that makes URI such a great place to study and work, and the Three Minute Thesis competition was an incredible opportunity to showcase the innovative work that our graduate students do every day,” said Professor of Chemistry and Graduate School Dean Brenton DeBoef.

Davis’ first-place presentation, “A Crab’s Eye View of the Plastic Pollution Crisis,” about the New England native Jonah crab, highlighted the urgent threat that pollution poses to ocean life. 

According to Davis, the greatest threat to this species is the level of plastic pollution in the ocean. When the plastic refuse breaks down, becoming microplastics, ingesting these synthetic materials becomes unavoidable for ocean-floor scavengers like crustaceans. 

Second-place winner Al Rumon, wrote his thesis on a device that would more efficiently monitor the vital signs of infants in neonatal intensive care units. His “smart belt” device is a “softer” non-invasive way to gather essential medical information from infants and newborns in delicate conditions. 

Current standard equipment for taking vital signs in infant intensive care units is composed of equipment, including leads for monitors and tubes that are fastened directly to the baby’s skin, which has many drawbacks, says Rumon. Not only can the wires damage or irritate the skin of a newborn, causing bleeding and contact dermatitis, they can prevent the baby from moving freely, making it more difficult for mothers and nurses to hold them. Al Rumon’s belt design is simpler than what exists now for taking vital signs. An article on the $2.6 million grant awarded by the National Institutes of Health to al Rumon and the team developing this device was featured in Rhody Today on Oct. 19, 2023.

Singhapurage, was voted winner of the people’s choice award by the audience, for her research in the field of physics. Singhapurage’s thesis explores light refraction on the microscopic level, and compares the refractions of different kinds of light on different materials by measuring the vibrations emitted. 

Studies of this sort have been conducted before, but Singhapurage’s methods of light and vibration measurement allowed her to discern minute variations in the emitted frequencies that speak to the chemical differences of the material, and perceived differences in its color.

“Analyzing scattered light from Raman active vibrations of materials provides vital information,” Singhapurage said. “Ultimately, findings of my research will help to develop more efficient semiconductors and high-powered lasers.”

DeBoef, who judged the event, along with Jen Riley, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Vinka Oyanedel-Craver, professor and associate dean of research in the College of Engineering; and Christopher Lavan, associate vice provost for the advancement of teaching and learning, called the event a resounding success.

You can view the presentations of all the winners and see the list of the 10 finalists HERE

This story was written by Samantha Melia, a senior journalism and political science major at the University of Rhode Island and an intern in the Department of Marketing and Communications.