Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) 2022

You have 3 minutes. 

About the competition

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland, and celebrates the exciting research conducted by PhD students in Australia and around the world.

Do you think you could present your entire PhD thesis to a general audience in just 3 minutes?

Beginning in 2008, the first 3MT® competition was held at UQ with 160 Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates competing.

Just one year later in 2009, the 3MT® competition was promoted to other Australian and New Zealand universities and enthusiasm for the concept grew.

Now, 3MT® is held in over 900 universities across more than 80 countries worldwide.

• Develop your academic, presentation and research communication skills
• Develop your ability to effectively explain your research in language appropriate to a general audience
• Great professional development opportunity - participants receive two graduate research hours towards the MDP Professional Development requirement
• Celebrate your research, connect with your peers, and raise your public profile
• Have the chance to win great prizes, and the chance to represent Monash at the Asia-Pacific 3MT virtual finals

Thank you to the Monash Graduate Association (MGA) for their generous support once again this year, with both faculty rounds and Monash final prizes.

Please note; As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 impact, The 2022 Asia-Pacific Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition will remain in a virtual format. Competitors will be required to enter via a pre-recorded video submission.

However, the Monash University Wildcard Competition and the Monash Final will be live events, with competitors presenting in-person to a hybrid audience of live and virtual attendees. As such, following the Monash Final, the winner will be required to prepare a pre-recorded video presentation to submit to the Asia-Pacific Competition.

If you have any questions please contact the Monash Graduate Research Office

Rules

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• Presentations are to commence from the stage.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Virtual Rules

Please Note: The rules below only apply if your Faculty/School/Institute/Campus is running their local competition in a virtual format, or for the winner of the Monash Final when preparing their submission for the Asia-Pacific Competition. Otherwise, refer to the rules above.

• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes - competitors exceeding this are disqualified.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts speaking (timing does not include 3MT title slide).
• Videos must meet the following criteria:
  • Filmed on the horizontal;
  • Filmed on a plain background;
  • Filmed from a static position;
  • Filmed from one camera angle;
  • Contain a 3MT title slide (at beginning);
  • Contain a 3MT PowerPoint slide (top right corner/right side/cut to)
• A single static slide is permitted in the presentation (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any kind). This can be visible continuously, or ‘cut to’ (as many times as you like) for a maximum of 1 minute.
• The 3 minute audio must be continuous – no sound edits or breaks.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment, animated backgrounds) are permitted.
• 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.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
• Submissions via video format (only Vimeo link provided to Event Coordinators). Files sent in other formats will not be accepted.
• Entries submitted for final adjudication to Wildcard or University Final are to be submitted from the School/Faculty/Institute 3MT Event Coordinator. Competitors should not submit their videos directly to 3MT.

Please note: competitors *will not* be judged on video/ recording quality or editing capabilities (optional inclusions). Judging will focus on the presentation, ability to communicate research to a non-specialist audience, and 3MT PowerPoint slide.

Eligibility

• Active PhD and Professional Doctorate Research (program composed of at least 2/3 research and eligible for RTP) candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including candidates whose thesis is under submission) by the date of their first virtual presentation are eligible to participate in 3MT competitions at all levels, including the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition. Participants must be an enrolled candidate for the entirety of the competition period (i.e. up to October 2022), therefore participants who reach completion before the competition period has lapsed will need to withdraw.
• Graduates are not eligible.
• Please note: Students enrolled in any of the following programs are not eligible to enter:
  • Masters (MPhil and coursework);
  • Professional Doctorate (coursework).

Useful Links

3MT® Live Competition Site

3MT® Live Competitor Guide

3MT® Virtual Competition Site

3MT® Virtual Competitor Guide