1. 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition University of Mississippi
- What is it?
- The rules.
- Judging criteria.
- How to prepare.

2. What is it?
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ).
Masters and doctoral students have three minutes to present a compelling oration on their thesis and its significance.
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.

3. What is it?
"This competition is a chance to impress. Students showcase their exciting research to not only this university, but to the whole nation. It encourages students to step outside of their research and focus on what is really important and interesting about the work that they do“.
Gabrielle Briggs - Winner of the 2010 Competition in Australia
“3MT was a great experience; it allowed me focus on the key messages in my project which helped my PhD thesis writing. It also feels great to know that others are interested in my research work. The public speaking skills I gained are also important for my future career development.”
Tina Wu – University of Queensland
“The 3MT competition was an option for my doctoral seminar class. I chose to participate and am glad I did. I was able to narrow my focus and explain my research to people unfamiliar with my topic in an approachable way. As a classroom teacher I was not worried about the public speaking aspect of the competition but it gave me practice for my upcoming defense.”
Terri Hovious – University of Mississippi
Winner: University of Mississippi (Biology)

4. The rules (1)  A single PowerPoint slide is permitted.
No • slide transitions
• additional electronic media
(e.g. sound and video files)
• additional props
(e.g. costumes, laboratory instruments, etc).
 Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum.
Competitors exceeding 3 minutes will be disqualified.
 The decision of the judging panel is final.

5. The rules (2)
Presentations
 are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, rap or songs; no costumes permitted).
 are to commence from the stage.
 are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.

6. Why participate in the 3MT?
What are the advantages for you as graduate students?

7. • Skills Training for Graduate Students
The exercise develops academic, presentation and research communication skills, while developing research students' ability to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.
• Building Research Culture Across the University
3MT provides a valuable opportunity for graduate students to come together, get to know one another and talk about their research. It also provides a supportive environment for presentation skills training.
• Building External Relations for the University
Grand prize winner will go on to represent The University of Mississippi at CSGS Competition which, in itself, is an excellent networking and professional development opportunity.

8. Timetable: 27 Sept 2016@6pm Evening training session
6 Oct Registration Deadline
27 Oct Competition-first round–afternoon and evening (Yerby Center)
3 Nov Final Competition (Overby Auditorium)
4 March Southern Graduate Schools Competition; Annapolis

9. Judging criteria  Comprehension
Did the presentation help the audience understand the
research?
 Engagement
Did the presentation make the audience want to know more?
 Communication style
Was the thesis topic and its significance communicated
in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
History Ph.D student.

10. How will you begin?  Summarize your research
Any suggestions?
 Summarize your research
 Plan the story with a beginning, middle and end
 Decide what you will say first.
 Choose language for a non-specialist audience
 Think about explanations you may need to give
 Plan the slide
How can you present your research - what you are doing, how you are doing it and why – in 3 minutes – keeping your audience engaged and without reducing it to a form of entertainment?
Is there anyone who has already started their preparation for the competition? Can you tell us what you did first? / What do you think you might do first?

12. The hook Begin with something that the audience can relate to:
 ‘imagine’ (education)
 mini-drama (medicine)
 question (education)
(biology)
(nutrition)

13. Preparing your 3MT
Use language that is listener friendly and scenarios to which people can easily relate.
Pretend that you are describing your work to a parent or friend, who is not a researcher, but is educated and interested.
Add a little humor (but not too much) to keep the presentation entertaining and interesting.
Use voice tone and hand gestures to help with your talk.
Practice—a lot!

14. Preparing your 3MT PowerPoint Slide
Less is more.
You do not have to use any text on your slide.
People respond well to visual cues—is there an image that could assist you with explaining your research?
Person touches can be effective.
Think about how your slide can assist with the format and delivery of your presentation.

15. https://gradschool.uoregon.edu/3MT

16. Karlodinium veneficum: Ecological Disaster or Pharmaceutical Savior
Amanda Waters
Anticancer Potential

17. Sheryl Chatfield

18. What are some common errors in oral presentations (that also would apply to 3MT)?

19. Too technical – lose interest.
Too much on each slide – get lost – trying to read while trying to listen is hard!
Small font or wacky fonts undermines the authority of the speaker.
Lots of different fonts or colors – distracting again.
No structure – doesn’t seem like a ‘story’. Takes too much energy to listen.
Reading from notes - don’t feel involved. Worse if less eye contact.
Unclear speech – not understand or follow what is being said.
Too simple – feel ‘talked down to’
Body language – too much or not enough.

20. For a non-specialist audience
Use shorter words and sentences
active verbs
Avoid jargon, acronyms
‘academic’ language
Explain unknown concepts, people, places, etc.

21. Next steps
Register for the competition by October 6 at
Develop a 3MT presentation.
Practice: Advisor, peers, friends.
Practice more.
Competition on Thursday October 27 (Yerby Center) in afternoon and evening.
Final Round on Thursday Nov.3 (Overby Auditorium)

22. Your thesis – in three minutes