1. 3 Minute Thesis Competition
Robert Hammarberg, MPA
Manager, Academic affairs
Kaitlin Harris
Student affairs coordinator
Amanda Smithson, MA
Academic advisor

2. What are the Rules & Regulations? How will I be Judged?
Session overview
What is 3MT?
Who is Eligible?
What are the Rules & Regulations?
How will I be Judged?
What Will I Win?
What is the Timeline?
What Does a Presentation Look Like?

3. Research communication competition
What is 3mt?
An 80,000 word thesis would take hours to present. Their time limit…3 MINUTES.
Research communication competition
Developed by the University of Queensland –Australia
First competition was held in 2008 (10 years!)
Held in over 600 institutions across 65 countries worldwide
Including UT System schools UT Austin, UT Dallas, UT El Paso, UT RGV, UT San Antonio, UT Health San Antonio, and now us!
SAM NEHER

4. Master’s Students Thesis & non-thesis
Who is eligible?
Master’s Students
Thesis & non-thesis
50% of program credits completed (22 MPH/ 18 MS)
Involved in Culminating Experience (e.g., Capstone), thesis, or other research experience –While Student at UTHealth SPH
SAM NEHER

5. Must include Who is eligible?
Specific objectives or investigative questions and project design/plan
Data or information collected, analyzed, and findings/preliminary findings reported
Conclusions/preliminary conclusions and impact discussed
SAM NEHER

6. Doctoral Students Post-preliminary examination phase
Who is eligible?
Doctoral Students
Post-preliminary examination phase
MUST –findings/preliminary findings, conclusions/preliminary conclusions, and a broader impact discussed
SAM NEHER

7. What are the rules & regulations?
A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or “movement” of any description are allowed. The slide will 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/indicated platform
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
SAM NEHER

8. What are the rules & regulations?
Houston campus (preliminary competition)
Students will present in front of a live panel of judges
Austin, Brownsville, El Paso, Dallas, San Antonio campuses (preliminary competition)
Students will present to a panel of judges both in-person and via ITV
At least one judge and timekeeper/moderator will be present with the student at the campus location
SAM NEHER

9. What are the rules & regulations?
The final competition will be held on the Houston campus
If a finalist is from a regional campus, they will be supported in traveling to Houston to participate in the final competition
SAM NEHER

10. How will I be judged? Preliminary Round
Separate preliminary rounds will be held for master’s and doctoral students
Competitors will be judged by a panel of not less than three judges
Each judge scores competitors on a scale of 1 to 7 in three categories
Brief verbal constructive feedback will be given by panelists to each preliminary competitor.
Three to five top-scoring competitors from each category (master’s and doctoral) will be selected to participate in the final competition.
SAM NEHER

11. How will I be judged? Final Competition
Final competition competitors will be judged by a panel of three to five judges made up of senior faculty, distinguished guests, and graduate students from various disciplines
Each judge scores competitors on a scale of 1 to 7 in three categories
Once presentations conclude, the judges’ scores are combined and the student with the highest average score is declared the Winner for their division. The competitor with the second highest score is declared the Runner-up for their division. Additionally, the audience casts their own ballots to select a winner for the People’s Choice Award for each competition category (master’s and doctoral).
SAM NEHER

12. How will I be judged?
Competitors will be judged on the following criteria:
Comprehension Did the presentation help the audience understand the research?
Engagement Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
Communication Was the topic and its significance communicated in language appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience?
Example Judging Rubric for the preliminary competition (here)
SAM NEHER

13. What will I win? Master’s Winner $1,000 Master’s Runner-up $500
Master’s People’s Choice
Doctoral Winner
$1,000
Doctoral Runner-up
$500
Doctoral People’s Choice
SAM NEHER

14. Preliminary Competition
What is the timeline?
Final Competition
Information Session
Development Session
Preliminary Competition
Optional
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15. What is the timeline? SAM NEHER Date Event September 12, 2018
Registration Opens for Preliminary Competition
September 20, 2018
3MT Informational Session (Optional)
October 1, 2018
Development Session #1 (Optional)
October 10, 2018
Development Session #2 (Optional)
October 19, 2018
Development Session #3 (Optional)
Date
Event
October 26, 2018
Deadline to Register for Preliminary Competition
Slides Due for Preliminary Competitors
November 1-2, 2018
Preliminary Competition
November 30, 2018
Required Development Session for Finalists
December 7, 2018
Final Competition
SAM NEHER

16. WHAT DOES A PRESENTATION LOOK LIKE?
SAM NEHER

17. WHAT DOES A PRESENTATION LOOK LIKE?
SAM NEHER

18. WHAT DOES A PRESENTATION LOOK LIKE?
SAM NEHER

19. From us: what questions do you have?
Website:
Register:
Contact: Robert Hammarberg
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20. 3 Minute Thesis Competition
Robert Hammarberg, MPA
Manager, Academic affairs
Kaitlin Harris
Student affairs coordinator
Amanda Smithson, MA
Academic advisor