Three Minute Thesis 3MTŪ
- About the 3MT competition
- Eligibility, rules and criteria
- Judging criteria
- Judging panel
- How to progress to the Final
- Contact
- Register to attend
- Accommodation options
- Newsletters
- UWS 3MT Competition
2013 Australia and New Zealand 3MT will be held at the University of Western Sydney, NSW, Australia
The 3MT final will be on 18 October 2013.
Professor Andrew Cheetham, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).
The University of Western Sydney is honoured to host the Trans-Tasman 3MT in 2013. The enthusiasm with which the 3MT has been embraced within Australia and elsewhere is testament to the value of this exciting event. All universities encourage their research students to develop their communication skills, not only in pursuit of their careers but as the duty of recipients of publicly funded research.
Many thanks to our colleagues at the University of Queensland for sharing this initiative and for providing strong collegial support to us as we prepare for the competition.
This is also a very timely honour for UWS as we celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2013.
I look forward to meeting the finalists in October.
About UWS
The University of Western Sydney is Australia’s newest leading research university. UWS is the only research comprehensive post-1987 university and its research leaders relish the exacting and exciting work that is involved in continuing to build on our research strengths. The skill and enthusiasm of our researchers is backed by considerable University investment, allowing UWS to have a vibrant research culture that is focussed on complex and intractable societal issues.
The University of Western Sydney provides an outstanding research environment and its research has overwhelmingly been judged by the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) Evaluation Committees as world class or world leading. The quality and intensity of UWS research activity is seen also in its position as 11th (of 39 universities) in Australian Research Council major grants.
UWS researchers are contributing to solutions for climate change, conducting business in the Asian Century, speech development and languages, urban infrastructure, increasing the competitiveness of Australian company logistics, health and exercise and our ageing population and much more.
Location
UWS is located in the Sydney basin and the University’s campuses have a footprint across the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) region - a global centre for trade, innovation and learning with the third largest economy in Australia behind the Sydney CBD and Melbourne. The greater west’s population is the fastest growing in Australia and more than 150 of the nation's top 500 companies are located here along with the University.
The multicultural community of GWS is one of the most diverse in the world with over 100 nationalities calling it home. The region combines the majestic beauty of the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains National Park; state-of-the-art Olympic venues; historical sites of Indigenous and Colonial importance; and traditional rural environments with the high-tech business districts, retail and service centres typical of a modern regional economic powerhouse.
About the 3MT Competition
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic competition. Higher degree research students must communicate the significance of their research to a non-specialist audience in three minutes with one simple power-point slide.
It is an exercise that develops skills students will need when pitching to government and industry, as well as in explaining their research to their friends and families!
The first 3MT was held at the University of Queensland (UQ) (opens in a new window) in 2008 and enthusiasm for the 3MT concept led to its adoption in numerous universities and the development of an international competition, with the Inaugural Trans-Tasman 3MT competition held at UQ in 2010. Research higher degree students have three minutes to present a compelling oration on their thesis topic and its significance. 3MT is not an exercise in trivialising or ‘dumbing-down’ research but forces students to consolidate their ideas and crystalise their research discoveries (from UQ website).
Eligibility, rules and criteria
Eligibility
Anyone who is active in a Masters by Research or Doctoral program* (includes all doctorates and MPhil) program (including thesis under submission) will be eligible to participate in 3MT. Graduates are not eligible.
Competitors who are eligible on the date of their first presentation in their local competition will be considered eligible for the duration of that year’s competition. So if a competitor graduates before the date of the Trans-Tasman 3MT competition they will still be eligible.
* The degree must be at least two thirds research as required under the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
Each university selects one student as their representative and will provide the student with an allowance to cover the cost of travel, accommodation and meals.
All competitors will be required to agree to media exposure for their presentation and research.
The university whose representative wins the 2013 Australia and New Zealand 3MT Competition will host the competition in 2014.
Prizes
- Winner: $5000 research travel grant
- Runner-up: $2000 research travel grant
- People's Choice: $1000 research travel grant
Rules
The presentation will be a talk accompanied only by a single static PowerPoint slide. This means that animations and the like are not permitted; additional electronic media such as sound and video files are not permitted; and props such as costumes, instruments or pieces of scientific equipment are not permitted. ‘Talk’ means talk (so no poems, raps or songs).
Presentations are strictly limited to three minutes. Competitors whose talk exceeds three minutes will be disqualified.
The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
Judging criteria
Presentations will be judged on the basis of three criteria:
1. Communication style: was the thesis topic and significance communicated in language appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience? For example,
- did the title of the talk give a clear picture of the topic and its importance?
- were all technical or specialist words clearly explained for a non-specialist audience?
- was the communication style clear enough so that any intelligent person could now sum up the topic and its significance?
2. Comprehension: did the presentation help the audience to understand the research? For example,
- did the speaker deliver their presentation at an appropriate pace?
- was there a storyline that helped the audience understand the research problem, its importance and how the research would or did address that problem?
- did the PowerPoint slide help the audience better understand the topic and its significance?
3. Engagement: did the oration make the audience want to know more? For example,
- did the speaker engage the audience with eye contact?
- did the speaker engage interest in the problem being researched?
- Would you now like to join this research for further discussion about their work?
Judging panel
The members of the judging panel for the 2013 Australia and New Zealand 3MT™ Competition will be announced closer to the competition date.How to progress to the final
The following chart outlines the progression of students throughout the competition. Please note that the winner of each heat or final is expected to represent their School/Institute/Faculty/University at the next stage of the competition. If the winner is unable to attend the final, the runner-up will proceed to the next round of the competition.
3MT Resources - Participating universities (opens in a new window) – the links below will take you to The University of Queensland’s 3MT site.
| 3MT 2013 Event Management Handbook (opens in a new window) |
Contains information on the competition and promotional materials to help encourage HDR students to participate in the 3MT competition |
| 3MT 2013 Supporting Materials Pack (opens in a new window) |
Includes:
|
3MT FAQs (opens in a new window)
Contact
Please feel free to contact us about any aspect of the 2013 Three Minute Thesis competition at 3MT.UWS2013@uws.edu.au
Registering to attend
Register here to attend the Three Minute Thesis competition.
Accommodation options
UWS has negotiated a group booking rate at the following two hotels in Parramatta that are close proximity to our Parramatta Campus. We recommend you secure a booking as soon as possible as the group booking rates will be subject to availability at the time of booking. Please note if we receive sufficient bookings at these venues we will arrange a bus from the hotel to the Parramatta Campus.
MERCURE PARRAMATTA
Check in: 17/10/13
Check out: 19/10/13
2 night stay
Rooms available: 40 twin rooms available and 40 single rooms
Group Rate offer
Rate room only - $169.00
Rate including 1 breakfast - $185.00
Rate including 2 breakfast’s - $202.00
To take advantage of this offer please quote reference: 3MT Trans-Tasman Competition - UWS171013
For more information visit the Website (opens in a new window).
RYDGES PARRAMATTA
Check in: 17/10/13
Check out: 19/10/13
2 night stay
Rooms available: 50 – 80 rooms (single and twin share)
Group Rate offer
Rate room only - $160.00
Rate including 1 breakfast - $190.00
Rate including 2 breakfast’s - $210.00
Facilities available @ Rydges Parramatta:
- Stock Cafe – offers RISE breakfast daily with our Egg Chef on the Live Cooking station.
- A La Carte lunch and dinner daily featuring our live cooking station
- Steeds Club Grill & Bar – our award winning fine dining restaurant
- Champs Bar – offers free Wi Fi, complimentary canapés each weeknight and boutique draft beers.
- The Post – a sports bar with pub style meals (at pub prices!)
- 24 hour in room dining
- Free Health Club on site - Gym, pool, sauna, spa
To take advantage of this offer please quote reference: 3MT Trans-Tasman Competition.
For more information visit the Website (opens in a new window).
Newsletters
UWS 3MT Competition
The University of Western Sydney 3MT Competition final is on the 23rd August 2013.The finalists, selected from all Schools and Research Institutes, will take part.
The winner of the UWS 3MT will represent the University at the Australasian final on the October 18.
School and Research Institute final competition dates will be announced as they become available
If you are the only competitor in your School or Institute you can join in with another School to have the practice of participating in a runner up competition and still be guaranteed to be your School/Institute representative. Contact Mary Krone for more advice, m.krone@uws.edu.au.
| UWS Prizes | |
|---|---|
| First | $2 000 |
| Runner up | $1 000 |
| People’s Choice | $500 |
All UWS finalists will receive a UWS umbrella. All participants will receive a UWS Flash drive.
2012 UWS finalists; Xiangbe He, Maneesh Mathai, Linhan Zhang, James Oliver, Kirsten Robertson-Gillam, Tim Paris, Trish Murphy, Grant Bickerton and Munirah Shaik Kadir.
3MT Workshops
Workshops will be held to assist HDR students to prepare for the 3MT.
Details of workshop:
In this workshop we will discuss the requirements of the 3MT, watch some previous contestants, talk about design of the slide and presentation and do some practical work.
Please bring along your ideas for your presentation, including what you may have already written for the talk and the slide. Bring your smartphone or iPad if you would like to be filmed.
Presenters: Barbara Mackie and Mary Krone.
Date: 21 May 2013
Time: 10am - 12 noon
Venue: Parramatta Campus
Date: 28 May 2013
Time:10am - 12 noon
Venue: Bankstown Campus
Presenters: A/Prof Caroline Smith and Mary Krone.
Date: 28th May
Time: 3.00pm – 5.00pm
Venue: Campbelltown Campus
To register please email m.krone@uws.edu.au.
Preparation Resources
There is a site in vUWS that all higher degree research students can access. It contains information about preparing for the 3MT and has examples of past presentations and other helpful tips.
Go the UWS home page and click on vUWS (E.Learning) on the top left of the page. You will be asked for your student id and you will find the module on the left. It is called Higher Degree Research 2013. It is easiest to move around site by clicking on 3mt three minute thesis in the small heading above each section rather using back and forward keys.
To Apply
Contact your School or Institute 3MT organiser listed below.
| School/Institute |
Name |
E-mail |
Competition Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARCS Institute |
Dr Paola Escudero |
paola.escudero@uws.edu.au |
31 July 2013 |
| Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment |
Dr Ben Moore |
b.moore@uws.edu.au |
To be advised shortly |
| Institute for Culture and Society |
Dr Julie Thorpe |
j.thorpe@uws.edu.au |
6 August 2013 |
| School of Science and Health / Complemed |
A/Prof Caroline Smith |
c.smith@uws.edu.au |
12 July 2013 |
| School of Science and Health |
Dr Graham Jones |
Graham.jones@uws.edu.au |
12 July 2013 |
| School of Medicine |
Dr David Mahns |
d.mahns@uws.edu.au |
12 July 2013 |
| School of Humanities and Communication Arts |
A/Prof Hart Cohen, Dr Wayne Peake |
h.cohen@uws.edu.au, h.cohen@uws.edu.au |
28 June 2013 |
| School of Law |
A/Prof Scott Mann |
s.mann@uws.edu.au |
To be advised shortly |
| School of Social Sciences and Psychology |
Dr Danuta Chessor |
d.chessor@uws.edu.au |
16 July 2013 Kingswood, 18 July 2013 Bankstown |
| School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics |
A/P Miroslav Filipovic |
m.filipovic@uws.edu.au |
6 June 2013 (3-5pm approx) |
| School of Education |
Dr Joanne Orlando, A/Prof Susanne Gannon |
j.orlando@uws.edu.au, s.gannon@uws.edu.au |
1 July 2013 |
| School of Nursing and Midwifery |
Dr Elaine Burns |
e.burns@uws.edu.au |
3 & 4 June 2013 |
| School of Business |
A/Prof Terry Sloan |
t.sloan@uws.edu.au |
4 June 2013 |
