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3-Minute Thesis Competition

The University of Winnipeg 3-Minute Thesis Competition

March 1, 2024, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
EG Hall

University of Winnipeg graduate students distilled their work to its most salient, impactful points, designed a slide complementing their research, and on Friday, March 1, each delivered a three-minute presentation to a room of non-experts, for a chance at the $2,000 First Place Prize.

Eighteen University of Winnipeg graduate students registered for the Three-Minute Thesis Competition (3MT®), a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. Pranav Sadana, (MSc Bioscience, Technology, and Public Policy)'s presentation received the audience-selected $500 People's Choice Award. The judges selected Olivia Kehler (MA, Master's in Environmental and Social Change) as the winner of the $1,000 Second Place Prize, and Janelle Laing (MSc, Bioscience, Technology, and Public Policy) as the winner of the $1,000 BAM Best Presentation by an MSc Student and $2,000 First Place Prize!

Meet the Contestants

Watch Online

Questions? Contact graduatecommunications@uwinnipeg.ca

Eligibility, Registration Instructions, and Event Timeline

All University of Winnipeg graduate students are eligible for this competition, regardless of whether they are in a course-, thesis-, or practicum-based program. University of Winnipeg students are encouraged to present content from their term papers, thesis proposals, practicum reports, and yes, even their master's theses, at the competition.

3MT Timeline for Registrants

3MT Training Session I: Spoken Delivery - Make Three Minutes Memorable
Monday, January 29, 2024, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Location TBC

3MT Photoshoot
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Graduate Studies Office

3MT Training Session II: Design Your Slide
Monday, February 5, 2024, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Location TBC

Final 3MT Title and Abstract Deadline
Sunday, February 14, 2024, 11:59 pm
Last day for students to submit updated presentation titles and abstracts for inclusion in the competition program and on the website.

Final Slide Deadline
Wednesday, February 21, 2024, 11:59 pm
Last day for students to submit their competition slide

3MT Dress Rehearsal
Friday, March 1, 2024, 9:30 am -12:00 pm
An opportunity for students to practice their presentation before the official competition. A light lunch for participants follows.

Three Minute Thesis Competition
Friday, March 1, 2024, 2:00 - 5:00 pm
Eckhardt Gramatté Hall

Judges and Judging Criteria

3MT 2024 Judges

Andrea Ladouceur- President, Bioscience Association Manitoba

Paul Samyn - Editor, Winnipeg Free Press

Sherri Walsh - Managing Partner, Hill Sokalski Walsh LLP

3MT Judging Criteria

The competition judges are asked to evaluate each presentation along two dimensions: Comprehension and Content, and Engagement and Communication.

Comprehension and Content

  • Presentation provides an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed
  • Presentation clearly describes the impact and/or results of the research, including conclusions and outcomes
  • Presentation follows a clear and logical sequence
  • The thesis topic, research significance, results/impact and outcomes are communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience
  • The presenter spends adequate time on each element of their presentation (they do not elaborate on one aspect for too long, nor is the presentation rushed).

Engagement and Communication

  • The oration makes the audience want to know more
  • The presenter neither trivializes nor generalizes their research
  • The presenter conveys enthusiasm for their research
  • The presenter captures and maintains their audience's attention using stage presence, eye contact and vocal range.
  • The PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation. It is clear, legible, and precise
Presentation Rules and Regulations

Presentation Rules:

  • A single,static, 16:9 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 considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
  • The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
Previous Competitions

To see presentations from previous years, please visit 3-Minute Thesis Competitions 2014-2023.