Graduate Research Academy
- Level 2
- 16 Wally's Walk
- Macquarie University
- T: +61 (2) 9850 4741
- E: gr.experience@mq.edu.au
The Three Minute Thesis competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by Doctor of Philosophy students. Developed by The University of Queensland, 3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills.
The competition supports your capacity to effectively explain your research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.
Eligibility
Anyone who is active in a PhD* or MPhil* program (including thesis under submission) will be eligible to participate in 3MT. Graduates are not eligible.
MRes candidates are welcome to enter the Macquarie competition, but the national eligibility rules prevent them from progressing to the Asia-Pacific event.
* Note: degree must be at least two thirds research (definition drawn from Grant Guidelines 2006 for Higher Education Support Act (HESA) 2003) and must produce a thesis that is examined externally.
Competition dates
26 June | 3MT training |
July/August | Department/Faculty heats. For more information contact your Faculty Liaison Coordinators. |
31 August | Faculties each submit (up to) 3 finalists to MQ 3MT Finals |
7 September | Screening of Finalists' video submissions Audience vote for People's Choice Winner MQ 2023 3MT Winner announce live! |
15 September | 2023 Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT video submission deadline |
18 October | 2023 Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition People's Choice Vote and Winners announced |
Prizes for the Macquarie Winners 2023
Note: Prize money is to be used for research costs only and is not a cash prize.
PLUS a special prize for each of the 12 finalists: a spotlight interview on 2SER radio.
Prizes for the Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition 2023
Judging panel
Prof Sakkie Pretorius (DVC Research)
Prof Simon Handley (PVC Graduate Research)
Prof Ronika Power (Professor, Department of History & Archaeology)
The University of Queensland (UQ) has made the decision to host the 2023 Asia-Pacific Three Minute Thesis Competition in a virtual format (video submission).
Competitors have three minutes to give an engaging and dynamic talk on their thesis topic, and its significance, in language appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience. The talk should engage the audience without reducing the research to entertainment value only. As such, the competition does not trivialise or "dumb-down" research but forces students to consolidate their ideas and crystallise their research discoveries.
Modifications to the 3MT rules have been made to accommodate the new virtual format.
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.
Competitors can find additional information directly from the Asia-Pac Competitors Guide website.
Macquarie candidates participating in the Macquarie competition should download and use the Macquarie Identifying Slide for Competitors [PPT 1,118KB].
At every level of the competition each competitor will be assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.
Comprehension and content - REVISED
Engagement and communication
*Positionality
Positionality is the disclosure of how someone identifies (race/gender/class), their experiences, their privileges etc and how those things exert influence on their research. We have included this in the judging criteria to better inform the audience of how the presenter is positioned with regards to their research topic.
Positionality has been something that many 3MT presenters disclose naturally in their talks.
What proportion of the presentation might focus on positionality?
Guidance on the proportion of any elements within the criteria is not provided, this will depend on the flow and emphasis the presenter wishes to make. However, it should not be the main focus of the presentation, rather a scene setting/disclosure element usually towards the beginning.
Positionality - Judging
Judges should consider whether the presenter clearly articulated how they are positioned with regards to their research. For example:
Storytelling Your Thesis
Did you miss our recent "Storytelling your Thesis" workshop? Don't worry, you can access all the materials here!
Delivered by our own Dr Megan Brewer and Dr Jen Rowland, find out everything you need to know about entering and acing this competition!
How to win the 3MT
Did you miss last year's "How to win the 3MT" workshop on Zoom? Don't worry, you can access all the materials here!
Delivered by Pitch & Communication guru, Peter Browne and our own Dr Megan Brewer, find out everything you need to know about entering and acing this competition!
3MT Editing video tutorials
Topics and Timestamps:
This video covers using OpenShot Video Editor to create your virtual 3MT entry with the "cut-to" slide format. See Part 1 for instructions on how to convert powerpoint slides to jpeg images and vimeo set up
Over the next two weeks, two judging panels will review and select 8 finalists from the 56 competitors, to proceed to the 2023 Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Final which will be held via live stream, on Wednesday 18 October. Audience registration is now open. Voting for the People's Choice winner will take place during the live final so you'll need to register to take part.
The 8 finalists competing at the Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Final will be revealed on the 3MT website on Monday 9 October. Good luck Frigg! 🤞
On 7 September 2023, we announced the winners of the MQ 3MT competition! We would like to thank our fantastic judges and finalists for their involvement and support. Thank you to our People's Choice voters too - we are so pleased you participated.
Congratulations to our MQ finalists and winners:
3MT Winner
1st Runner-up
2nd Runner-up
People's Choice Winner
Frigg's winning 3MT entry will be submitted to the University of Queensland and included in the 2023 Virtual Asia- Pacific 3MT competition. We wish Frigg the very best of luck as she represents MQ in this exciting competition!
Congratulations to our 2023 MQ 3MT Finalists - view their presentations here
Deepak Chahal (FSE) - Stellar Tantrums: The Evolution of Anger in Stars
Jo DowlingSoka (FOA) - The Miracles of 626 CE
Connie Henson (FMHHS) - Celebrating Indigenous participation and leadership in digital health
Maksym Mohorian (FSE) - Unveiling Cosmic Alchemy with Stellar Fossils
Melissa Reed (FMHHS) - How do Teachers Learn on Social Media?
Velina Serafimova (MQBS) - Impact of Passionate Leaders
Sadhana Singh (MQBS) - Guardians of Legacy: Exploring Factors Influencing Next-Generation Engagement in Family Firms
Zairul Nurshazana Zainuddin (MQBS) - Modern slavery - the untold story of a wicked problem
Throughout November, each of our 2023 3MT finalists featured in a 5-minute interview on 2SER radio’s show The Daily. Like the 3MT itself, this radio spot is an excellent opportunity for our candidates to hone & demonstrate their research translation & oral communication skills.
The 2SER interviews with our 3MT finalists have been collated here.
2022 |
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Winner of the 2022 Macquarie Competition: Ruby Stephens from the School of Natural Sciences (FSE): How was the ancestor of all flowers pollinated?
Listen to the fantastic radio interviews with 2022 finalists here. |
2021 |
Winner of the 2021 Macquarie Competition: Hamid Yahyaei from the Department of Applied Finance (MQBS): Where does money come from?
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2020 |
Winner of the 2020 Macquarie Competition: Geraldine Sullivan from the Department of Molecular Sciences, FSE: The Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance [YouTube video]
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Earlier winners |
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