Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition | Faculty of Health and Social Sciences

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition

What is 3MT®? FHSS 3MT® Panel of Judges 3MT® Competitor Guide

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT^®) was developed by the University of Queensland, Australia and launched in 2008. The competition cultivates the academic, presentation, and research communication skills of research postgraduate students and supports their capacity to explain their research effectively to non-specialist audiences in three minutes.

FHSS 3MT^®

FHSS is going to host its first 3MT^® at 3:00pm on 15 June 2023 (Thursday) in M1603, Senate Room.

Eligibility Criteria

Full-time/Part-time PhD students, who have passed their confirmation of registration and whose award has not been ratified by the Graduate School Board as of 15 June 2023, are eligible to participate.
Graduates are not eligible to participate.
All participants must be nominated by their affiliated departments. Each department is allowed to nominate up to 3 eligible PhD students.

Format of the Competition

This will be a live competition.

Competition Rules

A single static 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 by the spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
Presentations are to commence from the stage.
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.

Prizes

Cash prizes and certificates will be awarded to the winners of the Competition.

Champion: HK$4,000
First Runner-up: HK$2,000
Second Runner-up: HK$2,000
People’s Choice Award: HK$2,000 (by audience ballot)

Judging Criteria

Each competitor will be assessed based on the following criteria. Each criterion is equally weighted and has focuses on the audience.

Comprehension and content

Presentation provided clear background and significance of the research question
Presentation provided clear positionality of the presenter regarding the research and research approach
Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings
Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research

Engagement and communication

The oration was delivered clearly, and the language was appropriate for a non-specialist audience
The PowerPoint slide was well-defined and enhanced the presentation
The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for the research and captured and maintained the audience’s attention

Please Note: Participants must present their own research, and should note that, due to the nature of the competition, any data or information presented or discussed in the competition should be considered information that will likely enter the public domain, for example, in the Faculty’s publications open to the public in print and/or digital formats, and/or on the Faculty's website, etc.

Departments should discuss the competition with prospective nominees and/or their supervisors before submitting nominations to the Faculty Office.

Panel of Judges

Name	Post & Affiliation
Prof. Ben Young	Vice President (Student and Global Affairs) and Chair Professor of Steel Structures
Prof. H.C. Man	Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Cheng Yick-chi Chair Professor in Manufacturing Engineering
Prof. Louise Cummings	Associate Dean (Graduate School) and Professor, Department of English and Communication
Dr Jane Robbins	Interim Director and Senior Teaching Fellow, English Language Centre
Dr Christian Greiffenhagen	Associate Professor, Department of Applied Social Sciences
Prof. Cai Jing	Professor, Department of Health Technology and Informatics
Prof. Andy Cheng	Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
Prof. Thomas Choi	Professor, School of Nursing
Prof. Lin Bin	Professor, School of Optometry

3MT^® Competitor Guide

3MT^® drafting

Write for your audience

Avoid jargon and academic language.
Explain concepts and people important to your research - you may know all about Professor Smith’s theories but your audience may not.
Highlight the outcomes of your research, and the desired outcome.
Imagine that you are explaining your research to a close friend or fellow student from another field.
Convey your excitement and enthusiasm for your subject.

Tell a story

You may like to present your 3MT^® as a narrative, with a beginning, middle and end.
It’s not easy to condense your research into three minutes, so you may find it easier to break your presentation down into smaller sections.
Try writing an opener to catch the attention of the audience, then highlight your different points, and finally have a summary to restate the importance of your work.

Have a clear outcome in mind

Know what you want your audience to take away from your presentation.
Try to leave the audience with an understanding of what you’re doing, why it is important, and what you hope to achieve.

Revise

Proof your 3MT^® presentation by reading it aloud, to yourself and to an audience of friends and family.
Ask for feedback.
Ask your audience if your presentation clearly highlights what your research is about and why it is important.

3MT^® slide

Rules

Before you start work on your slide, you should take the following rules into account:

One single static PowerPoint slide is permitted;
No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are permitted;
Your slide is to be presented from the beginning of your oration; and
No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.

Suggestions

You may like to consider some of the following suggestions.

Less is more: text and complicated graphics can distract your audience – you don’t want them to read your slide instead of listening to your 3MT^®.
Personal touches: personal touches can allow your audience to understand the impact of your research.
Creativity drives interest: do not rely on your slide to convey your message – it should simply complement your oration.
Work your message: think about how your slide might be able to assist with the format and delivery of your presentation – is there a metaphor that helps explain your research?
An engaging visual presentation can make or break any oration, so make sure your slide is legible, clear and concise.

3MT^® presentation

Practice, practice, practice

Feeling nervous before you present is natural, and a little nervousness can even be beneficial to your overall speech. Nonetheless, it is important to practice so you can present with confidence and clarity. Practicing will also help you gauge the timing of your 3MT^® so that you keep within the time limit.

Vocal range

Speak clearly and use variety in your voice (fast/slow, loud/soft).
Do not rush – find your rhythm.
Remember to pause at key points as it gives the audience time to think about what you are saying.

Body language

Stand straight and confidently.
Hold your head up and make eye contact.
Never turn your back to the audience.
Practise how you will use your hands and move around the stage. It is okay to move around energetically if that is your personality, however it is also appropriate for a 3MT^® presentation to be delivered from a single spot on stage.
Do not make the common mistakes of rolling back and forth on your heels, pacing for no reason or playing with your hair as these habits are distracting for the audience.

Record yourself

Record and listen to your presentation to hear where you pause, speak too quickly or get it just right.
Then work on your weaknesses and exploit your strengths.

Look to the stars!

Watch your role models such as academics, politicians and journalists, and break down their strengths and weaknesses.
Analyse how they engage with their audience.
View presentations by previous 3MT^® finalists.

Dress

There is no dress code, if you are unsure of how to dress you may like to dress for a job interview or an important meeting. It is important that you feel comfortable so you can focus on your presentation.
If you are presenting on a stage that has a wooden floor, be aware of the noise your footwear might make.
Do not wear a costume of any kind as this is against the rules (as is the use of props).

Acknowledgement

The Presentation Rules, Judging Criteria and Competitor Guide are based on those developed by the University of Queensland, Australia.

FHSS 3MT®