COLLEGE OF

Education and Human Development

Three minute thesis (3MT) competition

Think of 3MT as a way to prepare your elevator speech--a method to narrow down tens of thousands of words of research to a three-minute presentation, while effectively explaining your research project in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. Presenting in a 3MT competition will enhance your ability to communicate the "bottom-line-why"-- why your research matters and why it makes a difference. You may win some money along the way, too.

The purpose of 3MT is to:

  • Celebrate the exciting research conducted by PhD students in CEHD
  • Cultivate students' academic, presentation, and research communication skills
  • Develop students' online professional presence via filmed presentations that will be shared on YouTube and can be addedto their portfolio

Prizes

  • 1st Place = $1,000
  • Runner-up = $500
  • People's choice = $500

Rules

  • Single static PowerPoint slide. No slide transitions, animations, or “movement” of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from beginning of oration.
  • No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
  • No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, lab equipment) are permitted.
  • Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum, and participants exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
  • Presentations are to commence from the stage.
  • Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps, or songs).
  • Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts her presentation through either movement or speech.
  • The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Preliminary

Rather than holding the preliminary rounds in person, we will be accepting online submissions, which will then be reviewed by a panel of judges. Please be aware that you will be presenting in person if you are chosen to move on to the final round.
You can sign up here: https://forms.gle/px3W3s2yThShSm6i8

Final

The final round of 3MT will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. in the Heritage Room at McNamara Hall, as part of CEHD Research Day.

For more information, please email Michael DallaValle, Assistant Director of Graduate Education, at mdallava@umn.edu.

Resources