Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition

Three Minute Thesis Logo

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition celebrates the exciting research being performed by graduate students and cultivates their academic, presentation and research communication skills by challenging them to present their research to a non-specialist audience in three minutes (180 seconds!) or less using only one PowerPoint slide. Developed by the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008, the 3MT® Competition is currently held at 900 colleges and universities across more than 85 countries worldwide.

The Graduate School is excited to host Binghamton University's 4th annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition on Thursday, April 27, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the Mandela Room. The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) takes place during Research Days. 

Prizes:

  • 1st Place: $500.00
  • 2nd Place: $400.00
  • 3rd Place: $300.00
  • People’s Choice: $150.00 (to be selected via audience vote)

Eligibility Rules:

  • Currently enrolled course-complete (CC) master’s and doctoral students who have been admitted to candidacy (ABD) from all disciplines are eligible to compete.
  • Students should be in the final stages of their graduate career so that they have sound conclusions and impacts from their research.
  • Students must be in good academic standing (GPA of 3.0 or higher).
  • All research presented must be associated with Binghamton University.
  • Alumni and previous winners are not eligible to participate.

How to apply to participate in the 3MT® Competition:

  • Step #1 - Discuss your interest in participating in the 3MT® Competition with your faculty adviser. Obtain his/her approval to participate and present your research.
  • Step #2 - Submit a 3MT® Competition Registration Form by Thursday, March 23rd.  [*Note: When selecting your presentation title, please try to avoid technical jargon and choose a title that is short, catchy and true to your research.]

Presentation 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 will be 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 judging panel is final. 

Judging Criteria:

The goal is for the presenter to successfully engage a non-specialist audience and effectively convey the excitement and innovation of their research. Presentations will be evaluated by a diverse judging panel focusing on two core competencies:

Content and Comprehension 

  • Did the presentation help the audience understand the research?
  • Did the presentation clearly describe the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research? 

Communication and Engagement

  • Was the presentation clearly delivered using language appropriate for a non-specialist audience?
  • Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research and did they capture and maintain the audience's attention?

Other Resources:

Coming soon...

Congratulations to our Spring 2022 winners!

  • 1st Place & People's Choice Award: Vanessa Mai - Chemistry, MS
  • 2nd Place: Victoria Oladosu - Biological Sciences, PhD
  • 3rd Place: Mert Can Bayar - Political Science, PhD

Spring 2022 Final Round Participants:

Student Graduate Program Faculty Adviser Presentation Title
Erin Alexander Clinical Psychology, PhD Matthew Johnson Are There Types of Abusive Relationships?
Omar Asif Electrical & Computer Engineering, PhD Alok Rastogi Green Energy from Sunlight
Xilin Zhang Systems Science, PhD Zeynep Ertem How Does System Intervention Save the World by Changing System Dynamics?
Victoria Oladosu Biological Sciences, PhD Karin Sauer Divide and Conquer: Ending the War Between Bacterial Communities and Antibiotics
Rubayat Jesmin Community Research & Action, PhD Leo Wilton Refugee Women's Economic Empowerment: The Why's and the How's
Coleen Watson Philosophy SPEL, PhD Anthony Reeves Mindful Civic Participation
Vanessa Mai Chemistry, MS Huiyuan Guo Identify if Your Skincare Routine is the Problem
Mert Can Bayar Political Science, PhD Ekrem Karakoc Politics of Good and Evil: Conspiracy Theories' Role in Democratic Erosion

Questions?

Please contact Ellen Tilden (etilden@binghamton.edu), Associate Director for Academic & Graduate Student Affairs, with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the 3MT® Competition or your eligibility to participate.