Three- Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition
What would it take to distill your research into a compelling three-minute presentation? Can you capture an audience’s attention without relying on academic jargon? Is it possible for a single slide to reflect the depth and rigor of your work? The answer is yes — through 3MT!
University of Rhode Island’s annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition challenges graduate students to refine their research communication skills by presenting their research to a broad audience in just three minutes, using one static slide. 3MT provides recognition, cash prizes ($1,000 – 1st Place, $500
for Runner Up and Audience Favorite), and helps sharpen participants’ ability to convey complex research in clear, engaging, and jargon-free style.
3MT offers valuable opportunities for professional growth, enhances job-market readiness, and fosters cross-disciplinary connections. Interested in learning more or taking part? Email Cara Mitnick at cmitnick@uri.edu.
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. threeminutethesis.uq.edu.au
Congratulations to the 2025 3MT winners!
FIRST PLACE WINNER
$1,000
Katherine Overstrum
MS, Biological & Environmental Sciences
“Can You Scare Plants?”
RUNNER-UP WINNER
$500
Retno Wulan Septiani
PhD, Environmental Engineering
“Monitoring Carbon the Coastal Waters through Satellite”
PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER
$500
Ololade Gbadebo
PhD, Pharmaceutical Sciences
“Membrane Vesicles as Courier Agents for Bacterial Communication and Antibiotic Delivery”
2025 3MT winner video presentations coming soon!
Here are our 2025 3MT finalists!
- Derek Dubois, Operations and Supply Chain Management, PhD
- Evelyn A. Mensah, College of Health Sciences, PhD
- Retno Wulan Septiani, Environmental Engineering, PhD
- Katherine Overstrum, Biological and Environmental Sciences, MS
- Shubham Chomal, Industrial and Systems Engineering, MS
- Olivia Thomakos, English and Creative Writing, PhD
- Ololade Gbadebo, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, PhD
- Sonia Refulio-Coronado, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, PhD
- Md Abdullah al Rumon, Electrical Engineering, (Biomedical Focus), PhD
- Carolyn Hirshon, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, PhD
- 3MT Timeline & Prizes
- Video Submission
- Judging Criteria
- Resources
- Upcoming 3MT Events
- Previous 3MT Winners
3MT Timeline & Prizes
2024-2025 Timeline
- Fall 2024: Training Workshop Series
- Jan 27, 2025: Video Submissions Due by 11:59 p.m
- Feb 2025: Announcement of First-Round Results
- Mar 20, 2025: University-Wide Finals, 6-8 p.m. (all graduate students are invited)
- Apr 2025: Winner Advances to Regional Competition
Prizes
- $1,000.00 for First Place
- $500.00 for Runner-Up
- $500.00 for People’s Choice
- Paper Certificates for all Finalists
Video Submission
How will I prepare and submit my first round video?
How can you create your video? So, you are not a professional videographer or haven’t done something like this before? Your video can be as high tech or low tech as you want to go. Videos can be created simply using a smartphone, or in a more professional manner.
- Video submissions are limited to 3 minutes
- Presentations should be in spoken word format (no poems, no rap, no songs, no additional electronic media like sound and video files, no additional props are allowed).
- The 3 minute submission needs to be continuous without any interruptions or edits.
- A single static slide is permitted in the presentation (no slide transitions, animations, or ‘movement’ of any description). This can be visible continuously, or ‘cut to’ (as many times as you like) for a maximum of 1 minute or submitted via email if not included in the presentation.
- Video submissions need to meet the following criteria to qualify for judging:
- Must be filmed from a single camera angle throughout the presentation
- Camera position should be horizontal so that the presenter is clearly visible under the lighting
- Presenter needs to be seen physically in the video
- Clear audio with no background noise
- Clear visibility of text and figures on the slide
- Static slide with no animations, slide transitions or movements
- The slide background can be white or any other color, as long as the images (and the text within the images) are clearly visible on the screen.
- You can include a title slide with the title of your talk and the 3MT logo and then your static slide
- The decision of the judging panel is final and cannot be challenged.
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation by speaking. (Timing commences from when the competitor starts speaking, not from the start of the video)
- The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
Please 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.
Video Submission
- Please email your 1st Round, 3-minute video submission youtube link to Cara Mitnick, cmitnick@uri.edu, by January 27, 11:59pm. You can record and submit in any accessible format.
- Last year, our students had success uploading their 3MT video files to YouTube and selecting “not made for kids” under the “Audience” section of the “Details” tab on the upload page. They also set the video to “Unlisted,” found under the “Visibility” tab on the upload page.
- Not sure how to upload to YouTube? First, use YouTube help. For remaining help, ask Rishika Singh, Professional Development TA, at rishikasheetalsingh@uri.edu for assistance.
Judging Criteria
How will I be judged?
For the first round, see this rubric for judging criteria
Comprehension & Content
- Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background to the research question being addressed and its significance?
- Did the presentation clearly describe the key results of the research including conclusions and outcomes?
- Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
- Was the thesis topic, key results, and research significance and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
- Did the speaker avoid scientific jargon, explain terminology and provide adequate background information to illustrate points?
- Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation – or did they elaborate for too long on one aspect or was the presentation rushed?
Engagement & Communication
- Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
- Was the presenter careful not to trivialize or generalize their research?
- Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
- Did the presenter capture and maintain viewer’s attention?
- Did the presenter have sufficient eye contact, and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?
- Did the poster board, slide, or image enhance the presentation – was it clear and concise?
Please 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.
Resources
Internal URI Resources
- Speaking Center: make an appt to practice your public speaking skills
- Graduate Writing Center: make an appt to brainstorm your ideas
3MT resources
- Official 3MT Rules
- Official 3MT Judging Criteria
- 3MT: Three tips to help you prepare a winning presentation
- 3MT: The three most common mistakes
Model Presentations
- Demar Lewis, 3MT People’s Choice Award Yale University (2022)
- Emily Bowles-Peck, 3MT Winner University of Buffalo (2022)
- Matthew Ellis, 3MT Winner Yale University (2021)
- Willemjin Doedens, 3MT Winner University of Reading (2018)
- Assortment of previous finalists and winners from University of Queensland
Other Resources
Upcoming 3MT Events
- Half-life Your Research Message! Learn to Craft a Short Research Summary for Your Elevator Pitch – Tuesday, October 29, 9:30-11 a.m., 250 Pastore (Graduate Writing Center). Breakfast served!
- Improve Your Research Imagery! Create an Effective 3MT Slide – Wednesday, November 6, 4-5 p.m., via Zoom.
- Create an Effective, and Concise Research Talk with Word Pictures! -Wednesday, November 20, 3:30-5:30 p.m., 250 Pastore (Graduate Writing Center). Pizza and beverages served!
Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Finals
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) finals will take place on March 20, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at 170 Avedisian Hall. We invite you to join us for this exciting event where our talented finalists will present their research in just three minutes. Please RSVP HERE using the following link.
Previous 3MT Winners
2024 3MT Winners
FIRST PLACE WINNER, 2024
Sarah Davis
Ph.D. Biological & Environmental Sciences
View Sarah’s 3MT Presentation
