Awardees | 3MT® Exhibitions | Eligibility | Judging Panel | Prizes | Key Dates | Competition Rules | Judging Criteria |
Training in Support of 3MT® | Tips for Participants
An 80,000 word PhD thesis would take 9 hours to present.
Your time limit in 3MT is … 3 minutes!
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition is an academic challenge for research postgraduate (RPg) students, requiring them to deliver a presentation of their research to a general audience in just three minutes. Developed by The University of Queensland in 2008, this event is designed to foster the academic, presentation, and research communication skills of students. 3MT® is held in over 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide.
The inaugural 3MT® competition 2025 at CUHK, collaboratively organized by the Graduate School, the Independent Learning Centre (ILC), and the CUHK Library, was successfully held on May 20, 2025 (Tue).
Organizers
Active students pursuing PhD, MPhil, and Professional Doctorate degrees at CUHK, with at least two-thirds of their research completed, are eligible for consideration. Nomination from the supervisor is required.
Prof. Anthony So
Dean, Graduate School
Professor, Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management
Prof. Wendy Lee
Associate Dean (Development), Graduate School
Associate Professor, Department of Music
Dr. Yvonne Loong
Acting Co-Director, Independent Learning Centre
Mr. Benjamin Meunier
University Librarian, CUHK Library
- Champion: $6,000 Mastercard Gift Card
- 1st Runner-up: $4,000 Mastercard Gift Card
- 2nd Runner-up: $2,000 Mastercard Gift Card
- 3rd Runner-up: $1,000 Mastercard Gift Card
- People’s Choice*: $1,000 Supermarket Cash Coupons
- Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are 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.
- A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or movement 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, etc.) are permitted.
- The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
- Comprehension and content
- Presentation provided clear motivation, background and significance to the research question.
- Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research.
- 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 their research and is able to capture and maintain the audience’s attention.
To support students in participating in this event, the Library and the Independent Learning Centre co-organized the following training for postgraduate students and participants:
| Title | Date & Time | Venue | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| From abstract to applause: Crafting impactful posters and delivering effective paper presentations in conferences
Speaker: Presenting your research at conferences is a powerful way to share your work and build professional networks. This workshop will equip you with essential skills to excel in both poster and paper presentations. You will learn to: (1) Design visually appealing posters with clear layouts and concise information; (2) Organize a logical flow of concepts in presentations, (3) Communicate confidently with appropriate tone and pace, and (4) Handle Q&A time professionally. Medium of Instruction: English |
6 Mar 2025 (Thu) 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
User Education Room, G/F, University Library | Completed |
| Preparing for Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) presentations: From crafting eye-catching slides to making compelling narratives
Speaker: Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) presentations empower research postgraduates to communicate their research effectively using striking visuals and compelling narratives to engage with a general academic audience without specific disciplinary backgrounds. In this interactive training workshop, you will (1) explore concepts in using single-slide designs to convey complex ideas concisely, and (2) develop the skills necessary to craft a coherent and persuasive pitch for maximum impact using lay language within the given time frame through practices. Medium of Instruction: English |
12 Mar 2025 (Wed) 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
User Education Room, G/F, University Library | Completed |
|
One-on-one Consultation with Ms. Lalla Ward Ms. Lalla Ward is a distinguished English actress, voice artist, and author who has been active in her field since completing her education at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She is currently involved in coaching students at Morningside, where she emphasizes the importance of confident communication in public speaking. To support the preparation of the 3MT® participants, a 30-minute one-on-one consultation with Lalla will be arranged for each participant during the week of May 6-9. |
|||
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
- Proofread 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.
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.
- 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.
- Slide as a tool: 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.
Presentation
Practice, practice, practice
- Feeling nervous before the presentation 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 identify 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.
- Do not wear a costume of any kind as this is against the rules (as is the use of props).
Examples of 3MT® presentations
For ideas and inspiration on how to develop your own 3MT® presentation, there are many examples of previous 3MT® finalists from a broad range of disciplines: