2024 UQ 3MT Competition
2024 celebrates the 17th year of the Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) at The University of Queensland (UQ).
The format of the 2024 UQ 3MT Competition at all levels is to be a live in-person event and all competitors are required to be judged on a live in-person performance.
2024 UQ Key Dates
- NOW - Stay Connected - Like 3MT on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
- NOW - UQ 3MT Competitor Registration Open
- Friday 31 May - Date/time/school/institute/faculty 3MT due to 3MT@uq.edu.au (Event Coordinator)
- Thursday 2 May (9:30am) - 3MT HLO Information Session - Event Coordinator [Zoom]
- Tuesday 14 May (10:30am) - Presenting for the 3MT - [CDF - St Lucia Campus]
- Friday 31 May - UQ 3MT Competitor Registration Closes
- May - July - All School/Institute/Faculty 3MT Competitions conducted
- Friday 26 July - Faculty/combined Institute winners due to 3MT@uq.edu.au (Event Coordinator)
- Wednesday 25 September - Wildcard 3MT Competition (St Lucia Campus)
- Wednesday 2 October - UQ 3MT Final (St Lucia Campus)
- Wednesday 30 October - Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Final
School / Institute 3MT Competitions
To register as a competitor for the 2024 UQ 3MT Competition you will need to complete the Competitor Registration Form.
Your HLO/3MT Event Coordinator will contact you to confirm your participation and provide additional details about your schools 3MT competition. Please contact your School/Institute's HLO if you have any questions about participating in 3MT.
The School/Institute/Faculty heats for the UQ 3MT Competition are listed below:
| School / Institute | Date | Time | Location | Event Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB) | ||||
| Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology (AIBN) | ||||
| School of Business | Tuesday 28 May | 1:30pm - 3:30pm | Sir Llew Edwards Building (14) Rm 116 | BEL "Super Tuesday" |
| Centre for Advanced Imaging (CAI) | ||||
| Faculty of Medicine: Heat 1 (Mater) | ||||
| Faculty of Medicine: Heat 2 (TRI) | ||||
| Faculty of Medicine: Heat 3 (Herston) | ||||
| Faculty of Medicine: Heat 4 (St Lucia) | ||||
| Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) | Tuesday 21 May | 12noon - 2pm | QBP Seminar Room Large 3.142 | |
| Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) | Tuesday 4 June | 1:30pm - 3:30pm | Forgan Smith Building (1) Rm E302 | HASS "Super Tuesday" |
| QLD Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation (QAAFI) | Monday 13 May | 9:30am to 11am | QBP Seminar Room Large 3.142 | |
| QLD Brain Institute (QBI) | ||||
| School of Agriculture and Food Sciences (St Lucia) | ||||
| School of Agriculture and Food Sciences (Gatton) | ||||
| School of Architecture, Design and Planning | Monday 27 May | 2:00pm - 4:30pm | Global Change Institute (20), Seminar Room 275 | |
| School of Biological Sciences | ||||
| School of Chemical Engineering | ||||
| School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences | Monday 13 May | 12noon - 2:00pm | QBP Seminar Room Large 3.142 | |
| School of Civil Engineering | Tuesday 4 June | 2pm - 3pm | Parnell Building (7), Room 234 | |
| School of Communication and Arts | Tuesday 4 June | 1:30pm - 3:30pm | Forgan Smith Building (1) Room E302 | HASS "Super Tuesday" |
| School of Dentistry | ||||
| School of the Environment | Friday 31 May | 12:30pm - 2:30pm | Steele Building Learning Theatre 03-206 | |
| School of Economics | Tuesday 28 May | 1:30pm - 3:30pm | Sir Llew Edwards Building (14) Room 116 | BEL "Super Tuesday" |
| School of Education | Tuesday 4 June | 1:30pm - 3:30pm | Forgan Smith Building (1) Room E302 | HASS "Super Tuesday" |
| School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences | ||||
| School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry | Tuesday 4 June | 1:30pm - 3:30pm | Forgan Smith Building (1) Rm E302 | HASS "Super Tuesday" |
| School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences | ||||
| School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science | Thursday 13 June | 10am - 12pm | Hawken Engineering Building (50), N201 | |
| School of Languages and Cultures | Tuesday 4 June | 1:30pm - 3:30pm | Forgan Smith Building (1) Rm E302 | HASS "Super Tuesday" |
| School of Law | Tuesday 28 May | 1:30pm - 3:30pm | Sir Llew Edwards Building (14) Rm 116 | BEL "Super Tuesday" |
| School of Mathematics and Physics | Wednesdsay 8 May | 1:00pm - 2:30pm | 50-N201 - Hawken Engineering Building, Learning Theatre | |
| School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering | ||||
| School of Music | Tuesday 4 June | 1:30pm - 3:30pm | Forgan Smith Building (1) Rm E302 | HASS "Super Tuesday" |
| School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work | ||||
| School of Pharmacy (+ QAEHS) | ||||
| School of Political Science and International Studies | Tuesday 4 June | 1:30pm - 3:30pm | Forgan Smith Building (1) Rm E302 | HASS "Super Tuesday" |
| School of Psychology | ||||
| School of Social Science | Tuesday 4 June | 1:30pm - 3:30pm | Forgan Smith Building (1) Rm E302 | HASS "Super Tuesday" |
| School of Veterinary Science | ||||
| Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) |
Faculty / All Institute 3MT Finals
| Faculty / All Institute | Date | Time | Location | Event Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences | Tuesday 23 July | 11am - 1pm | ViewPoint (UQ Sport, Building 33) | |
| Faculty of Business, Economics and Law | Tuesday 16 July | 1:30pm - 3pm | Terrace Room, Level 6, Sir Llew Edwards Building (14) | |
| Faculty of Science | Tuesday 24 July | 2pm - 4pm | QBP Seminar Room Large 3.142 | |
| Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences | ||||
| Faculty of Medicine | ||||
| Faculty of Engineering, Architecture & Information Technology | Thursday 4 July | 2:30pm - 4pm | GHD Auditorium, AEB (49-200 ) | |
| All Institutes |
UQ 3MT Wildcard Competition - September
The 2024 UQ 3MT Wildcard Competition will be held on Wednesday 25 September and will bring together the People's Choice winners, representing each of UQ's 6 Faculties and Combined-Institute 3MT Final competitions. The winner of this event will advance to the UQ 3MT Final as the Wildcard entrant.
Wildcard 3MT Competition
Date: Wednesday 25 September 2024
Competition: 1:45pm guest registration for a 2:00pm start, competition concludes at 3:00pm
Location: Terrace Room, L6, Sir Llew Edwards Building (14) St Lucia, QLD 4072
UQ 3MT Final - October
The 2024 UQ 3MT Final will be held on Wednesday 2 October and will bring together the 8 finalists, representing each of UQ's 6 Faculties, the winner of the Combined-Institute competition and a Wildcard entrant.
UQ 3MT Final
Date: Wedneday 2 October
Competition: 5:15pm arrival for a 5:30pm start
Location: GHD Auditorium, Advanced Engineering Building (49-200 ), St Lucia, QLD 4072
Competitor Registration and Process - UQ Competitors
To register as a competitor for the 2024 3MT Competition please complete the Competitor Registration Form.
Your HLO/3MT Event Coordinator will contact you to confirm your participation and provide additional details about your schools 3MT competition.
The format of the 2024 UQ 3MT Competition at all levels is to be a live in-person event and all competitors are required to be judged on a live in-person performance.
Below outlines a step-by-step process for competitors and 3MT event coordinators for the School/Institute and Faculty Final levels of the UQ 3MT competition:
- To compete in the 2024 UQ 3MT Competition all HDR candidates will need to complete the Competitor Registration Form.
- HLO/3MT Event Coordinator to provide instructions to competitors regarding their competition heat.
- Competitors to prepare their 3MT presentations.
- Competitors to email the following to their HLO/3MT Event Coordinator for consideration in their School/Institute/Faculty 3MT competition:
- Personal details;
- 3MT PowerPoint slide.
- School/Institute/Faculty to promote their 3MT competitions.
- School/Institute/Faculty HLO/3MT Event Coordinator to email event materials and 3MT PowerPoint slides to judging panel.
- Post Faculty Finals, HLO/3MT Event Coordinators to provide 3MT with:
- Personal details; and
- 3MT PowerPoint slide.
3MT Training and Development Sessions
Please find below the details to register for Presenting for the 3MT.
Impactful Presentations: Delivering with Confidence
Date: Thursday 4 April
Tims: 9:30am - 1:30pm
Location: St Lucia
Registration
Presenting for the 3MT
Date: Tuesday 14 May 2024
Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm
Location: 50-N202 - Hawken Engineering Building, Learning Theatre, St Lucia Campus
Registration
Communicating qualitative research
Date: Monday 20 May 2024
Time: 10:00am - 11:30am
Location: Webinar
Registration
Impactful Presentations: Delivering with Confidence
Date: Thursday 23 May
Tims: 9:30am - 1:30pm
Location: St Lucia
Registration
Presenting your research
Date: Friday 2 August 2024
Time: 10:00am - 11:30am
Location: Webinar
Registration
Impactful Presentations: Delivering with Confidence
Date: 22 August
Tims: 9:30am - 1:30pm
Location: Herston
Registration
Communicating quantitative research and visual information effectively
Date: Friday 6 September 2024
Time: 10:00am - 11:30am
Location: Webinar
Registration
Eligibility + Progression - UQ Competitors
Eligibility
Active PhD and Professional Doctorate (Research) candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including candidates whose thesis is under submission) by the date of their first presentation are eligible to participate in 3MT competitions at all levels, including the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition. Graduates are not eligible.
Please note: MPhil and pre-confirmation PhD candidates who are active in program are still eligible to participate in the UQ 3MT competition up to Faculty/Institute finals but cannot advance to the UQ 3MT Final.
The format of the 2024 UQ 3MT Competition at all levels is to be a live in-person event and all competitors are required to be judged on a live in-person performance.
Progression
In order to take part in the 2024 UQ 3MT Competition each participating school, institute and faculty will hold its own live in-person 3MT competition to select a winner.
The winner of each heat or final is expected to represent their school/faculty/university at the next stage of the competition. If the winner is unable to attend the final, the runner-up will proceed to the next round of the competition in their place.
The format of the 2023 UQ 3MT Competition at all levels is to be a live in-person event and all competitors are required to be judged on a live in-person performance.
Preparation + Rules - UQ Competitors
Even the world’s best public speakers prepare before important presentations. To assist you with your preparations, please review the 3MT Competitor Guide to help you in writing your presentation, creating your slide and practising your 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 are disqualified.
- Presentations are to be 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.
The format of the 2024 UQ 3MT Competition at all levels is to be a live in-person event and all competitors are required to be judged on a live in-person performance.
Judging Criteria
At every level of the competition each competitor will be assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.
- 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; and
- 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; and
- The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience’s attention.
The format of the 2024 UQ 3MT Competition at all levels is to be a live in-person event and all competitors are required to be judged on a live in-person performance.
Prizes
Prizes are an important incentive for HDR candidates entering the competition. Prizes can vary at the discretion of your School or Faculty.
School/Institute Heats
- School/Institutes are welcome to provide prizes to participants
Faculty/Combined Institute Final
- School/Institutes are welcome to provide prizes to participants
- Winner progresses to UQ Final
- People’s Choice progresses to Wildcard Competition
Wildcard Competition
- No prize is provided for this event
- Winner advances to UQ 3MT Final
UQ 3MT Final
- First Prize: $5000 research grant
- Runner-Up: $2000 research grant
- People’s Choice: $1000 research grant
- Winner represents UQ at Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Final
- Winner represents UQ at Virtual U21 3MT Competition
Asia-Pacific 3MT Final
- First Prize: $5000 research grant
- Runner-Up: $2000 research grant
- People’s Choice: $1000 research grant
Past UQ Finalists
Past UQ 3MT finalists can be viewed here.