Upcoming Events

3MT

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Full-time or Part-time Master’s or Ph.D. students registered in thesis-based programs and
    in good standing are eligible to participate. (Western Regionals/Nationals may require you to be a full-time student)
  • Graduate students in course-based programs, visiting students, exchange
    students, and students on leave are not eligible to participate.
  • Graduate students at any stage of their program are eligible to participate.
  • Graduate students who have convocated are not eligible to participate.
    Graduate students who have already defended their thesis but have not yet
    convocated are eligible to participate.
  • Presentations must be based on the primary research the graduate student has
    conducted in their graduate program.
  • Graduate students should conduct their presentations in English.
  • Graduate students must present live, agree to be photographed and digitally recorded, and allow any recordings to be made public.

Staging and Performance Rules:

  • A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted.
  • PowerPoint slide should be created using an aspect ratio of 16:9
  • 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) is permitted
  • No additional props are permitted (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment)
  • Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum; competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified
  • Presentations are to be delivered in regular prose (e.g. no poems, slam poetry, raps, songs, or spoken word presentations)
  • Presentations must commence from and remain on the stage
  • Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter initiates either movement or speech
  • The decision of the judging panel is final

Judging Criteria
Each category is weighted equally

Communication

  • Did the presenter use non-verbal communication (i.e. eye contact,
    voice modulation, body language) effectively?
  • Did the presenter use language and terminology that was clear, jargon-free, and understandable to a general audience?
  • Did the presentation follow a logical sequence?
  • Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation? Did they elaborate for too long on one aspect, or did the presentation feel rushed?

Comprehension

  • Did the talk help you to understand the scholarly research being
    undertaken?
  • Did the presenter clearly outline the nature and purpose of their research?
  • Did the presenter clearly indicate the fascinating or compelling aspects of their research?
  • Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed?
  • Did the presentation clearly describe the impact and/or results of the research, including conclusions and  outcomes?
Engagement
  • Was the talk engaging?
  • Did the presenter capture and maintain the audience's attention?
  • Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their work?
  • Was the presenter careful not to trivialise or generalise their research?
  • Did the talk inspire you to want to know more?
  • Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation - was it clear, legible, and concise?