Conveying research in a race against time

Dal’s 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition returns to in-person action this March for the first time since 2020. 

The annual competition, organized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, gives students in PhD and research-based master’s programs across the university the opportunity to present on their areas of expertise for a chance to win cash prizes and compete at a regional level.

Participants are challenged to create an engaging three-minute presentation, using only one static PowerPoint slide as a visual aid to describe their research to a non-specialist audience.

The first round of the competition — the preliminary heats — take place on March 14. The winners of the heats will then move forward to the finals on March 20, where they’ll have a chance to win up to $1,250. The top finalist will go on to compete in the 3MT regional competition hosted by Dal this June, which will welcome competitors from across Eastern Canada.

The winner of the Eastern Canada regionals will earn a spot in the national 3MT competition in November, which sees presenters from post-secondary institutions across Canada competing in Victoria, British Columbia.

“3MT is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the impactful and diverse research from across Dalhousie’s graduate student community,” says Adam Donaldson, acting dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. “Whether you’re a master’s student just starting your program or a doctoral student preparing for your defense, you’re encouraged to join this year’s competition and aim for the national stage.”

Leading up to the competition, students will be supported in their preparation efforts. NATIONAL Public Relations will join the Faculty of Graduate Studies for a 3MT kick-off event on February 7. There will also be a series of workshops and training sessions facilitated by the Writing Centre, Dal Libraries, Studying for Success and Coloursmith.

Details can be found on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.

Here’s how to participate in this year’s 3MT:

Students

·       Want to participate? Visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies website for complete details on the competition and instructions on how to self-enroll on Brightspace.

·       Haven’t yet made up your mind about participating, or want to brush up on your skills? There are a series of workshops designed to introduce you to 3MT, help you prepare your presentation and provide coaching and feedback. Sessions will be held in February and March – visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies website for a complete list of workshops.

Faculty and staff

·      If you are interested in being a Heats judge, please submit this registration form. Please contact ThreeMT@dal.ca if you have any questions. 

Members of the Dalhousie community (everyone)

·       Mark your calendars for the evening of Monday, March 20, when the 3MT finals will be held live on campus. Cheer on competitors and cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award winner, while learning about the important work being done by the grad student community.

Key dates:

·       February 7: 3MT kick-off event with NATIONAL Public Relations

·       March 14: 3MT preliminary heats (exact time and location to be announced on the 3MT webpage)

·       March 20: Live 3MT finals (exact time and location to be announced on the 3MT webpage)

Stay up to date on all things 3MT by visiting dal.ca/grad/3mt and following the Faculty of Graduate Studies on Twitter or Facebook. Have a question? Email ThreeMT@dal.ca.