National 3MT Competition

Main Sponsor

About

The 3MT Competition is an academic competition that challenges Masters and PhD students to describe their research within three minutes to a general audience. The 3MT Competition celebrates the discoveries made by graduate students and encourages them to communicate the importance of their research to the broader community.

This is a unique opportunity to celebrate Qatar’s graduate students and to highlight the many opportunities for graduate study available here in Qatar.

Qatar University has successfully conducted this event since 2019 at the national level. All higher education institutions in Qatar awarding thesis/dissertation-based graduate degrees are invited to participate. Universities that have participated include:

Qatar University (organizer)
Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)
Al Rayyan International University College (ARIU)
Virginia Commonwealth University-Qatar (VCU-Q)
Texas A&M University, Qatar (TAMU-Q)
University of Calgary-Qatar
Oryx Universal College with Liverpool John Moores University
Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA)-Northumbria University
University of Doha for Science and Technology
University of Aberdeen
Joaan Bin Jassim Academy for Defence Studies

National 3MT Competition | Qatar University - Image2

History of 3MT

The 3MT Competition was founded by The University of Queensland in 2008. The idea for the competition came about at a time when the state of Queensland was suffering severe drought. To conserve water, residents were encouraged to time their showers, and many people had a three-minute egg timer fixed to the wall in their bathroom. The then Dean of the UQ Graduate School, Emeritus Professor Alan Lawson, put two and two together and the idea for the Three Minute Thesis (3MT™) competition was born. Today, the 3MT is a worldwide competition with more than 1,000 participating institutions from 85 countries. Qatar University has proudly been among this list since 2015.

For more details about the history and timeline of 3MT and for information on how to hold a 3MT, visit Three Minute Thesis at University of Queensland.

Aims

The National 3MT Competition aims to:

Celebrate graduate students’ achievements
Promote the many graduate programs available in Qatar
Encourage and inspire prospective students to join a graduate program in Qatar
Facilitate and strengthen collaboration among universities

Prizes

First Place: QR15,000, Certificate
Second Place: QR10,000, Certificate
Third Place: QR7,000, Certificate
People’s Choice Award (audience voted): Certificate

Competition General Rules

Presentations may be in Arabic or English.

3MT RULES:

A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the presentation).
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 movement or speech.
The decision of the judges’ panel is final.

3MT 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
- 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 their audience's attention?
- Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?
- Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation - was it clear, legible, and concise?

To view sample 3MT presentations from previous winners, please visit https://threeminutethesis.uq.edu.au/watch-3mt

For more information on the history and rules of the 3MT competition, please visit https://threeminutethesis.uq.edu.au/

Contact

For additional questions, please contact:

Graduate Learning Support The Office of Graduate Studies Qatar University Email: gls@qu.edu.qa