Kent’s 3MT Competition

Why participate

Participating in the competition is a unique opportunity to develop your academic, presentation and research communication skills, and ability to explain your research to a non-specialist audience. It will also help you raise the profile of your work at Kent as the winning presentations will be made available on the Graduate and Researcher College website.

By entering the competition you will also have a chance to win 1st or 2nd prize.

1st Prize – £300
2nd Prize – £150

Prize money can be used for:

Competition timeline and important dates

• Divisional heats:
  • Division of Arts & Humanities heat: 1st April 2022
  • Central heat for the following divisions will take place on Thursday 26th May 2022 11am – 1pm (Lunch provided)
    • Kent Business School
    • Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
    • Division for the Study of Law, Society & Social Justice
    • Division of Natural Sciences
    • Division of Human and Social Sciences

• Kent Final: Wednesday 8th June 2022 (as part of the Researcher Showcase Event)
• UK Semi-Final: Submitted by 1st July 2022 (via video)  (this will be hosted online by Vitae)
• UK Finalists announced: August 2022
• UK Final:  TBC 

If the winner of the University competition is successful in the UK semi-final stage, they will be in the UK Final hosted at the Vitae Conference (or as an online final).

Rules and criteria

Eligibility

Active PhD and Professional Doctorate (Research) candidates who have passed their probation review (including candidates whose thesis is under submission but who have not had their viva by the date of their first presentation) are eligible to participate. Graduates are not eligible.

Please note all those who go through to the University Final will be filmed and the winner’s video will be used to represent Kent in the UK Semi-Final.

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.

Judging criteria

Comprehension and content

• Presentation provided clear 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 captured and maintained the audience’s attention

Training and Resources

• Hitting the 3MT Mark! A masterclass in preparing for 3MT competitions by Zaid Ayaz Janjua (former winner of UK 2015 final)
• 3MT Competitor guide
• Presenting your research effectively and with confidence
• How to win the 3 minute thesis –  By Dr Inger Mewburn (@thesiswhisperer)
• Making the most of your three minutes – by Simon Clews, University of Melbourne
• Watch the 3MT final broadcast from Vitae from 2020 and 2021 (Please scroll down)
• Watch winning 3MT® presentations from around the globe: http://threeminutethesis.org/3mt-showcase

For more information contact our Skills Team at skills@kent.ac.uk 

Virtual 3MT:

Should the final be moved to be online you can practice your 3MT presentation as many times are you like. When you are ready, record your presentation in one go (no editing or breaks) and send it to the Graduate and Researcher College for judging.

All video submissions must be sent to skills@kent.ac.uk. By submitting a video, you are agreeing that the Graduate and Researcher College can use your video content on the Graduate and Researcher College website (public domain) and make your presentation available to the research and University community.

If the file is too big to send directly through email, you can use WeTransfer. Please use your Kent email address and in the ‘message’ box add your full name and school.

Virtual competition rules:

• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech (timing does not include the 3MT title slide and commences from when the competitor starts speaking, not the start of the video).
• Videos must meet the following criteria:
  • Filmed on the horizontal;
  • Filmed on a plain background;
  • Filmed from a static position;
  • Filmed from one camera angle;
  • Contain a 3MT title slide;
  • Contain a 3MT PowerPoint slide (top right corner/right side/cut to)
• A single static slide is permitted in the presentation (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description). This can be visible continuously, or ‘cut to’ (as many times as you like) for a maximum of 1 minute or submitted via email if not included in the presentation.
• The 3 minute audio must be continuous – no sound edits or breaks.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment and animated backgrounds) are permitted within the recording.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted within the video recording.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
• Submissions via video format (only video link provided to Event Coordinators). Files sent in other formats will not be accepted.
• Entries submitted for final adjudication to Wildcard or University Final are to be submitted from the School/ Faculty/Institute 3MT Event Coordinator. Competitors should not submit their videos directly to 3MT.

Please note: competitors *will not* be judged on video/ recording quality or editing capabilities (optional inclusions). Judging will focus on the presentation, ability to communicate research to a non-specialist audience, and 3MT PowerPoint slide.

Please note: After each competition round competitors have the option to either submit their current presentation or rerecord and submit a new presentation for entry into the next round.