3MT® 2021 applications are now being accepted

It’s time! Applications for the 2021 Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition are now being accepted, so start preparing your presentations! For the ninth year in a row, the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) will be holding a Three Minute Thesis competition for current UM graduate students.  

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an international research communication competition developed in 2008 by The University of Queensland, where graduate students have three minutes to explain to judges and an audience why their research is important and deserving of an award. 3MT® is designed to be a challenge for students to succinctly convey ideas and principles of research in a way that will be understandable by a lay or non-specialist audience.

Since it began, the popularity of the competition has increased and 3MT competitions are now held at over 900 universities in 85 countries around the world. These competitions are great opportunities to explain the possible impact of your research and at the same time enhance your communication skills. People can learn about the important work that UM graduate students like you are doing, preparing you for challenges in your career as innovators whose research can change the world.

Toby Le, a student who is working with an international team of researchers to understand the link between a birth control drug and HIV infection, won first place at the eighth annual University of Manitoba Three Minute Thesis finals on June 3, 2020.

Kelley Main, incoming acting dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, says: “I look forward to welcoming all our 3MT® competitors and hearing about the exciting research being worked on at the University of Manitoba.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the presentations are anticipated to be virtual, with judges and the audience watching the heats and final event online. Audience members will be able to vote for the People’s Choice award in the final event.

Challengers will be announced the week of February 2, 2021, and will face off, head to head, in three heats, March 2, 4, and 5, 2021. The top three in each heat will win $200 and move on to the 3MT final in April 2021.  Wildcard selections will also be chosen to compete in the final event.

Winners of the final 3MT competition will receive major prizes: 1st Prize: Dr. Archie McNicol Prize ($2500); 2^nd Prize: University of Manitoba Retirees Association Prize ($1250); and 3rd Prize ($750). A People’s Choice Prize of $200 will also be awarded. The winner of 3MT® 2021 will compete in the 3MT Canadian Regionals (Western) and have the opportunity to advance to the Canadian national competition.

To apply, you must be enrolled in a thesis-based program, and you will need to upload a 30 second video with a brief description of your research. The application, rules, and eligibility can be found here.

Applications for 3MT® 2021 close January 21, 2021 – apply now.