Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition first developed by the University of Queensland in Australia. The competition is now held at about 170 universities in 17 countries and counting. You can read more about the origins of the competition and see videos of winners from around the world on UQ's 3MT website.
Like the original competition, the 3MT at UCSF challenges graduate students to present a compelling presentation of their dissertation research in just three minutes, using language appropriate for a non-specialist audience. 3MT is not an exercise in trivializing or dumbing-down research; rather, it is meant to incentivize students to clarify their ideas and to help others understand and appreciate the significance of their research.
The graduate students who are chosen as finalists in the 3MT competition will present their research in front of the judges and a live audience in Genentech Hall Auditorium at Mission Bay on October 29 at 4 p.m. This event is likely to be standing-room only, so mark your calendar and plan to show up early! The winner of the competition will be awarded a $3,000 cash prize; the runner-up $1,500; and the "people's choice" $750. This event promises to be a celebration not only of the contest winner, but also of graduate research at UCSF and of scientific enquiry.
A reception will follow the student presentations, giving the judges a little time to deliberate. The awardees will be announced at the reception.
Finalists:
• Sama Ahmed, Neuroscience Program
• Quinn Grundy, Nursing PhD Program
• Laurens Kraal, Bioinformatics Program
• Freeman Lan, Bioengineering Program
• Alison Leaf, Tetrad Program (Cell Biology)
• Isabel Nocedal, Tetrad Program (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
• Laura Simpson, Biomedical Sciences Program
• Ivan Vujkovic-Cvijin, Biomedical Sciences Program
• Chuchu Zhang, Neuroscience Program
Who are the judges?
The judges for the live 3MT competition include UCSF's own Chancellor Sam Hawgood and Professor Emeritus Bruce Alberts, as well as celebrated voices for science Ben Lillie, Gabriela Quirós, and Indre Viskontas. See the judges' bios.
Note that YOU may also be a judge! The winner of the "People's Choice" category ($750 prize) will be chosen by the people who attend the event on October 29.
Read more about the contest. Students interested in competing in the event should look at the rules and important deadlines.
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a trademark of The University of Queensland and is used by permission.
