Three Minute Thesis

What is 3MT?

The University of Iowa’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is a research communication competition that challenges graduate students to clearly and concisely articulate complex research to non-specialist audiences. Contestants represent a diverse array of disciplines and areas of study and reflect the passion and thirst for discovery common among all of Iowa's graduate students.

Participating in the Graduate College’s public scholarship competitions helps students develop communication skills, allows them to share and take pride in their work, and offers the chance to compete for prizes. You can view the presentations of all of our finalists on the 3MT spotlight page.

ELIGIBILITY: Participants must be currently enrolled in a Masters or PhD degree program that requires the student to conduct their own research. You can prepare for the competition by following the steps below.

Step 1: Register for Info Session

Join our webinar on September 13th at 2:00 pm to learn more.

Step 2: Register for 3MT

Step 3: Attend the Workshops

Attend workshops

2024 3MT Timeline

Prizes

Each contestant who advances to the final competition will win a $250 cash prize. There will be additional prizes for:

$1,000 dollars for 1st place (decided by judges) and the option for funds to travel to the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS)
$500 for honorable mention (decided by judges)
$250 for the "People's Choice" winner, selected by the audience ballot
Gain everlasting glory for your college with the 3MT Dean's Cup

Participation

Registration Deadline: Monday, October 7, 2024, by 11:59 PM CT
Students: To compete, you must register. After the registration deadline passes you will receive an invitation to join the 3MT ICON course that will include instructions on how to participate in the preliminary competition.

Improve Your Presentation

The Graduate College hosts a series of optional workshops to help competitors prepare their presentations:

A Beginner's Guide to 3MT - September 13th at 2 pm (virtual)
Narrating Research: Mastering the 3MT for Humanities and Social Sciences - September 20 at 11 am (virtual)
Science in a Nutshell: Distilling Physical and Health Science Research - September 20 at 2 pm (virtual)
Using Research Imagery to Enhance Your Pitch - September 27 at 2 pm (virtual)
Speaking Confidently: Elevate Your Stage Presence and Practice Your Pitch - October 4 at 2 pm (in-person)

Judging Criteria

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?

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?

Winners will be determined by a panel of judges using the official 3MT competition rubrics to judge the presentations. Judges will be invited from the University of Iowa faculty and staff, previous 3MT winners, and the local community.