Briefing Session for
Three Minute Thesis (3MT )
Competition 2014
®
Professor Ben Young
Assistant Dean, Graduate School
December 6, 2013
Agenda
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2)
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6)
7)
8)
9)
The 3MT Concept
Eligibility Criteria
Presentation Rules
Judging Criteria
The Adjudicating Panel
Prizes
Tips for Participants
Sharing by the Champion of HKU 3MT 2013
Q&A
The 3MT Concept – What is it?
• An academic competition to challenge PhD & MPhil
students to explain their theses within 3 mins to a
general audience.
• To celebrate research discoveries and encourage
skill development in communicating the importance
of research to the broader community.
The 3MT Concept - Background
• Developed by the University of Queensland (UQ) in
2008.
• Has become an annual transnational competition in
Australia & New Zealand since 2010.
• HKU launched the 3MT in 2011 and has been the
first university in HK to launch the 3MT.
• The champion of HKU 3MT 2013 participated in the
Trans-Tasman 3MT held at The University of
Western Sydney (UWS).
The 3MT Concept – Emphasis
• Consolidate your ideas and share your research
discoveries in layman’s language to engage a
non-specialist audience.
The 3MT Concept –
Why is this skill important?
• If you can’t communicate what you are doing, how
can you explain its significance and what it is
worth?
• especially when you apply for research funding,
attend a job interview, or try to find a donor to
support your research …
Eligibility Criteria
• MPhil or PhD students whose candidature have been
confirmed and who are in their final year of study (i.e.
within one year prior to the end of their candidature or
who have already submitted the "Notice of Intent to
Submit a Thesis")
Eligibility Criteria (Cont’d)
• MPhil or PhD students who have submitted their
theses may also enter the Competition if they have
not yet received the confirmation letter from the
Graduate School that they have already completed all
the requirements for the conferment of the degree
sought.
• Students are permitted to enter the competition only
once during their candidature.
Presentation Rules
• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide
transitions, animations or “movement” of any
description are allowed.
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video
files) are permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical
instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
Presentation Rules (Cont’d)
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum
and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are
disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (i.e. no raps
or songs).
• Presentations are to commence from the stage.
• Presentations should be delivered in English.
Please refer to the full list of the Presentation Rules
on the HKU 3MT website.
IMPORTANT: Consult Your Supervisors
Participants should note that due to the nature of the
competition, any data or information presented or
discussed in the Competition should be considered
information that will likely enter the public domain (e.g.
YouTube). Interested students should discuss with their
research supervisors before registering for the
Competition.
Judging Criteria
• Comprehension
• Engagement
• Communication
Please refer to the full list of Judging
Criteria on the HKU 3MT website.
The Adjudicating Panel
•
Comprising members from both humanities and
technology-based disciplines
•
Members (for Heats and the Final):

Prof. John Bacon-Shone, Associate Director of the KEO

Dr Danny Chan, Associate Professor, Department of
Biochemistry

Prof. Nirmala Rao, Associate Dean of the Graduate
School

Prof. Ben Young, Assistant Dean of the Graduate School
The Adjudicating Panel (Cont’d)
• Additional Members (for the Final):
 Mr Thomas Abraham of the Journalism & Media
Studies Centre, HKU
 2 members from outside the University
Prizes
• Champion: HK$7,000 research travel support or
book prize
• First Runner-up: HK$5,000 research travel support
or book prize
• Second Runner-up: HK$3,000 research travel
support or book prize
Prizes (Cont’d)
• People’s Choice (by audience ballot): HK$3,000
research travel support or book prize
• Online People's Choice Award (by being voted with
most ‘LIKE's’ on YouTube): HK$800 book voucher
Tips for Participants –
Getting Started
• Talk to your supervisor and research team!
• Think why your research is relevant and of
interest to anyone who knows nothing about your
field.
• Watch the videos of past winners of HKU, UQ
and Trans-Tasman.
Tips for Participants –
Your Slide
• Less is more
• Consider using more images and less text
• Remember the rule: No transition or animation
Tips for Participants –
The Slide: a UQ example
Will Harrison
2010 Runner-up of UQ 3MT
How vision and attention are
compromised following a stroke
Tips for Participants – Important Dates
• Registration Deadlines:
1) 6 pm sharp, Jan 20, 2014 (Mon), via HKU
Event Management System;
2) ON OR BEFORE Jan 23, 2014 (Thu),
submission of the completed supervisor
endorsement form to the Graduate School
(downloadable:
http://www.hku.hk/gradsch/web/forms/student/2911013.doc)
No late applications will be accepted!
Tips for Participants – Important Dates
• Date of Competition
Mar 11, 2014 (Tue): Heats in the morning and
the final competition in the afternoon
• Enquiries
Tel: 2299 0172/ E-mail: zoho@hku.hk
Website: http://www.ke.hku.hk/hku3mt/
Agenda
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
The 3MT Concept
Eligibility Criteria
Presentation Rules
Judging Criteria
The Adjudicating Panel
Prizes
Tips for Participants
8) Sharing by the Champion of HKU
3MT 2013
9) Q & A
Showcase Your Research
1. Communicate your research well
2. Pro Vice-Chancellor of UWS
3. Newspaper/multimedia
Fabulous Prize!!!
Some advice…
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Be Confident
Eye Contact
Practise
Listen to yourself
Emotions
Be authentic
Further information
FAQ:
http://www.ke.hku.hk/hku3mt/index.php/resources/faqs
Website:
http://www.ke.hku.hk/hku3mt/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/hku3mt
Join NOW and have fun!