Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a competition for doctoral students to develop and showcase their research communication skills in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. Students have three minutes to communicate their research with the visual aid of one static slide and win prize money or a lunch with the dean of Harvard Griffin GSAS. The winner will be entered into the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools 3MT competition in late April.
The first 3MT was held at The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia in 2008, and it developed into an international competition in 2010. Today, students from approximately 1,000 institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Asia-Pacific region take part in their own events. Beginning in 2025, Harvard Griffin GSAS will hold a 3MT competition for its PhD students.
Apply for the Three Minute Thesis competition
The Opportunity
The ability to communicate one’s research clearly to a broad audience is a skill that students don’t have much opportunity to practice during their graduate career at Harvard. This competition, and the preparation leading up to it, will offer students the chance to hone this vital skill.
Selection
We invite GSAS students who are in the dissertation phase (and have findings) to submit a 500-word description of their research, which would be a preliminary version of what you wish to present, and a slide. We will select 10 of these students to participate in the competition as finalists, aiming for an even distribution across academic fields. The deadline for submissions is February 10, 2025 at noon. Students may apply by filling out this form.
Preparation
Students will be coached individually by the staff of the Fellowships & Writing Center. We will help you with the text of your presentation, critique practice run-throughs, and give feedback on your slides.
Competition
The 10 finalists will compete on March 6, 2025 before a panel of three judges, one from the humanities, one from the social sciences, and one from a STEM field. We will award four prizes:
- First place ($1,000)
- Second place ($500)
- Third place ($250)
- Audience choice award (lunch with Harvard Griffin GSAS Dean Emma Dench)
After the presentation, and while the judges are deliberating, there will be an audience Q&A session.
The winner will also be entered in the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools Three Minute Thesis competition to compete with students from other universities in the region. This event usually occurs in late April.
Judging Criteria
Comprehension and Content
- Did the presentation provide a clear background and significance to the research question?
- Did the presentation clearly describe the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research?
- Did the presentation clearly describe the significance and impact of the research?
Engagement and Communication
- Was the oration delivered clearly, and in language appropriate for a non-specialist audience?
- Was the PowerPoint slide clear and did it enhance the presentation?
- Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research, and capture and maintain the audience’s attention?
Rules
- Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum; competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when presenters start their presentation through speech.
- Presentations are to commence from the stage.
- A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or movement of any kind) and is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
- No poems, raps, or songs.
- No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
- No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
- The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.