Three Minute Thesis Competition & Graduate Student Showcase

• Information Session: 
  • Wednesday, October 9, 2024 from 7 pm - 8 pm
  • Tuesday, November 12, 2024 from 7 pm - 8 pm | Oakland Center Ambassador Room A
• Registration Deadline: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 by 5 pm EST
• Video Submission Deadline (if approved to submit a video): Monday, February 3, 2025 by 5 pm EST
• Practice & Feedback Session: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 | Time: TBD
• Oakland Competition: Friday, February 14, 2025 1:00 pm – 6:30 pm ES
  • 2 pm - 3 pm: 3MT Preliminary Round - Oakland Center, Gold Rooms
  • 3 pm - 4 pm: GSS - Oakland Center, Gold Room B
  • 4 pm - 5 pm: 3MT Championship Round & Awards Ceremony - Oakland Center, Founders Ballroom B and livestream. 
• The winner of the OU 3MT® Championship Round will participate in the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools regional competition.

The Oakland competition is held on Friday, February 14, 2025 from 1 pm - 6 pm EST. It is an in-person event and the championship round will be live streamed starting 4 pm.  

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) 

Depending upon the number of students participating, we will hold Preliminary Round heats. The Preliminary Round will take place on February 14. The winner of each heat (announced at the end of that heat) will receive $250 and advance to the OU 3MT® Championship Round, which will begin after the preliminary rounds on February 14. The winner of the OU 3MT® Championship will receive $1000. We will also select a People’s Choice winner at the conclusion of the Championship Round, which carries a $250 prize. 

Graduate Student Showcase (GSS)

Students participating in person for the Showcase will have access to the room beginning at 1:00 pm on Feb 14. All displays/demonstrations must be set up by 2:50 pm. In person competitors will need to stand with their entry from 3:00 to 3:50 pm as that is when the judging will occur. In person competitors should be prepared with an elevator talk about their entry that should be no longer than 3 minutes.

The GSS Showcase Champion will be awarded $1000. Individuals who attend the showcase between will be able to vote for a People’s Choice winner, who will be awarded $250.

Awards Ceremony & Reception

The Awards Ceremony will be held immediately after the judging for the 3MT Championship Round. We will announce the winners for the 3MT® Championship, GSS Championship, 3MT® People’s Choice and GSS People’s Choice.  A reception will follow immediately afterward.

The guidelines below are for both the 3MT & GSS events:

• Must be a graduate student enrolled for Winter 2025 semester OR a December 2024 graduate of an OU graduate program.
• Submission must be created by the student, rather than someone hired for that purpose, about work done as a graduate student at Oakland University.
• Agree to attend the entirely of the event on Friday, February 14, 2025 (unless approved for a GSS video only submission).
• All participants must sign a release to participate and agree that if OU records any portion of the event, the recording may be used by Oakland University for promotional or other purposes.

Additional eligibility guidelines for 3MT participants:

• Must be enrolled for Winter 2025 in a Master's or Doctoral program OR a December 2024 graduate.
• Program of study must contain an original research project (does not have to be a thesis or dissertation).
• The presentation topic must cover the original research project.
• If 3MT Championship winner, agree to participate in MAGS 3MT event.

The presentation format rules for the 3MT competition are:

• Presentation should be in terms appropriate for a general audience.
• No note cards may be used.
• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• Presentations are to commence from the stage.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

The judges will evaluate the competitors on four general categories:

• Content
• Comprehension
• Communication
• Engagement

Scoring System:

• Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience. 
• For each of the categories, judges will assign a score of 0 to 5.
• These scores will be added together, so the total maximum score is 20.
• Any competitor who exceeds the three-minute limit is disqualified automatically.
• The winner in each heat will be the student whose presentation was three minutes or less and who received the highest total combined judges’ score for that heat.

Explanation of the four general categories in detail.

1. Content (0-5 points)
   • Did the presentation provide some background about 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?
   • 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?
2. Comprehension (0-5 points)
   • Were the topic, key results, 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 speaker clearly understand their topic and make the audience understand something about it, too?
3. Communication (0-5 points)
   • Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience’s attention?
   • Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact, and vocal range?
   • Did s/he maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?
   • Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation – was it clear, legible, and concise?
   • Was the research or scholarship conveyed in an understandable way?
4. Engagement (0-5 points)
   • Did the presenter give the audience a sense of who they are, what they study, why they study it, and how --- in relatable terminology?
   • Did the presenter engage and connect with the audience?
   • Did the orator and presentation 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?

The judges will evaluate the competitors on four general categories:

• Quality of the Display/Demonstration
• Clarity of the Presentation
• Creativity
• Insight into the Graduate Experience

Scoring System:

• Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience. 
• For each of the categories, judges will assign a score of 0 to 5.
• These scores will be added together, so the total maximum score is 20.
• Any competitor who exceeds the two minute limit is disqualified automatically.
• The Showcase Championship will be the student whose presentation was three minutes or less and who received the highest total combined judges’ score for that heat.

Explanation of the four general categories in detail.

1. Quality of the Display/Demonstration (0-5 points)
   • Was there overall coherence to the display/demonstration?
   • Was the display/demonstration engaging?
2. Clarity of the Presentation (0-5 points)
   • Was the description clear?
   • Can a general audience understand/appreciate the presentation?
3. Creativity (0-5 points)
   • Does the display/demonstration capture the imagination?
   • Was there an innovative approach to displaying or demonstrating the student’s work?
4. Insight into the "Graduate Experience" (0-5 points)
   • Does the display/demonstration give a sense of what it might be like to study in the program?
   • Does the display/demonstration inspire others to pursue that program?