Three Minute Thesis

Competition

Dr. Gail de Blaquière

Dr. Richy Hetherington

Dr. Laura Leonardo

Outline

• Overview of the three minute thesis (3MT) competition format

• Institute of Cellular Medicine 2013

• Newcastle University’s competition

• UK Semi-final and Final

• Training session – Voula Foscolo-Avis

• Q&A

Newcastle University

‘Our vision is of Newcastle as a civic university

with a global reputation for academic

excellence.’

We have three core academic functions: • research and innovation • learning, teaching, and the wider student experience • engagement and internationalisation The primary feature of a civic university is its sense of purpose – an understanding of not just what it is good at, but what it is good for.

Engagement • As a world-class civic university, our engagement

with civil society is integral to ensuring that our academic and professional activities have genuine economic, social and cultural benefits.

• The RCUK Concordat for Engaging the Public with Research designed to help embed public engagement in universities and research institutes. This will enhance the future of research and benefit the UK society and economy.

• By establishing an ongoing dialogue between the research community and the public, society can benefit more fully from the outputs of research

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®)

• Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland

• Challenges postgraduate research students to present a compelling oration on their thesis and its significance in just three minutes in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

• An 80,000 word thesis would take 9 hours to present. Their time limit... 3 minutes

History • The first 3MT was held at The University of Queensland

in 2008 with 160 RHD students competing.

• Enthusiasm for the 3MT concept grew and its widespread implementation by universities has led to the development of an international competition.

• The global reach of the competition can be seen by the extent of participation with universities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Vietnam also hosting local 3MT events

• http://threeminutethesis.org/3mt-showcase

research communication competition

Dr Alison Tyson-Capper

Engagement Activity For Postgraduate Students

The 3-Minute Thesis

Why?

• ‘Elevator pitch’- (~3 minutes) • Poster sessions • Networking • Viva examination • Interview and beyond! • to tell people what you do in a succinct manner

• to take part in engagement activities

• to communicate your curiosity for science and medicine

The 3-Minute Thesis

Purpose of the activity:

• To help you acquire useful (excellent) communications skills • To help you communicate to, and inspire, a non-specialist audience • To help you reflect and summarise your work in a concise and clear manner • To summarise project within the wider field surrounding the topic • Express your individuality – your own style • To participate in a fun activity with a purpose!

Format: • 3 minute thesis-with a twist! • No PowerPoint slides- unlike other institutions • Props allowed – size permitting!

To find the new voices of science and

engineering across the world

FMS Faculty PGR Tutor but also Regional Heat winner of

FameLab IN 2013!

“Watched and critiqued by a panel of judges, Rachel Williams had just

three minutes to detail her research in an entertaining and engaging

way”

2013: June ICM Research Day winner

2013: Regional Heat winner

2014: National competition

Rachel said: “It feels fantastic to have won the Newcastle FameLab heat!

I've always enjoyed engaging with the public about science so I'm really

excited about performing in front of a larger audience at the final in

London. FameLab is a great opportunity to talk about your scientific

interests in a unique format. It's made me think about my research

from a new perspective and enhanced my presentation skills.”

Feedback from participants who took part in 3-MT IN 2013:

“Effective communication is central to any area of scientific

research and the 'Reduced Thesis Company' competition helped

me understand and further develop my skills such that I am now

able to convey my research to a much wider audience”

“ Taking part in the Reduced Thesis Company was a great experience! I now can pitch my research anywhere and to anyone. It has also helped me to look at the broader impact of my research and its importance to the public”

Rules • A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted 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 considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.

Skills Development • 3MT develops academic, presentation, and research

communication skills and supports the development of research students' capacity to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

• 3MT is not an exercise in trivialising or ‘dumbing-down’ research but forces students to consolidate their ideas and crystallise their research discoveries.

• http://threeminutethesis.org/3mt-showcase

Newcastle Application Process You will be asked to submit a 500 word summary of your research and its potential impact on the society/ economy. plus a lay summary – up to 75 words

Application deadline – Thursday 1st May 2014.

http://forms.ncl.ac.uk/view.php?id=6123 The summaries will be reviewed by a panel which will include academics and non-specialists. The most informative and engaging summaries will be selected and those students will be invited to speak in the University finals - you will be informed of the outcome by Friday 9th May 2014.

You must also be available for the semi-final and final of the UK competition 14th July and 9th September 2014.

Newcastle Competition • The competition will be held on Monday 9th June 2014.

• The finalists will be offered additional training prior to the event.

• The finalists will present their research in front of an audience which will include the general public as well as academics.

Prizes: • First Prize - £150 (vouchers) • Runner up - £75 (vouchers)

Slide • One single static PowerPoint slide is permitted.

• In preparing the slide, remember that 'less is more'.

• It does not have to include any text.

• Visual cues are very effective in assisting the presenter's explanation of their research

• NO slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any kind can be used.

Judging Criteria At every level of the competition each competitor will be assessed on the following judging criteria: • Comprehension and Content • Engagement and Communication Please note that each criterion is equally weighted . A Judging Panel will select the overall winner and will consist of a people from a variety of backgrounds including academics, non-specialists and fellow students.

Comprehension & Content • 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?

Engagement & Communication

• Did the oration make the audience want to know more? • Was the presenter careful not to trivialise or generalise

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?

RUK 3MT® Semi Final

14th July 2014 – University of York

The winner will represent Newcastle University in the semi-final of the National 3MT competition (travel and expenses will be covered).

Semi-finalists will have the opportunity to engage a lay audience made up of schools, general public and industry with the their research and its potential impact.

The semi-final event will take place at the Ron Cooke Hub Building, University of York.

Semi-final details • Times of presentations and a schedule for the running

order of the event will be issued on Monday 18th June 2014.

• SIX finalists will be then selected to take part in the UK-wide final competition at the Vitae Conference in Manchester on 9 September, 2014.

• Semi-finals prizes – the six finalists will receive £50 (Amazon vouchers) and a place at the final on 9 September 2014.

UK Final of 3MT 9 September 2014

Vitae Researcher Development International Conference Manchester

Eligibility: The six finalists will have been selected at the semi-final competition at the University of York.

Audience: Finalists will present to participants of the Vitae annual conference, which primarily includes UK and international staff supporting and leading researcher development. The judging panel will include media representatives, academics and industrial leaders who will select an overall winner.

Communication of Your

Research

Voula Foscolo-Avis

Q & A