Sixteen students from the University of Winnipeg’s Faculty of Graduate Studies are preparing to step onstage in front of a ticking clock and a panel of judges to transport a live audience through the ins and outs of their master’s research.
The 12th annual UWinnipeg Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition takes place this Friday, March 7 and next Thursday, March 13. The entire UWinnipeg community is invited to attend both days of this free event, which will feature students from seven UWinnipeg graduate programs.
The competition is a fun and friendly way to hear about UWinnipeg’s latest exciting research.
Dr. Kyle Devine
“This is going to be an exciting event,” said Dr. Kyle Devine, Dean of Graduate Studies. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for our graduate students to share their work in an engaging and accessible way, while also giving the broader community a glimpse into the innovative research happening at UWinnipeg. Everyone is invited to join us and get inspired by the incredible talent and passion of our graduate students.”
3MT remixed
3MT has adopted a new format this year. Semi-finals on Friday, March 7 will be divided into two heats of eight students each. The first semi-final heat runs from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., and the second from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. 3MT finals, which will take place on Thursday, March 13 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., will feature the top four competitors from each semi-final. All 3MT events take place in 3C00 (3rd floor, Centennial Hall).
Finalists will be a combination of participants who received the highest overall scores for their semi-final presentations, and wildcards who scored highest (or next-highest following the overall winners) in the Engagement category of the judging criteria.
Finalists are competing for a $2,000 first-place prize, a $1,000 second-place prize, and a $500 People’s Choice award. The first-place winner will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2025 Western Regional 3MT Competition in Victoria, B.C. All semi-finalists will be presented with a certificate of participation and a small gift. The overall winners from each heat will collect $200 each, while the wildcards from each heat will receive $100 each.
The judges for the finals are Jennifer Cleary, Chief Executive Officer of Research Manitoba; Nermin Sa’d, Director of Programming and Global Initiatives at North Forge; and Paul Samyn, Editor of the Winnipeg Free Press. Members of the UWinnipeg community will judge the semi-final heats.
About 3MT
Originating at Australia’s University of Queensland in 2008, 3MT blends a research showcase with a communications contest to create a unique platform for graduate research. Each presenter has just three minutes and a single, static PowerPoint slide to impress a panel of judges. Participants get a chance to develop their communication skills and prepare for further academic and career opportunities.
“The competition is a fun and friendly way to hear about UWinnipeg’s latest exciting research,” Dr. Devine said. “It’s also an excellent way to connect with others and to practice explaining your work in engaging ways that speak to specialists and non-specialists alike. This is great for conferences and funding proposals. It is also a lifelong skill that will serve you well in any career.”
Visit the UWinnipeg 3MT webpage to learn more.
Photo competition concludes
Winners of Research in Focus, UWinnipeg’s second annual research photography competition, will also be announced during the 3MT finals at 5:00 p.m. on March 13. Winning entries will also be displayed around campus and online.
Visit the Research in Focus webpage to learn more.
