Fancy hearing an 80,000 word thesis explained in less than 180 seconds? Research students from across the globe are doing just that in preparation for the Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT®). Established by The University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008, 3MT® is now held in at least 200 universities across more than 18 countries worldwide.

The Dean of UQ’s Graduate School, Professor Alastair McEwan, said 3MT® was designed to develop skills that will give students an important career advantage once they complete their studies. 3MT® provides a unique opportunity to profile and celebrate the innovative research conducted by postgraduate research candidates from around the world. “It is a reality that many PhD students will need to communicate their ideas and results to people who may not necessarily have expertise in their field,” Professor McEwan said. “3MT® develops the ability of students to communicate the significance and outcomes of their project in a short space of time.”

3MT is a competition that challenges research students to communicate the significance of their projects to a general audience in just three minutes. The concept sprang from the UQ Graduate School in 2008, and competitions are now run in over 200 institutions internationally. 3MT® contestants must condense their research into a brief, engaging presentation for a non-specialist audience, using a single presentation slide.

UAB's inaugural event will take place on October 20, 2016 during Homecoming Week. The registration deadline is September 15, 2016.

More information and how to register for UAB's 3MT
More information about 3MT® is available at www.threeminutethesis.org