The Coimbra Group 3MT Competition

Rules of the Competition

• 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.

Judging Criteria

The following criteria shall be applied in the local events, the initial procedure to determine the finalists as well as in the finals.

Comprehension and content

• Presentation provided clear background and significance to the research question.

• Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research.

• Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research.

Engagement and communication

• The oration was delivered clearly, and the language was appropriate for a non-specialist audience.

• The PowerPoint slide was well-defined and enhanced the presentation.

• The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience’s attention.

In judging the presentations, it should be understood that scholarly and scientific research is at the core of the activity. Thus, the findings, results and the evidence for it must play a significant role in the presentation. Mere claims and overstatements of any kind regarding the scientific findings and their consequences or relevance must be avoided.

Eligibility

The 3MT is about communicating research results, not mere research plans. Therefore, active doctoral researchers (i.e. prior to thesis defense, no graduates) are eligible to participate if and only if they have already achieved substantial research results that can and have to be presented in the presentation. Presentations not reporting tangible results will be excluded from participation by the technical jury. Thus the target group consists of doctoral candidates in the last year of their thesis. Graduates are not eligible.

To be eligible:

• Highlight the outcomes of your research.
• Avoid overstatements.
• Avoid trivialisation.

Suggestions, tips and useful information

• http://threeminutethesis.org/
• http://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/postgraduate/doctoral/3mt

We suggest you have a look at previous Unibo and Coimbra Group Final winners' speechs in order to understand the best way to present your research. You can find the Coimbra Group Final videos below.