3MT® Competition

• Contestant must be a currently enrolled doctoral or master’s student at TAMUCC and have a lead role in the research or working as part of a research team at TAMU-CC.
• Contestant must have approval from dissertation/thesis chair or research advisor.
• Contestant’s data must be collected for the presented research prior to the competition.

• 1st Place: $1000 + travel & admission to the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools to present/compete (2023)
• 2nd Place: $750
• People's Choice: $500 

• 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 (eg. 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.

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 generalize 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?

• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech (timing does not include the 3MT^® title slide and commences from when the competitor starts speaking, not the start of the video).
• Videos must meet the following criteria:
  • Filmed on the horizontal;
  • Filmed on a plain background;
  • Filmed from a static position;
  • Filmed from one camera angle;
  • Contain a 3MT^® title slide;
  • Contain a 3MT^® PowerPoint slide (top right corner/right side/cut to)
• A single static slide is permitted in the presentation (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description). This can be visible continuously, or ‘cut to’ (as many times as you like) for a maximum of 1 minute or submitted via email if not included in the presentation.
• The 3-minute audio must be continuous – no sound edits or breaks.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment and animated backgrounds) are permitted within the recording.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted within the video recording.

Please note: competitors *will not* be judged on video/ recording quality or editing capabilities (optional inclusions). The video review will focus on the presentation, ability to communicate research to a non-specialist audience, and 3MT^® PowerPoint slide. Competitors will be judged on their final presentation on April 4th. 

Video submission instructions: please email your video or video link (YouTube) to grow@tamucc.edu, subject: 3MT^® Video Review

Spring 2023 3MT^® Doctoral and Master's Student Winners

1^st Place: Charlotte Lee, Doctoral Student - Marine Biology

2^nd Place: Ramadan Abdelrehim, Doctoral Student - Coastal Marine System Science

3^rd Place: Abhishek Phadke, Doctoral Student - Geospatial Computer Science

Spring 2022 3MT^® Doctoral and Master's Student Winners

1^st Place: Efren Lopez Morales - Marine Biology

2^nd Place: Alexis Neffinger - Marine Biology

3^rd Place: Yixi Qiu - Geospatial Computer Science

Spring 2021 3MT^® Doctoral and Master's Student Winners

1^st Place: Xin Deng - Marine Biology

2^nd Place: Derry Xu - Chemistry

3^rd Place: Abhishek Phadke - Geospatial Computer Science

Spring 2019 3MT^® Doctoral and Master's Student Winners

1^st Place: Christian Cunningham - Marine Biology

2^nd Place: Hongming Yao - Coastal and Marine System Science

3^rd Place: Jeb Struder - Kinesiology

Spring 2018 3MT^® Doctoral and Master's Student Winners

1^st Place: Katherine Martin - Coastal and Marine System Science

2^nd Place: Michelle Culver - Coastal and Marine System Science

3^rd Place: Amanda Murray - Clinical Psychology

Fall 2017 3MT^® Doctoral Student Winners

1^st Place: Adriana Dyurich - Counselor Education

2^nd Place: Akash Ashapure - Geospatial Computing Sciences

3^rd Place: Stephanie R. Medina - Curriculum & Instruction

Spring 2017 3MT^® Master's Student Winners

1^st Place: Shane Reader - Clinical Psychology

2^nd Place: Alex Tompkins - Marine Biology

3^rd Place: Melanie Gingras - Coastal and Marine System Science

Fall 2016 3MT^® Doctoral Student Winners

1^st Place: Melissa Rohal - Physical and Environmental Science

2^nd Place: Dominic Swift - Life Science

3^rd Place: Jamie McQueen - Curriculum & Instruction

Fall 2015 3MT^® Doctoral Student Winners

1^st Place: Avery Scherer - Physical and Environmental Science

2^nd Place: Laurie Beveridge - Educational Leadership

People's Choice: I-Shuo Huang - Life Science

The first 3MT^® was held at UQ in 2008 with 160 RHD (research higher degree) students competing. In 2009 and 2010 the 3MT^® competition was promoted to other Australian and New Zealand universities and enthusiasm for the concept grew. Due to its adoption in numerous universities, a multi-national event was developed, and the Inaugural Trans-Tasman 3MT^® competition was held at UQ in 2010 with 33 universities participating.

In 2011, 43 universities were represented in the Trans-Tasman 3MT^® which was hosted by The University of Western Australia, and for the first time students from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Hong Kong took part in their own regional events.

Here are a few great resources!

• View this handy PowerPoint

• Check out past winner videos from around the world

• Get presentation advice from the 2014 TAMU winner (below)

• Read this article in The Scientist Magazine about the 3MT® competition, its development, and its adaptation in the United States