Competition to present thesis in three minutes

Doctoral scholarship meets New Zealand Idol tomorrow with the final of Massey University’s Three-Minute Thesis competition.

The final will see doctoral students present information about their thesis topic in terms that a non-specialist can understand. The competitors have three minutes and only one slide with which to get the audience as excited about their research as they are. The audience has the opportunity to vote for a people’s choice award.

Competitors are judged on communication style, whether the presentation helped the audience understand the research, and their engagement with the audience. Among the judges are Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey and Palmerston North Mayor Jono Naylor.

The competition promotes the development of academic and research communication skills, says the Dean of the Graduate School of Research Professor Margaret Tennant.

The winner receives research travel grants worth $1000 and will be assisted to a competition at the University of Queensland. The final is tomorrow at 4.30pm in the Japanese Lecture Theatre, University House.