Seven University of Queensland postgraduate research students have one last chance earn a place in the UQ Three Minute Thesis (3MT™) Final when they compete in the competition’s Wildcard round on Thursday.
The reward for earning a place in the UQ Final is a shot at the $5000 first-prize travel grant and a place in the prestigious 3MT Trans-Tasman Final.
The UQ Final will be held on 18 September 2012, and the Trans-Tasman Final on 11 October 2012.
Each competitor in the Wildcard round was voted the ‘People’s Choice’ selection by spectators in their respective faculty and combined institute finals behind an overall judged winner.
Each of the seven judged winners earned direct entry to the 3MT UQ Final, and will be joined by one competitor from the Wildcard round.
First developed by UQ in 2008, 3MT challenges research higher degree students to communicate the significance of their projects to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes.
Many UQ graduates who competed in 3MT have said it gave them an important career advantage due to their ability to successfully pitch complex ideas in a clear and concise manner.
UQ Graduate School Dean Professor Zlatko Skrbis said these skills were important to a researcher’s success.
“UQ provides world-class experts and facilities to ensure successful project outcomes, but it is also important to develop wider skills that employers are searching for,” Professor Skrbis said.
“It is a reality that many research higher degree students will need to pitch their ideas to people who may not necessarily have expertise in their field, but will still control funding and other key opportunities.
“The difference between the success and failure of these proposals is often how well these ideas can be communicated in a short space of time. That is what 3MT develops.”
Now in its sixth year, 3MT’s popularity has spread across the world to countries and regions such as Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the South Pacific.
The 3MT Trans-Tasman Final will include winners from more than 30 universities across Australia and New Zealand, as well as special guest competitors from the University of Hong Kong and the University of the South Pacific.
For more information about 3MT, please click here.
Media: Further information: Mark Schroder, UQ Graduate School Marketing & Communications, Tel: 3346 0509 or m.schroder@uq.edu.au.
