3MT, meaning “Three Minute Thesis,” is an event that challenges students working on a graduate degree to present their thesis in just three minutes. And to make matters more interesting, the students must explain it using language that a non-specialist audience will understand. This university-wide 3MT event will take place on Thursday, 5 March 2015, in the BYU Varsity Theatre. The first place winner of the university competition will receive $5,000; second place will receive $2,500; third place will receive $1,000; and the people’s choice will win $1,000.
Each college on campus will hold a preliminary competition. Two students from each college will then advance to the university-wide final round. The CPMS competition will be held on Friday, 20 February 2015 on the 3rd Floor Commons in the Hinckley Center beginning at 11:30am. The first place winner of the CPMS competition will receive $1,000; second place will receive $750; third place will receive $500. Additionally, five honorary mentions will each receive $50. Pizza will be served to all those who attend beginning at 11:30am.
Current CPMS students who are pursuing an MS or PhD degree must apply online at CPMS 3MT NO LATER THAN Friday, 30 January 2015. Submissions will be reviewed by your department, and your department will notify you by Thursday, 15 January 2015 if you have been selected to participate in the CPMS competition. The first and second place winners of the CPMS competition will be advanced to the university competition on February 5th.
The judges will critique participants on how well they: 1) explain their research; 2) spark the audience’s desire to know more; and 3) communicates in language “appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience”.
The presentation must be kept as simple as possible. A single, static PowerPoint slide is allowed. Each presentation will be timed. Those exceeding the 3-minute time limit will be disqualified.
For more about the 3MT program and rules, visit gss.byu.edu.