Three Minute Thesis (3MT®)

The 3MT competition is a complete game changer for any research student. I often reminded myself, and my cohort of finalists, that the fact that we had condensed our research proposals into a 3-minute interesting, engaging and informative public speech presentation, meant we were all winners. The camaraderie, support form the organisers and encouragement from those who came to hear us made this an unforgettable experience. If you are a research student wondering if you should take part or not, take the plunge. 

Edmund HypoliteEducation Futures, People’s Choice Award, 2024 Grand Final

Being part of the 3MT was such a fun and exciting experience! I learned so much, not just about communicating my research, but also about confidence, storytelling, and connecting with different audiences. The whole journey was incredibly rewarding, and made better by the amazing, supportive people I got to share it with. While it was competitive, what stood out most was how all the participants encouraged each other and helped one another improve. That spirit of support, combined with the personal and professional growth it offers, makes 3MT an incredibly valuable experience. It truly felt like a festival of research and ideas—something I’ll always remember, and an experience I’d wholeheartedly encourage everyone to take part in.

Aayushi NotraClinical and Health Sciences, 2nd Prize, 2024 Grand Final

Why would someone who gets sick to the stomach at the thought of public speaking enrol to participate in the 3MT? Well, I went to see the STEM 3MT heat, and after doing so much preparation for a conference presentation myself, I thought “I can do that”. The following year I entered, and amazingly, won! I was daunted by representing STEM in the University Final, but the intensive workshops, the camaraderie and encouragement from both the organising staff and the other finalists were simply incredible. One finalist reminded me that it was a wonderful opportunity to spread the word about my research, which changed my whole perspective about public speaking. I was still beside myself with nerves when my turn came, but something clicked that night, and I can breeze into meetings or conferences now without fear. I even won best speaker award at a symposium recently! If you fear public speaking, as odd as this sounds, enrol to take part in the UniSA 3MT – I thoroughly recommend it!

Elizabeth WellsSTEM, Finalist, 2024 Grand Final