3 Minute Thesis

An international competition for Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students

The 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) is an international competition run by the University of Queensland that challenges you to tell a succinct yet impactful story about your research. 

Test your skills and learn how to cut through with your message in a time-poor world challenged by information overload.

What's involved

Your task is to give a three-minute presentation summarising your research, and its value to society, in front of a non-specialist audience.

Preliminary competition heats are held within the University faculties. The winners of these heats will then compete in the University of Sydney final, where the University winner will be selected by a jury. The first-place winner of the University final will then compete at the national finals against winners from other universities.

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Eligibility

Active PhD and Professional Doctorate (Research) candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone can participate in 3MT competitions. 

How to apply

Students can apply for the competition through their faculty or school. Each University faculty and school has a nominated 3MT coordinator who is responsible for supporting student applications and managing the competition heats process. See below for the contact details of 3MT coordinators.

Venice Jureidini-Briozzo
venice.jureidini@sydney.edu.au

ADP Education Support team 
adp.education-support@sydney.edu.au

Research Education Team (Diana Thai)
engineering.hdr@sydney.edu.a

Past winners

Past winners of the University of Sydney finals

  • Winner: Nigel Maher, Faculty of Medicine and Health, ‘MEL-AI: Eyeing the quality in melanoma diagnosis’
  • 1st Runner-up: Meredith McLaine, Sydney Law School, ‘Child Protection Decision-Making in the Children’s Court of NSW’
  • 2nd Runner-up: Veronic Schulz, Sydney Business School, ‘Navigating unchartered waters: Transitioning coal ports to the circular economy’

  • Winner: Jordan Martenstyn, Faculty of Science: ‘When Bulking Up Becomes a Problem.’
  • 1st runner-up: Katie Butler, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences: ‘Strengthening empathy and capacity for inclusion through role reversal activities: An action research project striving to foster the genuine inclusion of people with disabilities within a local government organisation.’
  • 2nd runner-up: Alice Shirley, Faculty of Science: ‘Hot Cows, Cool Solutions.’

  • Winner: Amanda Khamis, Faculty of Medicine and Health: 'I-EAT, you eat, but can we all eat? Feeding therapy for babies with cerebral palsy and dysphagia.'
  • Runner-up: Rhianne Scicluna, Faculty of Science: 'Marijuana and Opioids: Friends or Foes?'
  • Runner-up: Yuxiao Chen Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning: 'The perfect concert hall: is it all about sound?'

  • Winner: Aditi Aiyer, School of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health: ‘The wolf and the big bad biofilm.’
  • Runner-up: Jiale Zhu, School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering: ‘Root reinforcement in soil.’
  • Runner-up: Oliver Lotz, School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering: ‘Could we print organs?'