3MT 2021 Competition
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition is a University-wide competition for graduate students in which participants present their research to a panel of non-specialist judges... in three minutes or less!
Nipissing University Three Minute Thesis Competition
Competition Date: Thursday, May 6th, 2021
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition is a University-wide competition for graduate students in which participants have three minutes to present their research to a panel of non-specialist judges. The challenge is to present complex research material in an engaging, compelling way.
The 2021 competitors in the order that they will be presenting.
Alana Javanainen
Master of Arts in History
Presentation: Surviving Sexual Violence: The Testimonies of Women Survivors of the Bosnian War
Robert Olajos
Master of Arts in History
Presentation: Too Nomadic for Real Results: Anishnaabeg Land Disposession and the Bear Island Summer School, 1903-1952
Jacob Shulman
Master of Arts in History
Presentation: Going off the Rails on a Gravy Train: State-Settler Relations in New Ontario 1900-1930
Ben Filsinger
Master of Arts in History
Presentation: How is History Used? - The Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy 1813-1839
Deborah Yawney
PhD in Education
Presentation: Food for Thought
Patrick-Aurel Fournier
Master of Arts in History
Presentation: Poppy Town: The Commemorative Transformation of Welberg, Netherlands, 1945-2019
Rachel Van Woezik
Master of Science in Kinesiology
Presentation: Real versus ideal: Understanding how coaches gain knowledge
Colin Campbell
Master of Arts in History
Presentation: Bullets by Nation: The Adoption of the NATO 7.62x51mm
Erin Watters
Master of Science in Kinesiology
Presentation: Pacing difference between males and females in the Muskoka Ironman 70.3 Triathlon
Teagan Retty
Master of Science in Kinesiology
Presentation: The effects of nose-breathing-only training on physiological parameters related to running performance: a case study
Ashley Locke
Master of Science in Kinesiology
Presentation: Do Breasts Signal Health?
Casey Monkelbaan
Master of Arts in History
Presentation: Victims of Circumstance or Agents of Choice: Secretaries of the Third Reich
Kristian Harris
Master of Arts in History
Presentation: The Cost of Not Knowing: An Analysis of the Canadian Army's Decision Making Process and how this Contributed to the Algonquin Regiments Failure at the Battle of the Leopold Canal.
Three Minute Thesis Competition
3MT® was initially developed by The University of Queensland in 2008 to promote effective communication of research. What started with only a few institutions has evolved into a huge success for Canadian institutions, having over 42 of Canada’s graduate schools participate.
The challenge is to present complex research material in an engaging, compelling way, using only one slide. The three minute thesis competition provides graduate students with an opportunity to refine skills that can be transferred after graduation to diverse career paths. Distilling research into a clear form, without over-simplifying or making it overly-complex, and highlighting the wider implications of this research are important skills to carry into post-graduate employment and public service.
Eligibility
- Students must currently be registered in a Masters or PhD program at Nipissing at the time of the 3MT® competition.
- Presentations must be based on research that is directly related to the student's graduate program thesis, major research paper, or dissertation. Course based Masters students are ineligible.
- Students who have defended but have not yet graduated are eligible.
- Presenters must agree to be video-recorded, and to allow those recordings to be made public.
- Presenters must have registered and received confirmation from the School of Graduate Studies.
Rules
- A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or “movement” of any kind), and the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration and remain in view for the duration of the oration.
- No additional electronic media (sound or video files) are permitted.
- No props (costumes, instruments, laboratory equipment...) are permitted.
- Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum, and competitors exceeding 3 minutes will be disqualified.
- Presentations are to be spoken in standard oratory prose. (i.e., no poems, raps, or songs, other than those that may be the target of research)
- Presentations must be made by memory; notes may not be used.
- Decisions of the judging panel are final.
Judging Criteria
At every level of the competition, each competitor’s presentation will be assessed according to the criteria listed below. Please note that each criterion is equally weighted. (Please note that the criteria may be adjusted to reflect the online competition format).
Communication Style
- Was the dissertation/thesis/MRP topic and significance communicated in language appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience?
- Did the speaker use sufficient eye contact and vocal range, maintain a steady pace, and exhibit a confident stance?
- Did the speaker avoid scientific jargon, explain terminology that needed to be used, and provide adequate background information to illustrate points?
- Did the presenter spend the right amount of time on each element of the presentation – or did the presenter elaborate for too long on some elements or was the presenter rushed to get through the presentation?
- Did the slide enhance, rather than detract from, the presentation; and was it clear, legible, and concise?
Comprehension
- Did the presentation help the audience to understand the research?
- Did the presenter clearly outline the nature and aims of the research?
- Did the presenter clearly indicate what was significant about this research?
- Did the presentation follow a logical sequence?
Engagement
- Did the presentation make the audience want to know more?
- Was the presenter careful not to trivialize or "dumb down" the research?
- Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for the research?
- Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience’s attention?
- Would the audience want to know more about the speaker’s research?
Prizes
Prizes for Nipissing's 2021 3MT® winners:
- 1st Place: $500
- Runner Up: $250
- People's Choice Award: $250
Regional Competition
2021 Regional Competition Details: TBA