3MT Rules
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3MT Stanford Rules, Criteria, Guide
Rules
Rules (live final competition)
- Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
- Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
- A single static slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or movement) and is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
- No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
- No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
- The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
Rules (video, first-round competition)
- Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech (timing commences from when the competitor starts speaking, not the start of the video).
- Videos must meet the following criteria:
- Filmed on the horizontal/landscape;
- Filmed against a plain background;
- Filmed from a static position;
- Filmed from one camera angle.
- The 3 minute audio must be continuous – no sound edits or breaks.
- No slide or additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment and animated backgrounds) are permitted within the recording.
- Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
- No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted within the video recording.
- Submissions must be via video format. Files sent in other formats will not be accepted.
- Select one of the following disciplinary clusters for the initial review (presentations will be judged initially against other submissions in the same cluster):
- Humanities and Arts
- Business, Social Sciences, Education
- STEM
- The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
Please note: competitors will not be judged on video/recording quality. No specific attire is required. Judging will focus on the presentation and ability to communicate research to a non-specialist audience.
Criteria
At every level of the competition each competitor will be assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.
Comprehension and content
- Presentation provided clear motivation, background and significance to the research question
- Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research
- Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research
Engagement and communication
- The oration was delivered clearly, and the language was appropriate for a non-specialist audience
- The slide was well-defined and enhanced the presentation (applies to final competition only)
- The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience’s attention
3MT Stanford Competitor Guide
Write for your audience
- Avoid jargon and academic language.
- Explain concepts and people important to your research - you may know all about Professor Smith’s theories but your audience may not.
- Highlight the outcomes of your research, and/or the desired outcome.
- Imagine that you are explaining your research to a close friend or fellow student from another field.
- Convey your excitement and enthusiasm for your subject.
Tell a story
- You may like to present your 3MT as a narrative, with a beginning, middle and end.
- It’s not easy to condense your research into three minutes, so you may find it easier to break your presentation down into smaller sections.
- Try writing an opener to catch the attention of the audience, then highlight your different points, and finally have a summary to restate the importance of your work.
Have a clear outcome in mind
- Know what you want your audience to take away from your presentation.
- Try to leave the audience with an understanding of what you’re doing, why it is important, and what you hope to achieve.
Revise
- Proof your 3MT presentation by reading it aloud, to yourself and to an audience of friends and family.
- Ask for feedback.
- Ask your audience if your presentation clearly highlights what your research is about and why it is important.
Guiding questions
- What is the big question(s) that drives your research? What specific question(s) are you researching? Why is this research important to you, other scholars, and/or society?
- What would non-specialists find particularly exciting about your research? Or Why are you excited by it?
- What is the key background or context to this research?
- What is your research strategy or design and what methods do you use to study your question?
- What have you discovered as a result of this research?
- What is the impact or outcomes that can be expected of your research?
- What conclusions do you draw from your research?