So, you have heard about the 3 Minute Thesis competition and you want to know what all the fuss is about? Perhaps you are considering taking part but want to know what is in it for you? Well you have come to the right place. In this blog I will give you 5 key reasons to take part…you won’t want to miss out!
1) Showcase!
Show off your research to the wider Research Community. The 3MT competition is a platform that showcases your postgraduate research project to Coventry University. This is an opportunity to convey the impact of your project to the research community and a chance to explain your research to a cross-disciplinary audience.
If you are successful in your heat and make it to the Cov Uni grand finale, your presentation will be recorded and shared through our communication channels which you can use to promote your research and yourself as a researcher. If you are then successful in winning our institution’s competition, you will represent Coventry University in the Vitae Final which is broadcast to a large audience.
2) Receive Online Training
To help you prepare for the competition, the RECAP Team will be facilitating online training and feedback sessions in advance of the competition.
Please make a note of the dates. We recommend that you attend at least one training and one feedback session, although you can attend as many as you wish: How do I prepare?
In the training sessions, we will introduce you to the 3MT format, guidelines and rules. The RECAP team have been training 3MTers for many years, so we have lots of tips and tricks to help you present your research effectively in 3 minutes! Learn how to communicate complex information effectively to a non-specialist audience and to create an engaging story that will engage a lay audience. All of the skills that you will develop will be invaluable for future networking and conference events.
3) Prizes
Ok so there isn’t an actual trophy but there is prize money to be won! The winner of our local university competition will receive £300 and will go on to represent Coventry University in the prestigious 3MT final hosted by Vitae. The second-place prize is £150, and the third-place prize is £75.
4) Rack up Development Hours
By competing in the competition, you will not only be showcasing your research to the research community and general public, you will also be collecting valuable development hours!
As a PGR enrolled on Framework A, you must complete a minimum of 300 hours (PhD) or 200 hours (MRes) of Researcher Development Activity. If you are on a PhD programme, you will need to complete this by your Phase 2 PRP and MRes will need to be completed prior to progressing onto Thesis Pending or submitting your thesis. Hours can be accrued for any activity that supports your development as a PGR and this includes 3MT preparation and presentation.
5) Take part at any stage of your programme
To take part, you must be a PGR at Coventry University and be pre-viva at the time of the competition. That is the only criteria.
You can be a first year (we have awarded two winners in the past who were in their 1st year of their programme), you can be part-time, you can even take part remotely as there is no requirement to even be in Coventry City for the training or event.
Those on an MRes programme are more than welcome to take part in the Coventry competition and are eligible to win the Coventry University 1st place prize. Unfortunately, those on an MRes programme are not be eligible to proceed to the national semi-final. In this instance, the next ranked doctoral researcher will represent Coventry University in the national competition.
Already decided you would like to take part? Sign-up using the application form: 3MT Application Form
Want to learn more? Vist the 3MT webpage for more information about the competition