INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS

Important Dates for 2018 Rice University 3MT® Competition

Why should you participate?

• Receive professional coaching
• Improve your public speaking skills
• Learn to communicate to a broad audience
• Enhance your CV
• Obtain a professional video of your talk to share with others
• Prepare for a thesis defense, conference talk, or interview
• Promote your research and its impacts on society
• Network with alumni
• Win prizes!
• Winner will represent Rice University at the regional competition

Eligibility

• Students must be currently enrolled in a thesis masters or doctoral graduate program at Rice University.
• Students must be working on thesis or dissertation research.
• It is not required students have achieved candidacy to participate. However, the presentation must include findings and/or outcomes of the research. Research proposals will not be accepted.
• Work presented must have been conducted at Rice University.

How it works

2018 Preliminary Rounds

All graduate students registered for 3MT will be invited to participate in the 3MT preliminary rounds. Presentation coaching will be provided by the Center for Written, Oral, and Visual Communication (CWOVC). The preliminary rounds will be assessed by a panel of judges, comprised of Rice faculty and staff, who will score each presentation and provide immediate feedback to the participant. Additionally, all preliminary round presentations will be professionally recorded for the student’s personal use on CVs and websites. The top 10 -12 presentations from the preliminary rounds will advance to the Rice University finals.

Preliminary Rounds will take place the week of February 26, 2018.

2018 Rice University Finals

The top presentations from the preliminary rounds will advance to the 3MT Rice University Finals. Finalists will continue to work with the CWOVC to polish their presentations prior to the finals. Finalists will have a chance to win prizes and represent Rice University at the regional finals at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools.  Audience members will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite contestants with the Audience Choice Award. All presentations will be professional recorded.

Finals will take place on the evening of Friday, March 9, 2018.

Rules

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) is permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
• Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum and competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• Presentations are to commence from the stage.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
• The decision of the judging panel is final.

Judging

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 & Content

• Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background to the research question being addressed and its significance?
• Did the presentation clearly describe the key results of the research including conclusions and outcomes?
• Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
• Were the thesis topic, key results and research significance and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
• Did the speaker avoid scientific jargon, explain terminology and provide adequate background information to illustrate points?
• Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation – or did they elaborate for too long on one aspect or was the presentation rushed?

Engagement & Communication

• Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
• Was the presenter careful not to trivialise or generalise their research?
• Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
• Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience’s attention?
• Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?
• Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation – was it clear, legible, and concise?

Questions? Contact Kiri Kilpatrick at kiri.kilpatrick@rice.edu.