UQ to host Trans-Tasman's best 3MT presenters

More than 40 of the brightest future researchers from across Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the South Pacific will descend on UQ on 11 October for the prestigious 2012 Three Minute Thesis (3MT™) Trans-Tasman Final.

The 3MT Trans-Tasman competition includes a morning semi-final involving competitors from every participating university, before a judging panel chooses the best eight presenters for the afternoon’s Final.

The winner will be awarded $5,000 and their enrolling institution will have the right to host the competition in 2013.

First developed by UQ in 2008, 3MT challenges research higher degree students to communicate the significance of their projects to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes.

Competitors will try to emulate the achievements of UQ PhD student and Fulbright Scholar Matthew Thompson who was victorious in the 2011 Trans-Tasman competition.

UQ will be represented in the 2012 edition by the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology’s Amanda Pearce after she won the 3MT UQ Final on 18 September.

Judges noted that Ms Pearce’s presentation, "Prostate cancer – 'Probing' for a solution" successfully communicated a complex subject in a manner the audience could easily understand.

UQ Graduate School Dean Professor Zlatko Skrbis said he was proud of 3MT’s global success and its proven ability to teach research students valuable communication skills.

“It is hard to believe that five years after 3MT started at UQ, it is now held in the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Vietnam as well as in the countries represented at the Trans-Tasman competition such as New Zealand, Hong Kong and Fiji,” Professor Skrbis said.

“3MT resonates with people because it teaches the skills students need to be successful in their careers.

“It is a reality that many research higher degree students will need to pitch their ideas to people who may not necessarily have expertise in their field, but will still control funding and other key opportunities.

“The difference between the success and failure of these proposals is often how well these ideas can be communicated in a short space of time. That is what 3MT develops.”

Both the 3MT Trans-Tasman Semi Final and Final will be held in the Queensland Brain Institute Auditorium on UQ’s St Lucia campus.

While the afternoon’s Final is invitation-only due to limited seating, registration is open to attend the morning’s semi-final.

Both the semi-final and final can also be seen via JACtv’s live video and audio feed that will be available on the day.

For more information about 3MT, please click here.

Further information: Mark Schroder, UQ Graduate School Marketing & Communications, Tel: 3346 0509 or m.schroder@uq.edu.au.