Over 65 students to compete in the 3MT preliminaries on Oct. 25 and 26

The Graduate School and the Graduate Student Council will host the preliminary sessions of the annual Three Minute Thesis, or 3MT, competition on Oct.25 and Oct. 26.

The 3MT preliminaries will be held in room 2222 and 2223 of the Student Center in seven sessions: 9:15-10:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m.-12 p.m.; 1-2:15 p.m.; and 2:30-3:45 p.m., with the second day ending at 2:15 p.m. This event is open to the campus community. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend to support friends and colleagues.

More than 65 students have submitted their presentations to compete in the preliminary rounds in October, the largest group in recent years. The top 10 competitors in the preliminary competition will advance to the university-wide final and compete for cash prizes on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Auburn's winner will also have the opportunity to represent the university at the regional 3MT competition.

The 3MT competition is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland in Australia. Graduate students have three minutes to present a compelling oration on their thesis or dissertation and its significance.

It is not an exercise in trivializing or "dumbing down" research, but challenges students to consolidate their ideas and research discoveries so they can be presented concisely to a non-specialist audience. Competitors are permitted a single static PowerPoint slide with no electronic media or props.

Learn more at http://grad.auburn.edu/3MT.