Registration is now open for this year's Three Minute Thesis competition.

Samantha Stokes has some advice for this year’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competitors.

“Memorize your presentation. It’s the only way to go,” says Ms Stokes, a Pharmacology and Toxicology master’s student who participated in the inaugural Queen’s 3MT competition last year. “With such a short amount of time, you can’t afford any hiccups.”

3MT gives thesis master’s students and PhD candidates three minutes to present their research and its wider impact to a panel of non-specialist judges. Ms Stokes decided to enter 3MT to gain valuable experience translating and presenting her knowledge for a general audience.

Brenda Brouwer, Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies, was impressed by the competition last year and is looking forward to even more students taking the challenge this year.

“3MT is a fantastic event. It provides a platform for graduate students across disciplines to tell people about their research and why it’s important – all in three minutes,” says Dr. Brouwer. “The presentations are engaging, informative and thought-provoking – it’s a great way to find out about the research our students are involved in.”

Ms Stokes continues to draw on her 3MT experience when writing abstracts for research scholarship applications and leading seminars within her department.

“And it’s even helped around the dinner table when family or friends ask me about my research,” she says. “Now I can answer in a clear, concise way instead of saying ‘it’s complicated.’”

Participants have an extra incentive this year in addition to the $1,000 first prize and $500 prize for the runner-up: berths in the first-ever Ontario 3MT competition hosted by Queen’s. The Queen’s 3MT runs March 18-21 and the provincial competition takes place April 18.

It’s not too late to sign up for the competition. Visit the Queen’s 3MT website for complete details and slides and a video from a recent information session.