Three Minute Thesis Competition Challenges Students to Communicate Complex Ideas Quickly

It’s said that the average PhD thesis of 90,000 words would take nine hours to explain. Since 2008, a competition has challenged students to do it in just three minutes, using only a single, static slide as a visual aid. Three Minute Thesis (3MT), founded by Queensland University in Australia and now an international event, challenges students to hone their communication skills for a broader audience.

The College of Science and Engineering held its 3MT competition this week in anticipation of a University-wide competition in November. Two students from the School of Physics and Astronomy (“the School”) competed at the College-wide event. Mason Huberty, representing the astrophysics graduate program, talked about, "Unveiling the First Galaxies in the Universe with Slitless Spectroscopy." Faraz Samavat, representing physics, presented "The Almost Impossible Experiment." Huberty and Samavat were selected as top performers in the School competition, organized by the Career Education Program, in which eight students competed. First and second prize of each of physics and astrophysics won monetary awards. Kate Espe, who received first prize in physics at the School’s competition, was unable to attend the college-wide event. Volunteers to judge the competition were drawn from industry, local high school physics teachers, and even included the School’s Chief of Staff, Kerri McLaughlin Miller. 

Shaul Hanany, who advises the Career Education Program said, “Although most astro/physics talks this year were very good, next year the Career Education Program is planning to support our students by starting preparations earlier and providing training to interested contestants.” 

Abby Stitgen from Chemistry, and Shuai An from Computer Science, won first and second place respectively. Tonushree Dutta from Electrical and Computer Engineering, won the People’s Choice Award. The University-wide competition will be held on November 13 at 10:00 a.m. in Coffman Union Theater.