Three Minute Thesis

Active PhD and Professional Doctorate Research (program composed of at least 2/3 research and eligible for RTP) candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including candidates whose thesis is under submission) by the date of their first virtual presentation are eligible to participate in 3MT competitions at all levels, including the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition. Graduates are not eligible.

Please note: Students enrolled in any of the following programs are not eligible to enter the Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition:

• Masters (MPhil and coursework); and
• Professional Doctorate (coursework).

HDR candidates:

• Four required from each Academic Division - DTHM (4) and DTES (4)
• One from JCU Singapore
• One from ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies

AIMS@JCU students are eligible to participate as an entrant via their affiliated college

Each area putting forward participants for the JCU Final may do so by nomination, or by College / Divisional heats.

• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech (timing does not include the 3MT title slide and commences from when the competitor starts speaking, not the start of the video).
• Videos must meet the following criteria:
  Filmed on the horizontal;
  Filmed on a plain background;
  Filmed from a static position;
  Filmed from one camera angle;
  Contain a 3MT title slide (at beginning);
  Contain a 3MT PowerPoint slide (top right corner/right side/cut to)
• A single static slide is permitted in the presentation (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description). This can be visible continuously, or ‘cut to’ (as many times as you like) for a maximum of 1 minute.
• The 3 minute audio must be continuous – no sound edits or breaks.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment and animated backgrounds) are permitted within the recording.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted within the video recording.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
• Submissions via video format (only video link provided to Event Coordinators).
• Files sent in other formats will not be accepted.
• Entries submitted for final adjudication to Wildcard or University Final are to be submitted from the School/ Faculty/Institute 3MT Event Coordinator. Competitors should not submit their videos directly to 3MT.

Please note:

• Competitors *will not* be judged on video/ recording quality or editing capabilities (optional inclusions). Judging will focus on the presentation, ability to communicate research to a non-specialist audience, and 3MT PowerPoint slide.
• After each competition round competitors have the option to either submit their current presentation or rerecord and submit a new presentation for entry into the next round.

See the 3MT Virtual Competitor Guides for more information on how to prepare for your presentation.

Download the PDF Virtual 3MT Handbook.

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 and significance to the research question being addressed, while explaining terminology and avoiding jargon?
• Did the presentation clearly describe the impact and/or results of the research, including conclusions and outcomes?
• Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
• Was the thesis topic, research significance, results/impact and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
• 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?

Professor Chris Rudd OBE

Deputy Vice Chancellor and Head of Campus, Singapore

Chris Rudd is the Deputy Vice Chancellor and Head of Campus, Singapore for James Cook University. Chris is responsible to the JCUS board for the strategic leadership of the Singapore campus of James Cook University and is a member of the JCU Executive Board.

Prior to joining James Cook University, Chris was Provost and CEO of University of Nottingham, Ningbo China (2015-19) where he led a campus of 8,000 students and over 900 staff, delivering UK degree programmes in China's first sino-foreign University and building a series of new research institutes in China to connect with local and international industry. His previous UK roles include Pro-Vice Chancellor for External Engagement (2007-15), leading on business engagement and philanthropic fundraising and Dean of Nottingham's Engineering Faculty (2003-7). Chris was a board director of the China-Britain Business Council from 2011-17.

Chris is an active researcher and holds grants and contracts with several international organisations for his research in engineering materials and lightweight structures. His team have contributed to the introduction of new materials and processes in the automotive, aerospace and medical devices industries. He has successfully supervised more than 60 PhD projects and has published >175 journal articles with around 6500 citations and an H index of 43.

Donnella Mills

Director of Wuchopperen Health Service, Chair of the National Aboriginal Community

Donnella Mills is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman with ancestral and family links to Masig and Nagir. She is a Director of Wuchopperen Health Service, Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation – NACCHO and member of James Cook University Council.  She is a Cairns-based lawyer with LawRight, a Community Legal Centre which coordinates the provision of pro-bono civil legal services to disadvantaged and vulnerable members of the community.

Donnella is currently the project lawyer for the Wuchopperen Health Justice Partnership. This innovative HJP is an exciting model of care providing access to justice in a community controlled setting, where lawyers and health professionals collaborate to achieve improved health, social, emotional and spiritual well-being outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Mr Bradley Smith

Former Manager, Research Strategy & Performance, James Cook University

Bradley Smith was Manager of Research Strategy and Performance in the Division of Research and Innovation at JCU from 2010 to his retirement in July 2019.  Prior to moving to tropical North Queensland, he worked at the interface of policy, politics and advocacy in higher education and research.  He was the Executive Director of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS – now called Science Technology Australia) between 2003 – 2009; a higher education, science and R&D advisor for Senator Natasha Stott Despoja and President of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA).

Mr Pat Hession

ABC North Queensland

Having lived and worked all over Queensland, Pat is known for seeking out interesting people and enabling them to tell their story with both an entertaining and informative style, keeping audience needs at the centre of the process.  Pat says the first step to understand the subject matter, and then to present it in an accessible manner so that people with no prior knowledge can become involved in the discussion.

Pat first started in community radio and TV before moving into commercial radio in 1998. Since 2004 he has been at the ABC, working initially as a radio presenter with ABC Western Queensland in Longreach, then ABC Tropical North in Mackay, and presenting the Drive program at ABC North Queensland for 10 years.  After two years presenting the 9:00am – 11:00am Morning Program, now Pat isn’t heard as often on the radio having taken on a new challenge as an Emergency Broadcast Lead, which involves working with ABC teams around the country to coordinate and plan the ABC’s coverage during emergencies.  In addition, Pat is often called upon to present statewide programs and to assist in other regions during emergency broadcasts, as well as hosting events such as the Queensland Governor’s Australia Day Flag Raising Ceremony and the Anzac Day parade on the Strand.

Ms Meredith Wenta

Principal, Kirwan State High School

Meredith Wenta was appointed Executive Principal at Kirwan High School in 2015 and was Principal for 4 years and Deputy Principal for the previous 13 years.  Kirwan High is a large, complex, service driven, organization with a diverse student population and a strong improvement culture.

Meredith has had an extensive teaching career in the Primary and Secondary sectors.  She began her career as a Primary School teacher, working mostly in the middle phase. Meredith then spent a number of years working as an English and Drama teacher, teaching students in Year 8 through to Year 12.  During this time she took on the roles of Year Coordinator and Head of Department. She also directed a number of school musicals.

As the Executive Principal, Meredith maintains a strong commitment to curriculum leadership  and has been instrumental in establishing the culture of high performance which focuses on high expectations for students’ academic and wellbeing outcomes.  She is passionate about ensuring that all students are provided with an education that prepares them to be successful global citizens.