Participants will submit a three-minute video of their presentation for the preliminary round, and six finalists will be chosen to compete in the live, in-person championship on Feb. 15, 2024.
Registration for the 2024 NDSU Three Minute Thesis competition is scheduled for Oct. 23 through Dec. 15.
The competition invites graduate students to present a compelling discussion on their research topic—including its significance and relevance to the general public—in three minutes or less.
Participants will submit a three-minute video of their presentation for the preliminary round, and six finalists will be chosen to compete in the live, in-person championship on Feb. 15, 2024. Each preliminary round winner will receive $250 and the championship round winner will receive an additional $1,000.
The competitors will be judged on content, comprehension, communication and engagement.
New this year, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business will be providing Innovation Commendations to recognize thesis works that focus on developing innovative technology and/or developing a creative solution to a major problem. This award has been established to further the Center's desire to spark creative problem-solving in economic, social, institutional and cultural environments. The award will be available to all participants and judged by a panel of NDSU faculty and community entrepreneurs. Up to three commendations of $500 each will be awarded.
NDSU graduate students enrolled for spring semester 2024 are eligible to register. For details, visit the NDSU Three Minute Thesis website.
“There were a lot of things I learned through this process like how to concisely write a summary so that someone who does not work in my area can really understand my research and can relate to what’s happening in the real world,” said Nitin Rai, 2023 NDSU 3MT champion. “If you can explain your research to someone in layman’s terms, that means you really understand what you are doing.”
The Three Minute Thesis competition was developed by the University of Queensland in 2008. NDSU graduate students have showcased their research for staff, faculty, students and community leaders since 2015.
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