Research Communication

UT preliminary round Estonian Academy of Sciences competition – Teadus 3 minutiga.
 

All PhD students (incl. Academic leave, external) and recent doctors who have defended their thesis during the last year can participate.

To whom and how?

Prepare: To participate in the competition, prepare a three-minute exciting lecture in Estonian, which summarizes the problem that prompted the research, the ways to solve it, and how and for whom it is important.

Evaluation: From the three-minute lectures, the jury selects the best, who will receive a financial prize and the opportunity to represent the university at the final event of the three-minute lecture competition at the Academy of Sciences at the beginning of the new year.

The final event of the Academy of Sciences will in turn reveal the top five, whose lecture will result in a three-minute video clip in cooperation with the professional production team, which will be broadcast on ETV in April. From the video lectures that arrive on the TV screen, the viewers choose their favorite.

Preliminary round for the international Coimbra Group 3-Minute Thesis Competition

NB! Only PhD students with active status can participate.
 

Preparation

To participate in the competition, prepare a captivating three-minute presentation summarising the problem that is driving your research, the ways to solve it, and its importance and impact.

Participation

Make your presentation in front of the UT competition jury. A video recording is made of the presentation.

Evaluation

From the presentations the three best are selected. The authors of these presentations will receive a cash prize. The video recording of the winning presentation will be sent, as the UT representative, to the Coimbra Group’s international Three-Minute Thesis competition. 

Communication

We do our best to communicate the topics presented at the UT competition both via the university channels and in the press – so the exciting science stories can also be heard outside the university.

Rules

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• Presentations are to commence from the stage.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Judging criteria

Comprehension and 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 and 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?

Some tips for preparing for the 3MT competition

• In three minutes, an average narrator is able to utter about 370–380 words. This is approximately 3,000 characters and fits on one A4 page.
• It is recommended that you prepare the presentation carefully, and practice it repeatedly in front of the mirror.
• Avoid using foreign words or specific terms because, according to Albert Einstein, “If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you probably don’t understand it yourself”.

Write for your audience

• Avoid jargon and academic language.
• Explain concepts and people important to your research – you may know all about the field but your audience may not.
• Highlight the outcomes of your research, and the desired outcome.
• Imagine that you are explaining your research to a close friend or fellow student from another field.
• Convey your excitement and enthusiasm for your subject.

Tell a story

• You may like to present your 3MT as a narrative, with a beginning, middle and end.
• It’s not easy to condense your research into three minutes, so you may find it easier to break your presentation down into smaller sections.
• Try writing an opener to catch the attention of the audience, then highlight your different points, and finally have a summary to restate the importance of your work.

Have a clear outcome in mind

• Know what you want your audience to take away from your presentation.
• Try to leave the audience with an understanding of what you’re doing, why it is important, and what you hope to achieve.

Revise

• Proof your 3MT presentation by reading it aloud, to yourself and to an audience of friends and family.
• Ask for feedback.
• Ask your audience if your presentation clearly highlights what your research is about and why it is important.

Estonian Academy of Sciences:

“Teadus 3 minutiga” 2019 best five videos

The best of the “teadus 3 minutiga” 2020 competition were revealed
 

Coimbra group 3MT comptition

Jason Mario Dydynski (UT PhD student, second prize Coimbra Group 3MT competition 2018) presentation at Coimbra Group Annual Conference.
 

Novaator

Siim Nirgi – Eesti maapõu võib endas peita üllatusi

Sirel Heinloo – Eesti kirjandus jõudis rootsi keeles laia maailma

Marit Sukk – Jälgimisrakendused võivad põhjustada usaldamatust

Ove Korjus – Kodu saab valgustada keemilise reaktsiooniga

Vadim Svjatkovski – Intensiivne metsaraie käis Eestis juba 18. sajandil

Riinu Härmas – Kõrbenud piparkooki ja söetabletti eristavad poorid

UTTV

UT preliminary round video clips 2020/2021