Career Development & Exploration

Learning Outcomes

The overarching aim of Mizzou 3MT® is for graduate students to acquire effective public speaking skills.

This professional development program includes storytelling training; presentation seminars; practice sessions with feedback; individual consultation with feedback; and a fall public speaking competition, Mizzou 3MT®.

A student who fully participates in the program will be able to:

• capture and hold the attention of a large audience;
• effectively use voice inflection, body language, and gestures to teach;
• create an educational visual aid in support of a presentation;
• deliver a message that will be retained by the audience; and
• articulate how their research benefits society (broader impacts).

Reaping the Benefits of Public Speaking

Conquering your fear of public speaking – and honing your talent – will set you apart on the job market: Multiple surveys have shown that verbal communication skills are in high demand by employers across job sectors.

Once you develop the ability to communicate your ideas effectively, you will be able to apply the skill during job interviews, conference presentations, classroom instruction, or pitching your innovation to potential investors.

What to Expect

Setting

The Mizzou 3MT competition rounds will be held in a campus auditorium. Depending on the location we are able to reserve, you may be presenting from a stage, but without a podium. Your one slide will appear on a screen behind you. There are no microphones, so be prepared to speak loudly so that you can be heard and understood clearly.

Types of 3 MT Rounds

The number of contestants will dictate the number and type of rounds we hold. It is possible to have preliminary rounds, a semi-final round, and a 3MT final round.

Recommended Attire

We recommend professional or business attire. No jeans. Truman’s Closet is service for Mizzou students who wish to borrow business attire for special events and job interviews free of charge.

Procedure for all Rounds

• You must present your 3 minute speech during your assigned dates/times.
• On the date(s) of the competition, check in at the registration desk 45 minutes prior to your scheduled speaking time.
• We will ask you to sign a photo/video release. You may decline, but mark your form accordingly.
• Report to your presentation room 30 minutes prior to speaking. Check your presentation slide. (You submit your presentation slide at the time you confirm, so it will be pre-loaded onto a computer.)
• You must remain in the room until dismissed.
• A timekeeper will notify you when it is your time to present. Move to the front of the room.
• When the judges are ready, the timekeeper will tell you that you may commence with your presentation.
• Once you begin speaking, continue to deliver your entire speech. Even if you lose your place, the clock will continue to run. You cannot restart.
• The timekeeper will hold up a 30-second warning sign to let you know that you are nearing the 3 minute mark.
• The timekeeper will stop you at exactly 3 minutes. At that point, all you can say is “thank you.”
• If you keep talking and exceed 3 minutes, you will be disqualified.
• After each round, the panel of judges will convene to make decisions.
• While the judges convene, you may leave the room. It is suggested that you stay nearby.

Announcement of Winners

• Everyone will be invited back into the room for to hear the judging results.
• At the preliminary rounds and semi-final rounds (if offered), the names of contestants who advance will be announced.
• At the final event, plaques and prizes will be awarded for first place, runner up, and People’s Choice award.
• The Mizzou 3MT winner will become eligible to represent the University of Missouri at regional and national competitions, expenses paid.
• Prizes will be processed after the event.

Elements of successful presentations

What does it take to win 3MT®?

First, understand the two official judging criteria because this is how your Mizzou 3MT® presentation will be scored by the judges.

Strategy: When you practice your presentation in front of family, friends, faculty, or research colleagues, give them a copy of the judging criteria. Ask them to rate your presentation. They should be able to respond to every question with a “yes.” Of utmost importance: Your ability to explain your research without technical terms and jargon.

Second, your slide must be engaging. It should enhance, not detract, from your educational message. Images should be top quality.

Strategy:  Ask your mentor, colleagues, and family to critique your slide. Do they respond favorably to the image(s)? Is any part of the slide confusing or difficult to see? Do they believe your slide enhances your public education message?

Third, in a 3MT® competition, what you say will be important, but how you deliver your message will be the key to winning.

Strategy: Critique several research-related presentations designed for public audiences. Identify what makes certain public speakers more effective than others, then practice those skills. As you watch and listen, ask these questions:

• Note: At the start, what did the speaker say and do to immediately capture the audience’s attention?
• Listen: How did the speaker’s tone, volume and tempo help sustain audience interest?
• Observe: How did the speaker use eye contact, hand gestures, and/or body movement to emphasize points?
• Evaluate: Did the presenter avoid jargon and explain technical terms?
• Assess: How did the speaker make the research both meaningful and memorable for the audience?

Helpful Handouts and PowerPoints on 3MT®

Simon Clews from University of Melbourne: Making the most of your three minutes.

Danielle Fisher from UCSD 10 Hints for Improving Presentations for the Three Minute Thesis Competition

Dr. Inger Mewburn from ANU: “How to win the 3 minute thesis”

UQ GradSchool: 3MT Student Handbook see pp. 9 & 10

Flinders University: Hot tips for students

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility Questions: Candidacy, Required Forms, and Defense Dates

Are all degree candidates eligible?

To be eligible, you must be actively pursing a research-based doctoral (PhD) degree. Master’s students are not eligible. For this current competition, you must have your or D3 (doctoral) form and advisor consent form on file by the stated deadline.

What is the D3 Form?

These are forms that officially document you have reached candidacy status toward earning a degree. Once you have passed comprehensive examinations, the D3 must be filed with the Graduate School. Check with your degree program office for more information.

I’ve already defended. Am I still eligible to participate? 

Yes. In accordance with official policy, you remain a degree candidate until the next commencement (in December), when your degree will be conferred. If you have already graduated, you are not able to participate.

I have my candidacy meeting scheduled after the October 1 registration deadline. Can I still participate?

Yes, as long as your D3 form is turned in to the Graduate School no later than 5 PM on the deadline.

I have plenty of research data, but I have not yet reached candidacy (i.e. no D3 has been filed). Will I be able to participate?

No. To participate, you must be a degree candidate (with a D3 form on file) by the deadline.

Eligibility Questions: Master’s and International Students

Are international doctoral candidates eligible? What if English is not my native language?

Yes, international students at Mizzou who are degree candidates in research-based graduate degree programs are eligible. The three minute presentation must be made in English.

Can master’s students who are pursuing research-based degrees participate? 

No. However, due to popular demand by students, we hope to create a Master’s Division in the future.

Application Questions

Why do I need my advisor’s signature on the Consent Form?

In some disciplines, research findings must be embargoed until the study is published. This is especially true of students working in classified labs. We need to make certain that your advisor is aware, and approves, of your participation in this event.

Competition Questions

What is the dress code? 

Dress is either business casual or business attire. No jeans, please! Here’s why: Mizzou 3MT® is a key professional development event for research-based degree candidates. Because of the significance, it is most appropriate for participants to dress as a professional – no different than attending a disciplinary conference or job interview. Another consideration: professional attire can potentially enhance your stage presence, especially because all of our judges are professionals too.

If cost for professional attire is prohibitive, Truman’s Closet is service for Mizzou students who wish to borrow business attire for special events and job interviews.

Do I have to use a slide as part of my presentation?

Yes, because the effectiveness of your visual is part of the judging criterion. Remember that the slide is static: No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed. Also, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration. Deadline: Submit your slide as a pdf file to mizzou3mt@missouri.edu by the published deadline. Note: If you move forward in the competition, you must use the same slide (i.e., you cannot modify your slide during the Mizzou competition.)

Do the judges “favor” presentations by STEM students over those in the social sciences or humanities?

Not at all! The competition is open to all research-based degree programs. The judges follow the official scoring criteria when making their decisions. No preference is given to one discipline over another.

Will you have separate rounds for life sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, etc.?

At Mizzou 3MT, everyone competes together. In the future, if the competition grows substantially, we may offer disciplinary preliminaries.

Why are people from higher education on the judging panel?

As you know, our intent with Mizzou 3MT is to select a winner who can best describe research to a lay (public) audience. Thus, we make every attempt to find people in the local community (outside of higher education) to serve as judges. This proved to be a challenge, so we also invited faculty and administrators from inside higher education to serve as judges. That said, all judges are volunteers (not paid) and they do their best to follow the scoring criteria. Be assured that they are committed to spirit and intent of the Mizzou 3MT competition.

Will I get to see the judges’ comments?

No, for several reasons. Foremost, Mizzou 3MT® is a professional development, public speaking program that culminates with a competition event. The training sessions (e.g., storytelling) we offer in the months prior to the event are designed for you to practice and receive constructive feedback in order to improve your public speaking skills. The second consideration is our volunteer judges, many of whom prefer to keep their comments confidential.

Remember that the results of any judged competition is based on subjective opinion. A 3 minute presentation that resonates with one judge may not appeal as much to second or third judge.

Tip: Please seek feedback on your slide, content, and presentation style before the competition. In the past, many of the finalists took advantage of the storytelling training and/or practice session. Their success proves it pays to practice!