Studies

Three-Minute Thesis

2023 EDITION 

February 6th, is a deadline to send your presentation to etudes.superieures@polymtl.ca
INTERNAL SELECTION COMPETITION: March 16, 2023 at 12h45 - Amphithéâtre Bernard-Lamarre

Come and defy the stopwatch to present their thesis in a 180 seconds – also known as the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.
The Polytechnique community is invited to vote for their favourite presentation!


> You can now see their presentations - and talents!

"The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an internationally recognized competition for thesis-based graduate students in which participants present their scholarly and creative activity and its wider impact in 3 minutes or less."

The competition offers a unique opportunity for graduate students from all disciplines, pushing them to consolidate their ideas and crystallize their research discoveries while communicating across disciplines within the university and to the broader public. Presenting in a 3MT® competition increases the capacity of graduate students to effectively explain their scholarly and creative activity in a clear and concise manner, and in a language appropriate to a general audience.

Polytechnique hopes to repeat the exploit this year by sending its best presenter to challenge those from other participating Canadian universities at the finals held by the Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas).

Polytechnique is also taking part in the English-language Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition organized by the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS). Therefore, there will be an internal competition in French and one in English at Polytechnique.

La Direction des affaires académiques et de l'expérience étudiante (DAAEE) and the Association des étudiants des cycles supérieurs de Polytechnique (AÉCSP), Polytechnique’s graduate student association, are organizing the internal selection competition for Polytechnique students. The competition winners will be determined by a jury made up of members of Polytechnique’s faculty and Québec’s science media.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE:  February 6th, 2023
INTERNAL SELECTION COMPETITION: March 16th, Amphithéâtre Bernard-Lamarre 
REGIONAL FINAL COMPETITION: May 23th, Montréal 
NATIONAL FINAL (CAGS) : November 2023, Victoria (BC)

For any questions or to sign up: etudes.superieures@polymtl.ca

 

Experience feedback

JULIETTE PIERREFirst prize 2022

Juliette Pierre

Fabrication de panneaux sandwichs en composites à hautes performances acoustiques et mécaniques imprimées en 3D pour application aérospatiale
Mechanical Engineering Department

1) Why did you decide to participate to « 3MT » contest?
3MT is an excellent exercise in scientific communication. We don't get many opportunities to share our research with a non-specialist audience, so I jumped at the opportunity to participate in this contest. Afterwards, I can say that it is one of the best memories of my PhD!

2) What could you say to encourage the « shy » persons to participate in the competition?
Shy people, don't hesitate to participate! Many 3MT participants (including myself) are shy and I can say, I think, that no one regrets having embarked on the adventure. Practice in front of people you trust who will support and encourage you, and take advantage of this great opportunity to share your knowledge.

>>> More Details

 

WHAT DO YOU TALK ABOUT FOR THREE MINUTES?

You don’t necessarily need to be at the end of your doctoral process to take part. Your doctoral project must simply be sufficiently advanced such that the problem is clearly defined. It is not necessary to present results.

You must introduce your research topic and explain the concepts of ideas in accessible language (your family should finally understand what you’re doing!). Demonstrate your passion for your research topic.

WHY TAKE PART?

The Ma thèse en 180 secondes / Three-Minute Thesis competition provides you with a unique opportunity to polish your communication skills, while also giving you the chance to talk about your research in a public space. The presentations given at the university finals will be filmed and posted online. As well, it’s an excellent showcase for the media. For example, after winning in 2015, Odile Vekemans was interwied on the show L'invité on TV5MONDE+ and on the show Les années lumière on ICI Radio-Canada. After winning in 2014, Sami Hached was able to share his passion for his research work in Québec Science magazine, Le Journal de Montréal and on the show Les années lumière on ICI Radio-Canada.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE ACFAS COMPETITION (FRENCH)
  • The presentation must be given in French.
  • You must be enrolled or have been enrolled in a doctoral research program for the current school year or have earned your doctorate during this school year.
  • You must not have won a jury prize or audience choice award at a preceding edition of the national finals Ma thèse en 180 secondes / Three-Minute Thesis.
  • You must be available to compete in the national finals and the preparatory meeting, which will take place during the Acfas conference.
  • Present a sufficiently defined PhD project.
  • If you're one of the winners selected by the jury of the national finals to participate in the international final, you must be available and present at the international final and activities connected to it.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE CAGS COMPETITION (ENGLISH)
  • Graduate students should conduct their presentation in English. 
  • Full-time Master’s or Ph.D. students registered in thesis-based programs and in good standing are eligible to participate (including thesis under submission).
  • Graduate students in course-based programs, visiting students, exchange students, and students on leave are not eligible to participate.
  • Graduate students at any stage of their program are eligible to participate.
  • Graduate students who have convocated are not eligible to participate. Graduate students who have already defended their thesis but have not yet convocated are eligible to participate. 
  • Presentations must be based on the primary research the graduate student has conducted in their graduate program.
  • Anyone undertaking a professional/named/higher doctorate is not eligible.
  • Graduate students must present in person, agree to be photographed and digitally recorded, and allow any recordings to be made public. 
  • Twelve contestants from the three regional competitions will compete for the National 3MT title.
  • Winners of Canada’s 3MT agree to be available for publicity and media interviews in the period following the announcement.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FINALS - ACFAS (FRENCH)

For ACFAS Competition: 
National Finals : May 23th, 2023 at Montréal
International Finals : Fall 2023, Rabat, Marocco.

For GACS Competition: 
At this time we know that the National 3MT competition for 2023 will be held in Victoria, BC in November.
The Eastern Regional 3MT will be hosted by Dalhousie University, but the date is not known.

FOR MORE INFORMATION