 2026 EDITION Friday, February 6, 2026: Deadline to send your presentation of no mmore than 450 words to the following address: etudes.superieures@polymtl.ca Internal competition : Tuesday, March 31, 2026 (time and location to be announced later) 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! > Consult the archives and 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 feat this year by sending its best presenter to compete against those from other participating Canadian universities universities in the final, 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.
The Direction of Academic Affairs and Student Experience (DAAEE) and the Graduate Student Association of Polytechnique (AÉCSP) are organizing the internal selection competition for Polytechnique students. The competition winners will be determined by a jury composed of Polytechnique’s faculty members and Québec’s science media.
For each version of the competition (French/English), the prizes are:
- 1st prize: $500 and entrance into the finals at Acfas (French) and ACES (English)
- 2nd prize: $250
- 3rd prize: $150
- The audience choice award: $250 gift card from the AÉCSP
DATES TO REMEMBER :
- Friday, January 23 and February 6, 2026: Training offered by Acfas for doctoral students wishing to participate in the competition (registration available here),
- Friday, February 6, 2026: Deadline to submit your text to etudes.superieures@polymtl.ca,
- Tuesday, March 31, 2026: Time and location to be announced later,
- Wednesday, May 13, 2026: National final (MT180) organized as part of the 93rd Acfas Congress, in Trois-Rivières (Anaïs Allard-Rousseau Hall),
- Eastern Regional Final (3MT): Date, time, and location to be announced later,
- National Final (3MT): Date, time, and location to be announced later.
For any questions or to sign up: etudes.superieures@polymtl.ca
2025 Edition
Experience feedback
First prize 2025
Arij Guerziz
Additive Manufacturing of Reconfigurable Structures for Aerospace Applications
Mechanical Engineering
Why did you decide to take part in the "My thesis in 180 seconds" competition?
It was my first time ever doing something like this. I joined because I wanted to practice, step out of my comfort zone, and meet new people. With my debating background, I saw it as a fun challenge to share the excitement of my research with a wider audience and show that complex aerospace topics can be accessible to everyone.
What could you say to encourage the more "shy" to take part in the competition?
I would tell them to give it a try for the fun of it. It is a great way to break the ice, learn something new, and share your passion in a relaxed environment. You do not need to be a polished speaker. Just talk about what you love. I joined with zero experience, and it turned into one of the most enjoyable moments of my PhD. You meet amazing people, you grow a lot, and you walk away proud that you stepped in.
How was your research topic inspired?
My inspiration comes from nature. I have always been fascinated by how birds can change their shape effortlessly in flight, and I wanted to bring that elegance into aerospace structures. That curiosity, combined with my passion for smart materials and 4D printing, naturally shaped my project.
If you had to dedicate your research to someone from the past, present or future, who would it be and why?
I would dedicate it to young students who doubt their place in engineering. I want them to see that with curiosity, effort, and the right support, they can help shape the future of aerospace.
3 key words to define your thesis:
Morphing, Smart materials, Reconfigurable structures
>>> More Details
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
For ACFAS Competition:
National Finals : May 13, 2026 in Trois-Rivières.
International Finals : Fall 2026, Informations is coming soon.
For GACS Competition:
Informations is coming soon.
- Acfas Web Site: Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas)
- ACES Web Site: Association canadienne pour les études supérieures (ACES)
