Inspiration can strike anywhere, even in the shower. During a short, drought-required three-minute shower, a professor from the University of Queensland came up with the concept for Three Minute Thesis (3MT) - graduate researchers would compete to share their thesis in under 3 minutes.
It's not enough to be concise though, you also have to be compelling. The idea was to teach graduate researchers the communication skills needed to engage industry and other non-specialist audiences so that their research could really have a chance to make change.
Over the past 15 years, the 3MT competition has created a strong cohort of emerging researchers at Deakin who are eager and prepared to put their research on the world stage.
Deakin has seen a diverse range of graduate researchers present topics from antimicrobial food packaging to the garment industry of Bangladesh, from medical maggots to the psychological traits of CEOs.
In 2021, a new competition called Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) was introduced to challenge Deakin students in a different way. Competitors have 60 seconds to present a visual 'elevator pitch' of their thesis. It's a much shorter time frame but pre-recorded so participants have more than one attempt to get it right.
So much more than a competition, like most things at university, this opportunity is ripe for learning new and unexpected skills.
Giving a voice to research
As a third year graduate researcher, Anthony Ware became Deakin's first 3MT winner in 2010. His recollection of the competition is one of excitement and fun.
'At the time, this was a completely new thing for Deakin, so none of us really knew what to expect. I love public speaking, but not to a strict script, so I found the 3-minute time limit very difficult. I was very nervous on the day but had rehearsed many times in preparation,' he said.
Now an Associate Professor of Humanitarianism and Development at Deakin, Anthony is still using what he learnt to secure research funding.
'I cannot stress enough the value of both being able to succinctly state your research question, significance and methodology - and the value of communicating it publicly to a lay audience, both generally but also to industry.'
Agnes Mukurumbira, Deakin's first international 3MT winner in 2023 says being part of the competition significantly boosted her career.
MC Colin Lane, 2023 3MT winner Agnes Mukurumbira and Vice Chancellor Iain Martin (left to right). Source: Deakin Asset Bank
'The competition gave me credibility and visibility both within Deakin and the outside world,' she said.
To Agnes, the importance of research communication cannot be understated.
'Even if you don't end up winning the competition, you'll still gain something incredibly valuable, the chance to hone your science communication skills, an essential tool for every researcher in this day and age. So, take the leap and give your research a voice. The world is waiting to hear your research story.'
Pushing the frontiers of knowledge
Deakin's Graduate Research Academy (now known as the Researcher Development Academy) was established in 2016 by the late Professor Joe Graffam, then Pro Vice-Chancellor Research Training and Performance Enhancement. He believed that Deakin had an 'obligation to provide a world-class training environment for our thought leaders and innovators'.
This ethos has continued over the years, with a focus on the value of graduate researchers and equipping them with the knowledge and skills they need for a rapidly changing and highly competitive research and employment environment.
Helping Deakin competitors prepare to take on the challenges of 3MT and VYT is a key part of the Academy's annual program of workshops.
'Our graduate researchers are at the beginning of their journey. They will go on to become leaders in their fields, changing the world through their discoveries. It's critical that we nurture their talent and support their development for the betterment of our whole society,' says Professor Jeanette Fyffe, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Researcher Development Academy.
'These competitions are a chance to showcase the breadth of diversity in Deakin research. They give our graduate researchers the forum to connect with a wider audience, demonstrate their passion and share the impact of their work. As well, they help to build public trust in university research as a community that is tackling real-world problems.'
It's undeniable how much value graduate researchers and their contributions have brought to Deakin. Source: Deakin Asset Bank.
As we celebrate the past 50 years, it's undeniable how much value graduate researchers and their contributions have brought to Deakin. And for Prof Fyffe, this is demonstrated by the increasingly remarkable presentations.
'Over the past 50 years, many researchers have contributed to the tapestry of research at Deakin, and it is through initiatives like 3MT/VYT that research is more visible and relatable to a wider audience. This year is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and reflect on our full Deakin community and all the generations of researchers whose contributions have made a difference. have made the world a better place. Good luck to all who compete!'
Don't miss out on your chance to share your research story in the 2025 VYT and 3MT competitions. Register today!
This story first appeared on the Deakin50 website.
The text of this article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 International
