MILWAUKEE _ A doctoral dissertation takes hours to present. But on Wednesday, April 4, a group of graduate student finalists at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will walk onto the stage at the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts and condense those hours down to only three minutes.
The 14 students will test their abilities at effectively explaining their research and its relevance to members of the general public at UWM’s inaugural Three Minute Thesis (3MT) event. Each is allowed one PowerPoint slide, but no other props.
Sponsored by the Graduate School, the UWM Research Foundation and the Office of Research, this free, public competition begins at 3 p.m., on the main stage at 2419 E. Kenwood Blvd.
The 3MT is a global research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland in Australia that builds students’ competency in summarizing their research, using terms that most anyone can understand. Such skills are needed when scholars appeal for public research funding, conduct job interviews and share the wonder of creating knowledge.
“Graduate research of complex issues helps solve problems that we all face,” said UWM Graduate School Dean Marija Gajdardziska. “But often, we have only quick opportunities to grab someone’s attention and deliver a compelling message. This event gives us the opportunity to educate and inspire people in that format.”
Participants will come from an array UWM’s academic disciplines. Cash prizes are awarded for first, second and third place. The judges come from business, media, education and governmental sectors.
Established in 2008, the 3MT is now held at more than 600 universities in 66 countries.
For more information, contact Steve Strehlow at 414-229-7270 or strehlos@uwm.edu.
About UWM
Recognized as one of the nation’s 115 top research universities, UW-Milwaukee provides a world-class education to 25,000 students from 91 countries on a budget of $653 million. Its 14 schools and colleges include Wisconsin’s only schools of architecture, freshwater sciences and public health, and it is a leading educator of nurses and teachers. UW-Milwaukee partners with leading companies to conduct joint research, offer student internships and serve as an economic engine for southeastern Wisconsin. The Princeton Review named UW-Milwaukee a 2018 “Best Midwestern” university based on overall academic excellence and student reviews, and the Sierra Club has recognized it as Wisconsin’s leading sustainable university.