Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT)® @ Mona: Tips

Don’t shoot vertical video

• Turn your phone/device on its side and record horizontal footage.

Sit or Stand 

• You are required to stand during the presentation. 

Stabilize Your Device

• Slight movements will ruin the professionalism of your video. Using a tripod or stack of books to stabilize your footage is paramount in creating a professional video.

Don’t use digital zoom

• Sometimes it can be tempting to use the zoom feature on your device to get a closer shot of yourself, but since the lens isn’t zooming optically, you’re just enlarging the picture digitally. This results in pixels. If you want to zoom in with a device without it looking pixelated, walk closer or move the device closer.

Set your lighting

• The best lighting source is the sun. Natural lighting looks great in almost every instance. Face or sit near a window for great natural light. Never have the window behind you or else you’ll be left with a silhouette.

Select a comfortable location

• A quiet, private and well-lit place where you won’t be interrupted by other people, pets or noises. Position your device so that you have a neutral background that’s free from distractions.

Sound 

• Recording audio directly from the device’s built-in microphone will suffice. Practice and double-check the sound quality.

Write for your audience 

• Avoid jargon and academic language. 
• Explain concepts and people important to your research - you may know all about Professor Smith's theories but you audience may not. 
• Highlight the outcomes of your research and the desired outcome 
• Imagine that you are explaining your research to a close friend or fellow student from another field. 
• Convey your excitement and Enthusiasm for your subject 

Tell a Story 

• You may like to present your 3MT as a narrative, with a beginning, middle and end. 
• It's not easy to condense your research into 3 minutes so you may find it easier to break your presentation into smaller sections. 
• Try writing an opener to catch the attention of the audience, then highlight your different points, and finally have a summary to restate the importance of your work.

Have a clear outcome in mind 

• Know what you want your audience to take away from your presentation. 
• Try to leave the audience with an understanding of what you're doing, why it is important and what you hope to achieve. 

What not to do

• Do not write your paper like an academic paper.
• Try to use shorter words, shorter sentences and shorter paragraphs.
• You can use humor, however be careful not to devalue your presentation. 

Revise

• Proof read your 3MT presentation by reading it aloud, to yourself and to an audience of friends and family. 
• Ask for feedback. 
• Ask your audience if your presentation clearly highlights what your research is about and why it is important