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Three Minute Thesis (3MTTM) Competition 2012

25 May 2012

 

Following the successful inaugural Three Minute Thesis (3MT^TM) Competition held in 2011, the 3MT Competition 2012 of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) will be held on May 29, 2012. 

Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia, 3MT is an academic competition that challenges research postgraduate students to explain their research within 3 minutes to a general audience.  The 3MT Competition is a very meaningful event as it not only celebrates the discoveries made by research students, but also encourages skill development in communicating the importance of research to the broader community.  3MT has now become an annual event in over 30 universities in Australia and New Zealand.  HKU is the first university in Hong Kong that has organized the 3MT Competition.

About 30 research postgraduate (MPhil and PhD) students will participate in the Competition this year.  12 finalists to be shortlisted from the heats will enter the final competition to compete for 5 prizes.  Each contestant will have only 3 minutes to explain his/her research project, using only one PowerPoint slide and in language that is appropriate to a non-specialist audience.  Apart from the top three winners, there will be a People's Choice Award, to be determined by audience ballot at the final competition.  In addition, the Online People's Choice Award, to be determined by online voting, is introduced this year to promote the 3MT concept to young researchers and the public.

The HKU 3MT champion will have the chance to represent HKU at the international 3MT competition to be held at UQ in Brisbane on October 11, 2012.

Prof. Paul K. H. Tam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) of HKU, will be the officiating guest of the Competition.  The adjudicating panel will comprise both internal and external members.  Dr York Liao and Mr Kai-man Wong, JP, BBS, members of the HKU Council, are the external members on the adjudicating panel of the final competition. 

Members of the press are cordially invited to attend the Competition.  Details are as follows:

Date: May 29, 2012 (Tuesday)
Time: 3:00 - 4:30pm (Final Competition)
Venue: Wang Gungwu Theatre, Graduate House, HKU
Remarks: The Competition will be conducted in English

 For enquiries, please contact the Knowledge Exchange Office (tel: 2299 0172; email: keoffice@hku.hk)