SANORD 3MT- Competition 2021

Call open for SANORD universities to submit letter of interest.

Timeline: 2021

• September 2020 – call opens for SANORD universities to submit letter of interest.
• 15 May– deadline for SANORD university to register for the 3MT.
• 30 June– deadline for conducting the local SANORD 3MT competition choose a winner.
• 16 May– #1-PhD-students at each local 3MT submits presentation as a film and a PPT-slide.
• 16 Aug– last date for a SANORD university submission of its winner for consideration for overall 3MT competition
• 9-11 September– presentation at the SANORD annual conference at Bergen University, Norway. Winner announced by the jury at the Conference

How to get involved?

1. Register as a university for the competition
2. Arrange the local SANORD 3 MT competition at your university
3. Submit the winning presentation to the SANORD Central Office
4. The global SANORD competition where a panel evaluates submitted presentations and Powerpoint slides (one per student).

Winners and first prize:

• 3 minute presentation at the annual SANORD conference
• Scholarship which covers conference participation and mentorship sessions with SANORD researcher.

Judging criteria

COMPREHENSION:

• Did the presentation help the audience understand the research?
• Did the presenter clearly outline the nature and aims of research?
• Do you know what is significant about this research?
• Did the presentation follow a logical sequence?

ENGAGEMENT:

• Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
• Was the presenter careful not to trivialise or dumb down their research?
• Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their work?
• Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience’s attention?
• Would I like to know more about the speaker’s research?

COMMUNICATION:

• Was the thesis topic and its significance communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
• Did the speaker use sufficient eye contact and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and a confident stance?
• Did the speaker avoid scientific jargon, explain terminology that needed to be used, and provide adequate background information to illustrate points?
• Did the presenter spend the right amount of time on each element of their presentation – or did they elaborate for too long or were rushed?
• Did the PowerPoint slide enhance, rather than detract from, their presentation – was it clear, legible, and concise?

Rules

• One single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration).
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• Presentations are to commence from the stage.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Selecting Your Judging Panel

• To provide every competitor a similar experience, it is recommends considering the following when composing your judging panel.
• Include between three to five judges on your panel.
• Balance your judging panel by age, gender, academic/professional positions, and discipline.
• Consider including a marketing staff member (for example, a representative from your communication/marketing team or from the Graduate School if applicable).
• While judges should declare any conflict of interest, they should still vote on each 3MT presenter’s oration, even if the presenter is from their discipline.