The final round of the University of Oregon Graduate School's Three Minute Thesis Competition is today (May 8) from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., in the EMU Fir Room.

The Three Minute Thesis Competition has been described as speed dating for research. The championship round of the UO Graduate School's event will feature 11 finalists who have moved on from the competition's two preliminary rounds. Each will have three minutes to explain their research in lay person language, accompanied by a single, static PowerPoint slide – no other props are permitted.

Prize money will be awarded to judge- and audience-voted winners.

Faculty judges include Kimberly Espy, the UO's vice president for research and innovation and dean of the Graduate School; Sandi Morgen, vice provost of graduate studies and associate dean of the Graduate School; and Robert Voelker-Morris, faculty consultant for the Teaching Effective Program, who specializes in digital presentation.

The judges will evaluate competitors based on communication style, comprehensibility and ability to engage the audience.

The UO, Oregon State University and Portland State University plan to conduct a state-wide competition next year, with winners from each campus vying for the state championship. Earlier this month, OSU hosted a similar event on its campus.

Three Minute Thesis is a trademarked academic competition developed by the University of Queensland, Australia.

- from the UO Graduate School