Showcase your presentation skills in the 3MT virtual preliminaries. Impress a panel of judges, including professional communicators, with your top-tier presentation. The best presentations will advance to the in-person finals to compete for cash prizes and a chance to represent USask at the Western Regionals.

Deadline: March 10

You have delivered a clear, concise, and engaging virtual presentation with confidence and empathy. Your compelling research story left the judging panel wanting more! Now is your opportunity to win cash prizes and earn a spot to represent USask at the Western Regional competition.

April 17, 2025 

Bringing together first-place 3MT competitors from universities across Western Canada, this competition extends your network of colleagues. It is an opportunity to showcase your hard work in a compelling format and potentially advance to the National Showcase.

@ The University of Victoria
May 6, 2025

The 3MT National Showcase, hosted by the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) brings together regional finalists from Western, Ontario, and Eastern Canada, providing a platform to highlight graduate student research and exceptional communication skills. 

@ the CAGS Conference
Ottawa ON | November 2025

The first 3MT was held at the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008 with 160 students competing. Enthusiasm for the 3MT concept grew and its adoption by numerous universities led to the development of an international competition in 2010.

For nearly ten years, the Graduate Student Association was USask's 3MT host, sponsored in part by the College of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (CGPS). CGPS assumed all responsibility for the 3MT in 2022.

CGPS was the Western Canadian Finals host in 2017 and 2023 and saw one of their standout competitors, Antonia Powell, rise above the rest to claim victory and advance to the Canadian Nationals.

>>>> Watch Antonia Powell deliver her 3MT 

Chelsea Cunningham, PhD
Program and Engagement Manager at Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation
USask Alum, Health Sciences

Cancer researcher specializing in systems biology and genomics and a strong background in molecular biology techniques, turned research funder, learning all about peer review, knowledge translation and research communication.

Bram Noble, PhD
Professor, Department of Geography & Planning, Vice Dean Research, College of Arts & Science, and Editor in Chief of Environmental Management

Born in Baie Verte, Newfoundland, I hold a Ph.D. in Geography from Memorial University of Newfoundland, specializing in environmental assessment. I am a Professor (Geography & Planning) and Vice Dean Research (College of Arts & Science) at USask, where my work focuses on environmental assessment, resource policy, and renewable energy systems for northern and Indigenous communities. I co-direct the CASES partnership, an international initiative promoting sustainable energy solutions, and actively consult on environmental assessment for First Nations, industry, and government bodies. Additionally, I serve as Editor-in-Chief for Environmental Management and contribute to other leading journals.

Joelena Leader, PhD
Assistant Professor and Managing Director of BRIDGE Knowledge Centre at the Edwards School of Business
USask Alum, Interdisciplinary Studies

My research is distinctly interdisciplinary, rooted in qualitative methodologies to explore the complex interplay between technology, society, organizations, and communities. I emphasize community perspectives and participatory/user-centered design, focused on the social impacts of technology on work, organizations, and communities. I employ Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) to identify organizational and community challenges to advocate that technological innovations align with community needs and values.

Communications Strategist
USask Health Sciences

I'm a curious and empathetic audience advocate with over 14 years of experience in tailoring communication strategies and promotional opportunities into rewarding experiences for my audiences, my team, and my employer. I do this by applying a unique appreciation for the interplay of copy, design, context, and a strongly informed concept. I feed my passion for creative problem solving and reputation building by supporting organizations that challenge their stakeholders to think critically or to better themselves and the world around them.

Master of Science student Marin Habbick earned the top spot at the 2024 USask 3MT competition, sending her to the Western Regional Finals at UBC Okanagan in May.

“The two big questions I asked myself that encouraged me to do the 3MT were: How well do I know my research? And can I beat the clock?”, said Habbick. The competition first sparked an interest for Habbick to improve her public-speaking skills and learn about what other graduate students are focused on at USask.

As a virologist pursuing her master’s degree in biochemistry, microbiology and immunology, Habbick’s research is highly technical, posing a great challenge when it comes to breaking the research into the basics for a lay audience. She removed the jargon and presented her research as an investigation into the “man cold”, and discussed how her research on human coronaviruses and sex hormones relate to men experiencing more severe symptoms when ill.

Communication Specialist
USask, University Relations | President and Provost Offices

 Passionate about strategic story-telling and communications materials that celebrate successes, navigate challenges and build a better world. I enjoy building effective communications strategies that put the right content in front of the right audience at the right time.

I work to bring a unique and engaging voice to marketing and communications initiatives - from brand storytelling to corporate communications to exploring someone’s personal story. I enjoy exploring new avenues to leverage a social-first and digital-first content approach that will capture attention and resonate with others. When you only have seconds to inform your audience of your intention, using an efficient but innovative storytelling strategy is key, and my passion lies in this strategy building and content writing.

• All USask Master's and PhD thesis-based graduate students are eligible to participate.
• A student whose thesis is under submission on the date of their first competition is still eligible to compete.
• Presenters must register for the event and be able to present in person.
• One single static PowerPoint slide is permitted.
• No slide transitions, animations, or ‘movement’ of any description are permitted.
• Your slide is to be presented from the beginning of your oration.
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.

Submitting a recording for the virtual 3MT competition? Follow these steps:

1. Submit a recording of you speaking (no slide) | one file

Filmed on the horizontal
Filmed on a plain background
Filmed from a static position
Filmed from one camera angle
MP4 video format is preferred. Instructions on how to submit your video file will be sent to you after you complete the registration form.

Send only 1 static slide using 16:9 .pptx format then convert that to a .jpeg.
Do not include a title slide
Include this file with your registration form

Our team puts the two files together (the recording and the slide) once submitted to ensure a standardized format for every entry. 

1. Presenters are allowed a single PowerPoint slide; no slide transitions, no animations or movement' of any kind, the slide is presented from the beginning and for the duration of the presentation.
2. No additional electronic media (ex: sound or video files) are permitted.
3. No additional props (ex: costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
4. Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum; presentations running over 3 minutes will be disqualified.
5. Presentations are limited to spoken word (ex: no poems, raps, or songs).
6. Presentations are to commence from the stage (ex: no dramatic entrances).
7. Presentations are considered to have commenced when the presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
8. The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

The competitors will be judged based on two criteria:

All competitors must complete these forms and include them with their registration details.

• Photo release form
• Personal information release form

• Simon Clews (University of Melbourne) has prepared a helpful guide on preparing for the Three Minute Thesis Competition
• Jackie Amsden (Simon Fraser University) discusses how narrative frameworks can help grad students effectively tell their research story
• Matt Abrahams (Stanford University) provides Tips and Techniques for More Confident and Compelling Presentations
• Matt Abrahams (Stanford University) podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart: advice for impromptu speaking
• Anett Grant (Executive Speaking) addresses Six Pieces of Bad Speaking Advice That Just Won’t Die
• Inger Mewburn (RMIT University) developed How to Talk About Your Thesis in 3 Minutes
• Henry Miller (UT Health San Antonio) shares 11 Tips For The 3 Minute Thesis Competition

• At the high point, the 3MT Finals event page (2023) had 2.3K views and an event count (scrolls) on the page of 7.2K.
• The People’s Choice voting had over 2000 active hits with more than 919 actual votes placed from unique IP addresses.
• The live stream captured ~ 508 active watchers from across the globe. The heatmap below is a snapshot of where folks tuned in from.