Competitor Information

Open call to any Penn State graduate student conducting research to submit three-minute videos, which will be judged by a panel that includes alumni, faculty, staff, and others. The top group of finalists will be invited to the final round.

The final round will be livestreamed from the University Park campus and will include a people’s choice prize selected by audience ballots.

Penn State’s overall winner will be invited to the regional 3MT competition hosted by the Northeast Association of Graduate Schools. Winners of the regional competition are invited to the national competition hosted by the Council of Graduate Schools.

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations, or 'movement' of any type are allowed. 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 three minutes maximum and competitors exceeding three minutes will be disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps, or songs).
• Presentations are to commence from the stage. *Note: Does not apply to videos.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

• Filmed horizontally
• Filmed on a plain background
• Filmed from a static position
• Filmed from one camera angle
• Contain a presentation slide, which can be displayed continuously or periodically as many times as you'd like
• Audio must be continuous – no sound edits or breaks

Competitors will not be judged on video quality or editing capabilities. Judging will focus on the presentation, ability to communicate research to a non-specialist audience, and presentation slide.

• You can record your presentation using any technology available to you, including your phone camera, Zoom, PowerPoint, or Penn State’s One Button Studio.
• Refer to the official 3MT Competitor Guide for suggestions on how to put your slide and presentation together.
• Review the judging criteria so you know how your presentation will be evaluated.
• 3MT debuted at the University of Queensland in 2008, so you can search the internet for past competitor videos to understand how competitors have structured their presentations.
• Have fun! This is an opportunity for you to hone your communication skills and share your research with a broad community.