Laney Graduate School’s 3MT and Master’s Showcase

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®️) and Master's Showcase are opportunities for LGS PhD candidates and master's students to gain experience in communicating the significance of their research to a non-specialist audience in 3 minutes or less.

Read more about the 2026 3MT and Master’s Showcase finals competition here.

Preliminary Round: All eligible applicants will compete in the in-person preliminary round in mid-February 2027. In this round, students will be assigned a 3-minute timeslot in which to present their thesis to the judges.

Finals Round: Finalists will be selected from the preliminary round presentations and will compete in the in-person 3MT & Master's Showcase finals live event on Wednesday, March 17, 2027. The finals event is a fun celebration of student research that is open to all.

Application deadline: late January 2027 (exact date to be announced)

Application opens November 2026

Why participate in 3MT or the Master's Showcase?

Benefits include the opportunity to:

  • share your work and its impact with a wider audience

  • enhance your ability to communicate research to a non-specialist audience - in the 3MT competition, in an elevator talk, or at a family picnic

  • refine your public speaking and presentation skills

  • expand your professional network

  • gain media exposure - finalist videos are posted to Laney's YouTube Channel and winners are highlighted in Laney publications

  • be a part of a growing professional community

2027 3MT and Master's Showcase Timeline

November 2026   Application Opens
January 2027Application deadline
Mid-February 2027Preliminary Competition
Wednesday, March 17    3MT and Master's Showcase Finals 

How It Works

Presentation Rules

  • A 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 (eg. 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 competition is judged by a panel of professionals with wide ranging academic and non-academic expertise.
  • The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

2026 3MT Winning Presentation

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Drug

2026 1st Place Winning 3MT Presentation – Grace Neilsen, “Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Drug”