One thing every graduate student works toward is writing an intriguing and thorough thesis to show that they are absolute experts at a subject. 80,000 words would normally take about nine hours to present, but these New Mexico State University students have three minutes.
The College of Arts and Sciences will present the sixth annual “Three-Minute Thesis” competition at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 8, at Corbett Center Auditorium. The deadline for students to register for the competition is Thursday, April 6.
The main task for this competition is for students to consolidate their ideas and discovery and present them in front of a panel of judges. The competition helps students in developing communication strategies for their research to a wide-range of people.
“One of the main benefits of the ‘Three- Minute Thesis’ competition is that this helps prepare them to present their thesis to a committee or crowd,” said Ashley Jurado, the coordinator for this competition and event planner for the college. “Another of course are the prizes offered, $1000 for first, second is $500 and third is $250.”
Students will be judged on three different components- content, clarity and charisma. Competitors should leave the stage having communicated their topic effectively and shown their passion for the subject.
“A major difference this year will be that they students will are able to use props,” said Jurado. “In the past we allowed them to use one Power-Point slide, but that won’t be the case anymore.”
The props are limited to only ones the competitors can carry onto the stage themselves and no extra time will be allotted for set-up, competitors who go over three minutes will be disqualified. The judges’ panel will consist of five faculty members on the College of Arts and Sciences graduate affairs committee, as well as one student ambassador.
The “Three-Minute Thesis” competition is free and open to the public.
For more information about the event and how to register, visit http://artsci.nmsu.edu/en/3-Minute-Thesis
Information from NMSU