Springer signs on as principal sponsor of “Trans-Tasman 3MT”

Contest challenges students to crystalize their theses into three minute summaries

New York | Heidelberg | Sydney, 30 October 2014

Springer is proud to be the principal sponsor of the 2014 Trans-Tasman Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, which challenges students pursuing higher education degrees to turn their theses into three minute presentations. The contest provides Springer a way of encouraging early career researchers to develop an ability to communicate their work to non-scientists.

Founded in 2008 by the University of Queensland, Australia, the 3MT competition asks students to explain their work within three minutes. The challenge focuses on encouraging young researchers to consolidate their ideas into a format that is broadly accessible to a general audience, in language appropriate to a non-specialist.

“The ability to translate discovery into language that is understandable outside academic circles is a critical skill in today’s research ecosystem,” remarked James Mercer, Springer’s Sales Director for Southeast Asia and Oceania. “Whether it is for funders, policy makers or the media, making the cutting edge of science understandable is paramount to the future of research, and we are happy to help foster these abilities.”

The competition began in 2008 and this year participants from 48 universities in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore will take part. Each of these competitors was victorious in the 3MT competition at their own institutions, so the upcoming event is a World Cup, of sorts. Because last year’s winner studies at The University of Western Australia, that will be the location of this year’s competition.

Professor Stephan Riek, Acting Dean of the UQ Graduate School said, “Each year we are more and more impressed with the ability of our competitors to make such complex science so accessible. We like to say that we give these students three minutes to explain what would otherwise take nine hours. This is by no means easy, but it is a skill that is only growing in importance. We are grateful for Springer’s support in helping to grow these abilities in the researchers of tomorrow.”

“The University of Western Australia is delighted to host the 2014 Trans-Tasman 3MT competition on Monday November 3rd. This is the second time we have hosted this inspiring event, and we are very grateful to Springer for their support,” Professor Alan Dench, UWA’s Dean of Graduate Research and Postdoctoral Training said. “We look forward to welcoming 48 dynamic speakers to our campus, and we know the audience will be inspired by talks on a wide range of topics.”

To join in the conversation as the action unfolds, follow the competition live on Twitter at #3MT.

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