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The 3rd Edition of Three Minute Thesis® Is Coming to WUT

The photo shows the participants and jury members of the 2nd edition of the 3MT® competition at Warsaw University of Technology

Final of the 2nd edition of the 3MT® competition at Warsaw University of Technology – commemorative photo of the winners and jury members

Can you explain your research in just a few minutes? That's the challenge facing contestants in Three Minute Thesis® (3MT®), one of the world's leading science communication competitions. This year marks the third edition of the competition at Warsaw University of Technology, and for the first time we're joining forces with the Medical University of Warsaw. More disciplines, more groundbreaking research, more excitement. What's in store this year?

3MT® participants are challenged to present their research and explain its significance to society, all while working within a strict set of rules. There's no presentation, no multimedia and no props. Instead, they have just one static slide displayed on screen to support their talk. The real challenge lies in turning complex research into a compelling story that is accessible to a non-specialist audience. Each presentation is delivered in English and must be completed in three minutes or less.

Prize winners will receive cash awards: PLN 5,000 for first place, PLN 4,000 for second place, PLN 3,000 for third place, a PLN 1,500 Audience Award, and special prizes, each worth PLN 1,500.

Stage 1 – Applications

The competition is open to doctoral candidates from Warsaw University of Technology and the Medical University of Warsaw. Applications are open until 11 October.

More information on the application process and the competition rules are available here: www.sd.pw.edu.pl/sd_en/Projects/Three-Minute-Thesis-2026

Stage 2 – Heats

All applicants will present their research to the jury, though not yet to an audience. Doctoral candidates from the Medical University of Warsaw will compete on 20 October, while those from Warsaw University of Technology will take the stage on 21 October.

The jury will select the six strongest presenters from each university to advance to the final.

Stage 3 – The Final

The 3MT® Final will take place on 27 November at 2 pm. You can join us in person at Rektorska 4 or watch the event live online. The twelve finalists will present their research before the jury and an audience. Their presentations will be evaluated by a panel representing both academia and the media, reflecting the competition's unique focus on communicating research beyond specialist circles.

This year's jury includes Prof. Mariusz Malinowski, Vice-Rector for Research at Warsaw University of Technology; Prof. Marcin Sobczak, Vice-Rector for Research and Technology Transfer at the Medical University of Warsaw; Dr Adam Mirek, science communicator and graduate of WUT's Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering; science journalist Radosław Brzózka; and Natalia Izdebska, doctoral candidate at WUT's Faculty of Chemistry and winner of the first edition of Three Minute Thesis® at WUT. The jury will select the winning presentations and award the prizes. The audience will also have its say, choosing an Audience Award winner through online voting.

We're looking forward to a true celebration of science communication and public engagement with research. Join us for the third edition of Three Minute Thesis® at Warsaw University of Technology!