University of St Andrews Honours students:
Do you believe that your dissertation research can contribute to and inspire climate action? Does your dissertation topic address the challenge of energy and/or climate change? Are you prepared to put your time where your mouth is?
Three minutes of your time, to be precise?
After a successful inaugural run last year, the 3MPlanet competition is back!
About the Competition
The Centre for Energy Ethics invites all honours students at the University of St Andrews whose dissertation research explores topics related to energy, climate change and/or climate action, to its Three Minute Planet (3MPlanet) competition.
Adapted from the format of a Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) developed by the University of Queensland, we challenge you to present a compelling spoken presentation on your research topic and its significance to climate action to a non-specialist audience, in just three minutes.
Picking a Winner
The finalists, selected by the judging panel, received expert training in designing and delivering an engaging and convincing research presentation.
The judges included:
- Laura Bates, Head of Research Impact
- Dr Lydia Cole, Associate Lecturer in Geography and Sustainable Development
- Dr Nicholas Gardiner, Lecturer in Applied Earth Resources
- Dr Gordon Hastie, Senior Research Fellow, Scottish Oceans Institute
3MPlanet Finalists 2022
The entries are in and our finalists and winners have been chosen! Watch all six of our finalists’ entries below.
Long Tran – 3MPlanet 2022 1st Prize Winner
Nina Boothby – 3MPlanet 2022
Second Prize Winner
Jack Campbell – 3MPlanet 2022
Public Vote Winner
Naima Fenderl – 3MPlanet 2022 Finalist
Octavia Chappell – 3MPlanet 2022 Finalist
Anna Moran Watson – 3MPlanet 2022 Finalist
Competition Details
How to Enter
To enter please fill in the 3MPlanet application form where you will be asked to include your research title and a 100-word pitch. The pitch needs to make it clear how your dissertation research addresses the theme of the competition.
The selection committee will choose ten finalists who will receive expert training and be asked to record a three-minute video on their research. The videos will be judged by an expert panel, and made published on social media for a period of public voting. The winner, the runner up and the public vote laureate will be revealed in early June 2022.
Important dates:
- 12pm Wednesday, 11 May 2022 – deadline for pitch submissions
- week commencing 16 May 2022 – training for the finalists (online)
- 12pm Friday, 27 May 2022 – submission of the presentations
All submissions will need to follow the ‘presentation rules’ below.
Eligibility
The competition is open to the University of St Andrews honours students from all disciplines who are either currently working on their dissertations, or who have submitted their dissertation in the 2021/22 academic session.
The presentations need to be based on the applicant’s own original dissertation research (either fieldwork, lab experiment, or literature- based)
Prizes
- The winner of the 3MPlanet event will receive: £250
- The runner up will receive: £150
- The public vote laureate will receive: £150
In addition to cash prizes, the three winners will be invited to produce blog entries about their research which will be published on the Centre for Energy Ethics’ The Energy Blog and/or take part in a special episode of the All About Energy podcast.
Presentation Rules
- A maximum of 3 static PowerPoint slides is permitted.
- No animations or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed.
- The slides are to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
- No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
- No additional props (eg. 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 either movement or speech.
- The decision of the adjudicating panel is final
Judging Criteria
Comprehension and content:
- Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed, while explaining terminology and avoiding jargon?
- Did the presentation clearly demonstrate the relevance of the research to climate change, climate action and/or energy?
- Did the presentation clearly describe the results of the research, including conclusions and outcomes?
- Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
- Was the dissertation topic, research significance, results/impact and outcomes communicated in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
- Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation – or did they elaborate for too long on one aspect or was the presentation rushed?
Engagement and communication:
- Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
- Was the presenter careful not to trivialise or generalise their research?
- Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
- Did the speaker have sufficient virtual stage presence, eye contact and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?
- Did the PowerPoint slides enhance the presentation – were they clear, legible, and concise?