VIU Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activity

Heat Organizers

The competition challenges graduate students to deliver a compelling presentation of their research and its significance to a room of non-experts in just three minutes.

Students in all graduate programs are eligible as long as they are completing a major project as part of their degree. 

To participate in VIU's 3MT you must currently be registered in a graduate program at VIU. Students must not have graduated prior to the date of the competition final.

VIU's 3MT Finals will be held in person during CREATE on April 10 at 5pm. It is expected all the program finalists will be in attendance at the 3MT. The VIU winner needs to be able to attend the regional competition at the University of British Columbia - Okanagan campus on May 8. This will be an in-person event with travel expenses covered.

Programs have the autonomy to choose students in a manner that suits their needs. Suggestions include:

  1. Identify interested students.
  2. OGS is available to do a workshop with these students.
  3. Host a virtual or in-person program competition. Follow the same rules as the VIU competition. Remember the VIU comp will be in-person, so students will need to be available for that format.
  4. Follow up with your 'top three' and provide constructive feedback so they can improve their 3MT in time for the VIU comp.
  5. If you have 3 or fewer interested students, consider inviting the students to present to a small group of people to ensure they are strong enough representatives and to allow time and space for constructive feedback.
  • A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description)
  • No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted
  • No additional props (e.g. laser pointers, costumes, laboratory equipment or musical instruments) are permitted
  • Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum. Judges are recommended to deduct marks from presentations that exceed 3 minutes
  • Presentations are to be spoken words (e.g. no poems, raps or songs)
  • Presentations are considered to have commenced when the presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech
  • The decision of the adjudicating panel is final

March 27: Programs to forward the following student items to Harleen.Kalra@viu.ca:

  • Name(s)
  • Email(s)
  • Single PowerPoint slide(s); standard 16:9 format
  • Headshot(s)
  • Hometown(s)

April 10: VIU 3MT Competition 

  • Royal Arbutus Room

May 8: Western Regional Competition hosted by the University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus

National 3MT Showcase: At the CAGS Conference in the fall of 2024