Elevate Your Impact

Communicating research to the general public is a vital skill for doctoral students and researchers. However, most PhDs become engrossed in their research and disciplinary jargon and never learn this important skill.

The University at Buffalo Graduate School has hosted the Three Minute Thesis (3MT), an international communication competition, for the past nine years. This competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by UB PhD students all while teaching crucial professional communication skills.

In three minutes, with one static slide and no props or notes, the contestants must effectively explain and discuss the importance of their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

Why is this communication skill important? Because if you can’t tell an employer, funder or colleague what your research is about, you won’t be able to promote and advance your research agenda.

During this webinar, Elizabeth Colucci, assistant dean for Graduate Professional Development, and PhDs who competed in previous competitions will discuss the impact of the competition on their personal and professional development.