… And the winners are…

We heard 13 excellent talks in the 3 Minute Talk Challenge. The talks were all of such high quality that the judges were hard-pressed to select the best. In the end, the committee decided on the following outstanding presentations:

1st prize

Debbie Pierce (Canada), The impact of land ownership and deforestation in the Colombian Amazon on the livelihoods of rural women.

Runner-up Prizes:

There was a tie for second place, so two winners were selected: 

  • Magdalena Jovanovic (Serbia), Conservation of Wild Pear (Pyrus pyraster (L.) Burgsd.) in Protected Area “Kosutnjak Forest”  and
  • Alida O’Connor (Canada), Operationalizing landscape approaches in Ghana and Zambia.

Congratulations to our 3-Minute Talk Challenge winners!

Thank you to all contestants – this competition was truly a highlight event during the Conference.

The Conference and the International Forestry Students Association are pleased to host a Three-Minute Talk Challenge (inspired by the 3 Minute Thesis).

The 3MT format of the presentation was introduced by the University of Queensland, Australia in 2008 and has become extremely popular in the last decade around the world. It is an academic competition that assists students to foster effective presentation and communication skills. Participants have just three minutes and are allowed just one slide to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience.

There will be 13 contestants who will present for 3 minutes each, using one slide, within two 3MT sessions of one hour each (Tuesday and Wednesday). Our MC will present each speaker, give the floor to them for 3 minutes, then moderate the Q&A. Both periods will be live, in real time.

We are pleased to announce Dr. Nicholas Coops, Professor and Head of Forest Resources Management Department at the UBC Faculty of Forestry will be our Master of Ceremony (MC). A panel of judges will select one winner of the competition and one runner-up. Every contestant will receive a congratulatory certificate.

Prizes:

We are pleased to announce that the prizes for the 3MT Challenge are sponsored by Routledge | CRC Press and will consist of a book credit for any title(s) from the Earthscan Forest Library Series, to the equivalent of $300 CAD for the 1st prize and $150 CAD for the 2nd prize (runner-up).

Presentation:

Contestants will be given just three minutes and are allowed just one Power Point slide to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience.

Conference templates for your 1 slide PowerPoint presentation can be downloaded here.

Requirements:

  • A single, static PowerPoint slide (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration). Images used in the slide must be your own, or you must have permission from the owner of the photo(s) and provide proper credit(s).
  • No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
  • No additional props (e.g. costumes, laboratory equipment or musical instruments) are permitted.
  • No notes allowed. Presentations are to be memorized.
  • Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum. Judges will be advised to deduct marks from presentations that exceed 3 minutes.
  • Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
  • Presentations must be based on research directly related to the student’s current graduate program thesis. Research performed for employment should not be present.
  • Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
  • Please sit front and centre of your camera. We recommend remaining seated or standing in one place for the full duration of the presentation. Hand gestures and body language are okay.
  • The 3-minute talk must be continuous – no breaks, etc.
  • We encourage minimalist background (i.e. a blank wall). Do not include any visuals complementing your presentation (the only visual allowed is your one 3MT slide, and your face being the speaker ).
  • The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Resources for Contestants

Other resources as you prepare for your 3-Minute Talk (list is not exhaustive, feel free to browse the world for tips and advice):

Good luck to all contestants!