How to do a Three Minute Thesis (3MT) or Famelab | Don't make these mistakes!

Planning on doing a three-minute thesis (3MT) or a Famelab presentation? Not sure what makes a good a compelling pitch? Then today's video is for you!
I'm discussing nine common mistakes I've frequently see when PhD's are doing a 3MT/famelab style presentation. These include:
1. Lack of Preparation (1:04)
2. No Hook (2.25)
3. Uneven Structure (3.40)
4. Too much content (4.34)
5. And, and, and (5.23)
6. not seeking feedback (7.15)
7. Using too many Analogies (8.31)
8. Bad props (9.46)
9. Finishing weak (12.04)
Want to see my Famelab presentation at the 2017 Australian National Finals in Perth, Western Australia (mentioned at 3:13): see here: vimeo.com/217774907
4:23: Don't feel like you need to be locked into the specfic structure here, or in the order I said. It really depends on what hook you go with or how you can present the most compelling story. It may make sense to mix the order up. Main point here is to make sure you touch on all aspects of the project. You don't want to leave the audience wondering key aspects of what, why, or how you did the research.
11:00: On props. I should clarify that sometimes using the actual item of your research can be a good idea. Particularly if its very interesting, unusual, not-common or left-of-field. The point I was trying to make here was when your using a prop to talk about something that the audience would be well familiar with. Like using a DNA helix to talk about genetic research (most people will know what a helix is or have seen it before). Unless there's some way your planning on using it to explain your research, just holding it up as a show and tell isn't adding much value. Instead get creative! For an example, see my famelab video above. I use body postures to explain genetic findings.
Nothing ventured, Nothing Gained.
Stemventurist credits
Content Curation and Direction: Ken Dutton-Regester
Producer and Editing: Dave Dutton-Regester
Thumbnail and Social Media Assets: Lisa Dutton-Regester
Content created for PhD, graduate students, postdocs, academic researchers or those looking to understand the skillsets to succeed within or outside academia.

[@MissusPenPen]

I came here looking for silver and I've found gold. Thank you, kind sir. From Colima's University, thank you! I'm going to prepare a 3MT so wish me luck!

[@user-bi6gp4yb1q]

This guy deserves more audience ❤️❤️. Your content is really helpful to me for my dissertation presentation in my postgraduate!

[@stemventurist]

Appreciate the feedback! The channels on a slow 🔥, but might pick up if I get off my bum and start making more vids.. I’ve actually got a few vids planned, but just trying to find some time (had to put it on the back burner for a bit). The next vids will be about how to make your science sound more engaging and interesting- I think you’ll like it!

[@jayarajradhakrishnan]

Amazing summary of the common mistakes, my friend. Thank you for your efforts.

[@stemventurist]

Thanks! This feedback means a lot! I really need to get back into producing content (I’ve got a tonne of ideas sitting around). Are there any particular topics you’d like to see me cover?

[@sofiaquintas6887]

Tips for the preparation of 20min talks (conferences, congresses, etc) without it being boring/too overwhelming, but still professional@@stemventurist

[@marynashevtsova5842]

Thank you! I don’t do MT3 but have to prepare a 2 minute pitch for a postdoc interview - what a torture 😟 but now your video made my life a bit easier!

[@stemventurist]

No worries! I’d say pretty much the same concepts would apply for a 2min postdoc interview. However the audience (being a PI or professor) is slightly different, so in general, you can skip explaining basic concepts and get straight into setting up the problem. Only deviation would be if your pitching a postdoc project that is left of field or slightly out of scope to a supervisors typical range of study. A example of this might he if your doing an interdisciplinary project that’s taking elements of their research and combining it with another field. In this situation, you might need to explain the forks their not familiar a little more basic. Also I’ve never heard of doing a 2min pitch for a postdoc interview. Is this a for a speed dating like thing?

[@tessalania5802]

Hey! These tips were super great, thank you from Canada! :)

[@stemventurist]

Great to hear! Make sure you check out the follow up vid if you haven’t already on presentation. Seems to be less popular, but has bunch more tips on the delivery side of the 3MT. Let me know how you go with your talk! (Presuming you’re having a go this year?)

[@stemventurist]

This one: Presentation tips for PhD's | Improve your Three Minute Thesis (3MT) or Famelab performance kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3STnqhnpa5jhrs

[@souadhamidi2354]

Thank you very much indeed for your insightful tips they r very helpful

[@stemventurist]

Thanks! Always great to hear the videos are useful. Should be firing up some new vids this week (looking to try doing a bunch of shorts). Let me know if there’s any topics you’d find useful for me to cover

[@MrFgibbons]

Very useful guide! It’s along time since I presented my thesis, but I’m going to a conference soon that requires a video abstract of my poster (this will be my first time using #BetterPoster format!), so this is very on-point! It’s so great to see the process of scientific presentation getting shaken up.

[@MeeshayT]

Really appreciate the effort❤

[@maximusmeridius9967]

That's amazing info. . . Thank you very much. . . Regards from INDIA

[@stemventurist]

No worries! Make sure to check out the other part on presenting if you haven’t already. It’s a good supplementary video on the performance side.

[@chezJinsi]

Thank you so much!!

[@craig3205]

Thankyou, this helped me prepare for my 3MT presentation

[@stemventurist]

No worries Craig! Let me know how it goes and if there are any other things you think I should include in a follow up video

[@craig3205]

@@stemventurist I received second place for my presentation. I think a video on tips and techniques on overcoming the fear or presenting and how to engage the audience and judges better.

[@stemventurist]

@@craig3205 Awesome, congrats! Regarding fear- one thing I've been hearing a lot lately is to rather try and ignore it, turn that anxious energy into excitement. Apparently these energies are similar/ fire along the same neurons, so it's better to change your perception of the feelings. ie. instead of 'I'm dreading giving a talk', reframe it to 'I'm excited to tell people what I'm working on'. There's also some tips in part 2 of this video, but I think each deserve some in depth detail. I'll through them on the my list of topics to cover!

[@physis6356]

nice video thanks! one tip I'd give you is that the video transition between tips is a tad too long!

[@sumaviamashal5590]

Subscribed✨🙌😇

[@stemventurist]

I think you’re my 500th follower! Does this earn you some kind of prize? Ha ha

[@sb.sb.sb.]

I wish these tips were done in 3 minutes

[@stemventurist]

Ha ha, that could be a good idea to make a 3MT on how to do a 3MT 😂 I think I did a bullet point summary in the episode notes (should take less than a 1min to read). Actually, would you find a 1 page PDF summary of the tips in the video useful/ something you’d refer to regularly?

[@etnomobil]

Thank you for the video! It is really great! :) I am just preparing to my 3mt presentation. And i have a question. :D I just started my phd last september, and i don't have clear results yet. Is it a good way to end the presentation with the questions, i am examining in my research right now?

[@stemventurist]

Glad you found the vid useful! It depends on how your structuring it, but I'd probably have the questions your examining around the 1min mark (after setting up the problem in the first part). I'd probably end with the big picture vision. i.e. What would happen if you solve the issues your researching- both at the micro and macro level. This can be a bit daunting to put yourself out there and make potential forecasts, but you can hedge your bets by saying something like 'my research could have an impact on (the problem your addressing), BUT collectively with others in the field, we could solve this much larger issue of (insert issue). If we solve it, it could change the world by (insert impact). If you have early data, you can also allude to that 'our early data is suggesting...but this will require further work'.

[@stemventurist]

Also if you haven't already, check out part 2 of doing a 3MT. This vid is surprisingly not getting much love from the yotuube algorithm, but contains loads of tips in regards to the performance and presentation side of the 3MT. It will help you increase your confidence and perform your best on the day (although, this was written back when we were doing physical events, so I probably need to do a separate video of doing a recorded presentation): kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3STnqhnpa5jhrs

[@AnimateYourScience]

Yey to the ABT!

[@user-xx4bp8sf8x]

My 3MT is kinda different, it's about presenting a solving a programming problem Hope Those tips are gonna be useful Anyway Thanks, man I appreciate ur efforts

[@stemventurist]

Thanks mate! I’m really interested in seeing how you do your 3MT- sounds cool! Let me know if you record it and happy to share 👍

[@AzmeerSharipol]

Do you still accept dm’s? 😊 Haha

[@diyakhan3279]

😢😢

[@stemventurist]

Why the sad face? 🥺