Also known as the 3 Minute Thesis® competition, started by the University of Queensland, Australia, the UCSC Grad Slam will challenge graduate students to present a compelling presentation of their dissertation research in just three minutes, using language appropriate for a non-specialist audience.

The Grad Slam is not an exercise in trivializing or dumbing-down research; rather, it is meant to encourage students to clarify their ideas and to help others understand and appreciate the significance of their research.

The Grad Slam is open to all graduate students who have Advanced To Candidacy.

Finalists will present their three minute thesis presentations at a live event on March 6th in Earth & Marine Sciences B206. This event will be open to the public, and a final panel of judges will choose a first place and runner-up winner; the audience will vote for a people’s choice awardee. If the people’s choice awardee is the same as the winner or runner-up, both awards will go to that person.

The winner of the UCSC Grad Slam will receive $3,000; the runner-up receives $1,500; and the people’s choice winner receives $750.

The UCSC Grad Slam winner will go on to present at a UC-wide final Grad Slam to be held in Oakland, on May 4th.