Grad Slam, also referred to as the 3-Minute Thesis Challenge, is a competition that challenges doctoral students to present years’ worth of academic research in a concise, compelling, three-minute talk to a non-expert audience. It encourages students to clarify their ideas and to help others understand and appreciate the significance of their work.

Congratulations to our 2016 Finalists!

Finalists will present their three-minute thesis presentations at a live event on April 6th at 5:30pm in the Music Recital Hall. This event is 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 San Francisco on April 22nd. Visit the UCOP Grad Slam page to see more information about finalists across all UC-campuses!