Grad Slam, also referred to as the 3-Minute Thesis Challenge*, is a competition that challenges graduate 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.

The contest is open to all graduate students.
Register and upload your video here.

Finalists will present their three-minute thesis presentations at a live event on
February 24 at 5:30 p.m.
in the Music Center Recital Hall.

This event is free and open to the public.

A panel of judges will choose first-place and runner-up winners, and the audience will vote for a people’s choice winner. 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 receives $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 May 4, 2017, at LinkedIn, 222 2nd Street in San Francisco. Visit UCOP Grad Slam to view the 2016 finalists from all UC campuses and learn the winner of that competition.