We Can All 3MT: Student Science Communication Workshop on Quick and Effective Talks

Abstract

Scientific presentations at large conferences are often constrained to 12 minutes or less, with formats like lightning talks calling researchers to summarize their work in just 3–5 minutes. One popular short-form presentation is the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, where graduate students distill their thesis into a compelling 3-minute talk, accompanied by a single static slide, and aimed at a non-specialist audience. Launched in 2008 at the University of Queensland, Australia, 3MT competitions are now hosted by research institutions worldwide, often offering opportunities for top contenders to compete at regional, national, and international levels. While the 3MT format helps students refine their communication skills with non-specialists, its value goes beyond the competition. Scientists are frequently called upon to explain their work in a condensed and accessible way to diverse interlocutors, even within their own disciplines.

Early in 2024, the ASLO student committee invited Sandra Klemet-N'Guessan to lead a 3MT workshop at the 2024 ASLO Aquatic Science Meeting in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, given her expertise in the area. Sandra is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Waterloo, where she is exploring wise practices for Indigenous data governance in peatlands. Sandra has been an active science communicator since 2020 and has presented, moderated, and mentored at over 15 seminars and conferences and 25 science outreach events. Sandra was also the 2023 Runner-Up Prize winner of Trent University's 3MT competition.

This workshop guided participants in learning and applying tools for delivering quick and effective talks, with the goal of drafting a 3MT presentation by the end (Fig. 1).

The workshop discussion began with the question, “What is science communication and why is it important?” Sixty-five percent of participants emphasized the importance of engaging with non-specialists, while only 15% mentioned communication with fellow scientists (Fig. 2). Half of the participants noted that effective science communication can enhance the impact and relevance of research, making its contributions to the broader community more meaningful (Fig. 2). More than half of the participants (55%) identified access to knowledge as a key goal of science communication, viewing it as both a right and a fundamental aspect of our shared humanity (Fig. 2).

Overall, participants defined science communication as the ability to share the scientific process and findings with non-specialists—those outside one's specific field or without a scientific background—in a manner that is accessible, inclusive, meaningful, and adaptable to diverse interlocutors. Participants and Sandra agreed that science communication plays a crucial role in enhancing scientific literacy by helping individuals understand the relevance of scientific research in their everyday lives. This enhanced understanding, in turn, fosters meaningful engagement between specialists and non-specialists, and galvanizes individuals to take action to address societal challenges. However, despite the variety of interlocutors and purposes of science communication, there is a notable gap in training for effectively communicating research to these diverse groups, particularly at the graduate and early career levels.

Following this discussion, Sandra introduced several opportunities for students to engage in and develop their science communication skills, including the 3MT competition, Soapbox Science, and ComSciCon. To demonstrate the structure of a 3MT presentation, she shared two examples of background and title slides she had used during her participation at two 3MT competitions at her institution. Participants were then encouraged to form small groups, seated in circles, and introduce themselves in 30 seconds to their fellow group members.

Our second discussion question asked: “According to you, what makes a good presentation?” The key elements of a good presentation centered around the delivery style and the media used to convey the message (Fig. 3). Participants highlighted the importance of clarity, conciseness, simplicity, and accessibility in making a presentation easy to understand. Participants also emphasized that infusing the presentation with passion, energy, and a sense of engagement is critical to capture the audience's attention (Fig. 3). Finally, participants agreed that effective presentations rely on strong visuals—whether pictures, illustrations, diagrams, or figures—that are clear and easy to interpret, enhancing the overall impact of the message (Fig. 3).

Workshop participants then watched a video by Atia Amin, the winner of a 3MT competition at the 2022 Council of Graduate Schools Annual Meeting (Amin 2022) and were asked to identify the key elements of a successful 3MT presentation. Participants noted that Amin was able to clearly communicate the purpose and every step of her research process while using engaging strategies to captivate her audience. The most impactful strategy was her use of storytelling with a circular structure, beginning with a personal experience, introducing a conflict (the research question), and resolving it by returning to where the story started (the research conclusion). This narrative was further enhanced by her use of accessible language, varied vocal pitch, emotional shifts from sadness to joy, purposeful hand gestures, and an effective use of the background slide.

Following group discussion, Sandra emphasized additional elements essential to delivery style and interlocutor engagement that could further elevate a 3MT presentation. She recommended that presenters stand with energy, confidently occupying the space and making consistent eye contact with the interlocutors. They should speak with volume and at an intelligible pace, ensuring the interlocutors can follow along. Finally, articulating their points with shorter sentences than they might in writing and well-timed pauses can add emphasis and power to key messages.

Storytelling holds immense power in engaging listeners and making them more open to learning beyond what graphs or statistics can convey. Though often overlooked in academic presentations due to the constraints of the scientific format and the desire for impartiality, storytelling fosters empathy and builds a strong bond between the teller and the listener by triggering the release of oxytocin, which increases trust and openness to persuasion (Barraza and Zak 2009; Zak 2015). Two key effects of storytelling—transportation, where the audience becomes immersed in the narrative, and identification, where they adopt the perspective of a character—further enhance its power to engage (Gallese and Wojciehowski 2011; Gerrig 2019). Effective storytelling not only addresses key questions but also speaks to the heart, making the message more relatable and authentic. This authenticity is especially critical in contexts such as applying for graduate fellowships, where a compelling personal narrative can be as important as research proposals for securing funding. Crafting a strong narrative can enhance communication across different formats, whether for a brief elevator pitch or a longer presentation.

To encourage participants to bring their unique stories and perspectives into their 3MT presentations, we watched an excerpt from Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie Ngozi's TED talk, The Danger of a Single Story (Adichie 2009). In the video, Adichie emphasizes the need for diverse perspectives in storytelling, sharing how her early exposure to British and American literature made her believe that stories had to center on foreign worlds. Discovering African writers later showed her the importance of seeing her own culture reflected in literature. In science communication, it is equally important to move beyond the limited narratives often found in papers or talks, and to avoid mimicking styles that may not resonate with our personal experiences. By embracing diverse voices, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds, we can create more inclusive, authentic, and relatable stories that foster deeper connections and replace stereotypes with empathy and understanding. This approach enriches both the storyteller and the interlocutor, offering a broader, more nuanced view of the world.

In the final exercise of the workshop, participants were given the opportunity to write their own 3MT, including crafting a title that clearly states the topic of the presentation and grabs attention, and sharing it within their small groups. Afterward, all groups reconvened, and a few volunteers presented either their 3MT titles or drafts of their talks to the larger group. At the end of the workshop, participants were asked to reflect on the most impactful concepts they had learned. Many highlighted the importance of storytelling and the techniques for structuring a narrative to effectively communicate science to their audience as the most valuable takeaways. Others emphasized the significance of effective body language and conveying emotions. However, formal training in these essential presentation skills is not typically available to students.

Looking ahead, participants expressed interest in future workshops on topics such as scientific writing, crafting an academic CV, designing slides and figures, and strategies for overcoming public speaking anxiety. This feedback highlights a clear demand for comprehensive guidance across various aspects of science communication. Students are seeking support not only in content creation and presentation delivery but also in design, stage presence, and scientific profile marketing. To meet this need, we recommend that ASLO expand its current grant writing course to cover additional aspects of science communication. This would allow students to earn graduate credits while developing oral and written communication skills applicable to academic presentations, scientific publishing, grant and job applications, and outreach activities. The ASLO student committee will also host quarterly webinars to help members improve their science communication across media and for diverse interlocutors. Sandra will kick off the fall series by sharing insights from her recent 3MT workshop, with recordings available on the ASLO website for members. Stay tuned!