What is the 3MT® Competition?
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. Graduate students present their research and its wider impact in 3 minutes or less to a panel of judges. The challenge is to present complex research in an engaging, accessible, and compelling way, using only one static slide.
The 3MT® competition will provide OSPGR trainees with an opportunity to refine skills that can be transferred after graduation to diverse career paths. Distilling complex research into a clear form, without over-simplifying, and highlighting the wider implications of the research are important skills to carry into post-graduate employment and public service.
The competition allows graduate students to showcase their research to a wider multidisciplinary audience, within the OSPGR community and to the general public. The 3MT® is a unique opportunity to communicate the innovative and significant research undertaken by OSPGR trainees.
OSPGR is proud to dedicate the 3MT® Competition to Emily McIntosh
Dr. McIntosh completed her BSc Human Kinetics (2011), MSc (2013) and her PhD in Biomechanics (2020) in the Department of Human Health & Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph. In addition to being an NSERC funded scholar and published scientist who studied age related changes to posture and gait, Emily was a much-loved teaching assistant to over 1200 undergraduate students and mentor to her graduate student peers. A true team player, Emily was always available to lend a hand in the lab and provide advice and perspective.
In 2017, Emily was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer – glioblastoma, while in the middle of her Doctoral training. Despite this devastating diagnosis, she returned to her studies after treatment to complete her PhD. Soon after, she went into industry, working as a Clinical Research Scientist at Intellijoint Surgical while also diving into Brain Cancer Advocacy work. In recognition of her impact in this space, Emily was honoured in September 2024 with the Douglas MacRae Award of Courage from Brain Cancer Canada (BCC). Emily passed away on February 11, 2026 after her long battle with cancer. In May 2026, BCC announced the Emily McIntosh Legacy Fund, thus carrying on her passion for research in the fight against brain cancer.
Throughout her illness, Emily never lost her sense of wonder and set an incredible example for how to live a life filled with curiosity and determination.
Emily was an ISPGR member and attended several ISPGR meetings. Her first was as a wide-eyed MSc student in Vancouver (2014) and later as a senior PhD student, in Edinburgh (2019). She loved the spirt and energy of the conference proceedings, the friendships she forged and the scientific connections she made. The OSPGR 3-Minute Thesis Award honors the importance Emily placed on dissemination of scientific findings and her enjoyment of healthy competition among friends!
Rules:
- A single, static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration). Images used in the slide must be your own, or you must have permission from the owner of the photo(s) and provide proper credit(s).
- No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
- No additional props (e.g. laser pointers, costumes, laboratory equipment or musical instruments) are permitted.
- No notes allowed. Presentations are to be memorized.
- Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum. Judges are recommended to deduct marks from presentations that exceed 3 minutes.
- Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
- The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
