Mountain Lion Grad Slam

Mountain Lion Grad Slam

Mountain Lion Grad Slam

The UCCS Mountain Lion Grad Slam 3-Minute Thesis Competition is back in person!

This is an opportunity for graduate students to explain their research and scholarship in an engaging way. This fast-paced research ROAR (get it? Mountain Lions roar, right?!) highlights the hard work accomplished by UCCS graduate students.

The UCCS Mountain Lion Grad Slam challenges students to a 3-minute/1-slide presentation to showcase their research to the audience and judges in a condensed and captivating way. Participants will be evaluated on how well they explain and communicate the most significant parts of their research. Winners of the preliminary rounds, on January 23rd and January 24th will progress to the final round on Tuesday, January 30th, 2024. Winners will be announced following the event.

A panel of UCCS staff, faculty, and alumni will judge each round using a scoring rubric. The UCCS campus community is all invited to attend the final round and join us when the winners are announced.

Email Grad3mt@uccs.edu with any questions you might have!

To see previous winners, click here!

2024 Competition

Founded by the University of Queensland

Registration Deadline

Friday, December 15th, 2023 at 4:00pm MST

Register here

Preliminary Round

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024 and Wednesday, January 24th, 2024 in UC 302

Please note: you will present only once in preliminary round based on registration information.

Final Round

* Tuesday, January 30th, 2024 in Berger Hall -Time: 3:00-4:30pm with programming running from 3:30-4:30 followed by awards.

* Open to the public

Awards given soon after.

Email: Grad3mt@uccs.edu with any questions

 

Eligibility Criteria
  • Current Active UCCS Graduate Student (master or doctoral level)
  • Presenting work completed while a UCCS Graduate Student (e.g., capstone project, thesis or dissertation, other professional research project).
  • Only one presenter is allowed. If presenting collaborative work, must have the permission of all collaborators to present.
  • Students may only present one project.
  • A project may only be presented by one student.
  • If you competed in a past 3MT competition at UCCS, you can compete again. However, if you made it to the final round, you need a new project to participate again.
Rules and Regulations
  • This event follows the national 3MT standards from the University of Queensland
  • A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations, or 'movement' of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented at the beginning of the oration. The FINAL slide is due to grad3mt@uccs.edu by noon MST on Wednesday, January 17th, 2024. If you would like feedback on your slide please email us by noon MST on Monday, January 8th, 2024. Please review the PowerPoint Slide Template and Tips for Success Document. Presentations that do not follow the guidelines will not be accepted and the presenter will be disqualified.
  • You cannot modify your PowerPoint slide between rounds nor after submission for the competition.
  • No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) is permitted. 
  • No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
  • Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum and competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified. A time clock will be made visible for contestants to monitor.
  • Wear business casual attire (no hats, costumes, etc.)
  • Contestants must arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the competition for check-in and must stay for the entire competition to reduce distraction. Leaving after your presentation is not allowed. 
  • Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps, or songs).
  • Presentations are to commence from the stage. 
  • Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
  • The decision of the judging panel is final.
Why Should You Participate?

Participation in the UCCS Mountain Lion Grad Slam 3MT® competition develops presentation and research communication skills while honing graduate students' ability to effectively explain the breadth and significance of their research to a non-specialist audience. The ability to clearly and concisely articulate complex research to non-specialist audiences is a vital skill for all graduate students.

Participating in the 3MT helps students develop communication skills and allows them to share and take pride in their work.

Not to mention these prizes:

1st place wins: $750

2nd place wins: $500

People's choice wins: $250

First place will also get an opportunity to compete in the regional finals in March 2024. If the first-place winner is unable to attend, the second-place winner will be offered this opportunity.

Please be advised that your participation in the Mountain Lion Grad Slam event may amount to a public disclosure which could jeopardize your ability to obtain patent protection in certain jurisdictions. As a student, prior to participating and openly sharing the details of your project, you may want to seek legal counsel, speak with your advisor, or contact the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Integrity regarding any disclosure you plan to share or otherwise present to get advice on how to protect any intellectual property that may arise from your project.