2023 Robotics Institute 3-Minute Thesis Competition

Friday, November 3, 2023 | 3 p.m. | MY580

Copy of Blue Maroon Robots Science Fair Poster (1)

3-Minute Thesis Competition

In three minutes or less, present your robotics thesis or research paper to a panel of diverse judges. Register by October 27 2023 to compete!

The official opening of the Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario on April 27, 2018.
Photo by Laura Pedersen/Engineering Strategic Communications

3MT Awards Presentation

1st Place Winner will go on to represent the Robotics Institute at the 2024 U of T 3MT.

Congratulations to our 2023 3MT Winners!

First place: Daniil Lisus (centre) / Second place: Mustafa Haiderbhai (centre right) / Third place: Chloe Pogue (centre left)

About 3MT

It took you months to write your research paper.
Now you've got three minutes.

The Robotics Institute Three Minute Thesis Competition is a fun and informal chance to distill your research and hone your presentations skills for a general audience. You'll develop the skills needed to present complex research information in an engaging, accessible, and compelling way.

Eligibililty & Registration

The Robotics Institute 3MT Competition is open to all graduate (Masters and PhD) students and Post Docs who are supervised by University of Toronto Robotics Institute faculty.

You may present your thesis or recent research.

Limited competition spots are available. If the sign-up spreadsheet is full, please add your name to the waiting list!

Awards

Three awards will be presented: 1st prize, 2nd prize, and 3rd prize. The 1st Prize Winner will be eligible to enter directly into the U of T 3MT.

Rules

We will follow the standard 3MT rules to help prepare Robotics Institute students for upcoming conferences and poster talks:

Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum. Competitors exceeding 3 minutes will be muted when their time is up.
Presentations may use only one slide, no video.
No additional props are permitted.
You may present your thesis or other recent research.

Competitors wishing to compete in the UofT 3MT Finals are advised to review the official UofT 3MT Rules.

Judging criteria

Presentations will be assessed according to the criteria listed below. Please note that each criterion is equally weighted.

Communication

Did the presenter use language and terminology that was clear and understandable?
Was the pace of the talk effective?
Did the presenter use non-verbal communication (i.e., eye contact, voice modulation, body language, etc.) effectively?
Did the slide(s) enhance, rather than detract from, the talk — were they clear, legible, and concise?

Comprehension

Did the talk help you to understand the scholarly research and creativity?
Did the presenter clearly outline the nature and purpose of the scholarly research and creativity?
Did the presenter clearly indicate what is interesting about the scholarly research and creativity?
Did the talk follow a logical sequence?

Engagement

Was the talk engaging?
Did the talk inspire you to want to know more?
Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their work?
Did the presenter capture and maintain your attention?

How to prepare

3MT Presenters

Presenter	Talk title
Daniil Lisus	Rain or Shine: Autonomous Driving in All Weather Conditions
Daniel Guo	Let it Go: Learning Autonomous Navigation through Joyrides
Erik Fredin	Small tools, big leaps for neurosurgery
Chengnan Shentu	Sensing the shape of continuum robots from a single camera
Mustafa Haiderbhai	Teaching Robots To Do Surgery!
Hannah Smegal	Ageless Innovation: Wearable Robotics for Mobility and Independence
Chloe Pogue	Improving Continuum Robot Stiffness Through Robot Joining
Paul Kang	Finding the Best Path for Epilepsy Surgery
Daniel Sieben	Magnetic Capsules: Interacting with your Insides
Nirmal Pol	Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Imaging: Unleashing Robots with Microscopic X-Ray Vision

Judges

Myrtede Alfred

Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering

Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, U of T Engineering

Adriano Vissa

Executive Director, Partnerships

U of T Engineering

Rachel Wallace

Associate Director, Strategy & Business Development

Lassonde Institute, U of T Engineering

It took you months to write your research paper.
Now you've got just 3 minutes.
Are you ready to compete?