ABOUT

The annual Threesis Academic Challenge is a development series and friendly competition designed to showcase the important scholarly work of GSAS master’s students. Over the course of the Spring semester, students work with mentors (past Threesis alumni, Bobst Subject Librarians, faculty, and more) to distill their graduate research into a 3 minute oral presentation, developed for a casual non-specialized audience. Students that complete all requirements and make it to the Final Round of the Threesis Academic Challenge have the opportunity to win cash prizes up to $1,000+.

Check out the most recent Threesis Academic Challenge

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?

The Threesis Academic Challenge is open to all currently enrolled GSAS master’s and certificate students, as well as all GSAS master’s students that have graduated in December of that academic year. Students must present original research that is their own or was done in a group, however, only one person may present per presentation (group presentations are not permitted).

HOW TO APPLY?

To apply, students will need to fill out an application, which will be available online at the start of the spring semester. Students will be asked for general contact information as well as a brief title and abstract of their project (ideally 250 words or less).

WHAT TO EXPECT?

All students that submit a completed application will be eligible to participate in Threesis Mentoring. Mentoring will allow students to meet in small groups over Zoom and provides the opportunity to present the first draft of their presentation to a panel of mentors for feedback.

Following these mentoring sessions, students will have the opportunity to participate in optional Communication Workshops with an improv instructor. This workshop will help provide exercises and tips on public speaking and giving presentations to unfamiliar audiences.

Students that complete Threesis Mentoring are eligible to participate in the Qualifying Round of the Threesis Academic Challenge later in the spring semester. In this round, students will have the opportunity to present their 3 minute presentation to be judged by a panel of faculty, alumni, and staff. Presentations will be judged based on the following criteria:

1. Mastery: does the student clearly grasp the material?
2. Style: is the presentation communicated in language that is accessible for a non-specialized audience?
3. Engagement: is the presentation captivating and intriguing?

The top presentations are then moved to the Final Round.