University of Arkansas graduate students will participate in the university's annual Three Minute Thesis competition, beginning Feb 3. The academic contest challenges students to summarize their thesis or dissertation research to a general audience within three minutes and using only one static slide.

The competition celebrates the discoveries made by graduate students and encourages them to communicate the significance of their research to the broader community in language that is understood by the general public.

Presenters are judged on their ability to help audience members comprehend their research and their ability to engage the audience. The presentations are open to the public, and members of the campus community are encouraged to attend, providing the necessary audience for participants. Preliminary heats in each of the academic colleges are scheduled for Feb. 3-6.

Each college will select a first place and a fan-favorite winner to receive monetary prizes of $300 and $100, respectively. Winners from each college will also advance to a university-wide final on Feb. 10 at 4 p.m.

A university-wide People's Choice winner — selected by audience members from the presentations — will win $500. The university-wide final winner will receive $750 and a trip to a regional Three Minute Thesis contest in Birmingham, Alabama, March 5-7.

The Three Minute Thesis competition is sponsored by the Graduate School and International Education and was founded by the University of Queensland in 2008.