Call for Applications – HIRAKU 3MT Competition 2021

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The HIRAKU 3MT Competition is an exciting opportunity for doctorate students to effectively explain their research within a limited time-span of three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. The Competition aims to develop the doctorates’ presentation and research communication skills, while leading to broader society (as the audience) further enhancing their positive understanding of doctorate resources and researches.

What’s the HIRAKU 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) Competition?

The Competition has been held as a part of the initiatives of the consortium program, “Home for Innovative Researchers and Academic Knowledge Users (HIRAKU)” (Lead Partner Organization: Hiroshima University, Co-Partner Organizations: Yamaguchi University and Tokushima University), with the aim of promoting the advancement and development of young researchers through regional collaboration. The HIRAKU 3MT Competition has been held annually since 2015, with this year being the 7th edition of the Competition. This has been realized as a result of the collaboration with public and private universities in western Japan primarily located in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, as well as a large number of institutions/corporations in the public and private sectors. This year’s Competition will be conducted entirely online, expanding the scope of the eligible participants to all doctorates in Japanese universities.

Eligibility

Doctorate students (from any research field) enrolled at any university in Japan as of November 3, 2021.
*Excluding students enrolled in master’s programs and/or professional degree programs.

Number of Divisions

Two (Japanese and English)

Competition Schedule

The Competition will be held across two judgement stages for each division.
Only those who complete the Competition Entry will be able to upload their presentation videos, therefore, please complete the Competition Entry first.

1. Competition Entry
Deadline for Competition Entry: August 4 (Wed) 17:00 (JST)　
2. Video Presentation Screening
Deadline for Video Upload: September 6 (Mon) 17:00 (JST)　
3. Final Stage (online presentation judging)
November 3 (Wed, Japanese National Holiday), 2021

Judging Panel

There will be a Final Stage Judging Panel for each division (Japanese/English). The Panels will consist of university/enterprise officials, experts, amongst others, invited from within and outside of Japan. 　
For details of the respective Final Stage Judging Panels, please refer to the website linked below.
>> https://hiraku.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/event/competition_2021/judgingpanel/

Prizes

● Winner: The Winner of each division will receive a certificate, a ¥300,000 scholarship, and more.
● Runner-Up: The Runner-Up of each division will receive a certificate, a ¥150,000 scholarship, and more.
● People’s Choice: The People’s Choice (to be decided by the Audience Polls) of each division will receive a certificate, a ¥80,000 scholarship, and more.
*In addition to the above, several video presentations from the Video Presentation Screening stage will be selected for a Sponsor Award (these awards will be specifically titled after the Special Sponsors’ names).

Application Procedure

Please carefully read and follow the instructions of the Application Guideline linked below, and thereafter, choose a division (Japanese or English), and then fill in the appropriate Competition Entry Form within the link for each division below.
　Japanese Division: Competition Entry Form　
　English Division: Competition Entry Form

*Please note that you can complete a Competition Entry for both divisions, but, if your presentation is selected for the Final Stage, the Video Judging Panel will decide which division you will compete in (as you cannot compete in both divisions during the Final Stage).

>> Application Guideline (PDF,748KB)

References

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition was developed by the University of Queensland (UQ). Nowadays, the 3MT Competition is held at over 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide. To find out more about the 3MT Competition, please refer to UQ’s official website via the link below.
>> https://threeminutethesis.uq.edu.au/

Related Videos & Links
● HIRAKU 3MT Competition 2020 – Report
● HIRAKU 3MT Videos of the Former Winners
● Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) – APAC 3MT Finalists from previous years
● 3MT Training Videos: Presentation Training 2019 (Hiroshima & Tokushima Universities)
● HIRAKU 3MT Training Video: Presentation Training Overseas

Inquiries/Contacts

The HIRAKU 3MT Operating Office (the Competition Office)
Global Career Design Center at Hiroshima University
1-7-1, Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8514
TEL: 082-424-6213　E-mail: hiraku3m■hiroshima-u.ac.jp　※Please replace ■ with @.

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Host Organization:
“Home for Innovative Researchers and Academic Knowledge Users (HIRAKU)” funded by MEXT’s “Building of Consortia for the Development of Human Resources and Science and Technology” program
Special Sponsors:

Sponsors:
Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. Technical Research Laboratories / Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. / Manac Incorporated

Cooperators:
Acaric Co., Ltd. / Springer Nature / Japan Science and Technology Agency
This Competition is held with the comprehensive support of Acaric Co., Ltd., Springer Nature and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), especially in regard to promotional activities. This support is a result of them being in agreement with the purpose of the Competition, which is to develop the doctorates’ presentation and research communication skills, while leading to broader society (as the audience) further enhancing their positive understanding of doctorate resources and researches.

Springer Nature Website:
https://www.springernature.com/jp/campaign/3MT2021-E


Japan Science and Technology Agency
This Competition will be held as a collaborative event with Science Agora 2021 (hosted by JST).
Website of Science Agora: https://www.jst.go.jp/sis/scienceagora/en/