MENA Three Minute Thesis Competition 2021

The IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing is organizing a Three Minute Thesis competition for the MiddleEast and North Africa (MENA) region. This competition cultivates students’ presentation and  communication skills and challenges them to describe their researches within three minutes with one static slide.

There will be 2 versions, one for PhD and the other for Master’s (or engineering) candidates affiliated to a MENA institution and who got their diplomas between June 2020 and July 2021. 

There will be two stages in the competition for each version:

– Submission of a 3-minute video describing the thesis/research topic by uploading it to a video platform (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) or to a site accessible only by the evaluation committee with a private.

– The top 10 applicants will be then selected  and invited for a final remote presentation of the three minutes to an international evaluation committee on Zoom platform. 3 winners will be then announced.

The topic of the thesis/research should be closely linked to one of the fields of interest of the IEEE GRSS which are the theory, concepts, and techniques of science and engineering as they apply to the remote sensing of the earth, oceans, atmosphere, and space, as well as the processing, interpretation, and dissemination of this information.

Video submission for the first stage:

PhD candidates:          forms.gle/NzrsPu99JD43VBfH7

Master’s candidates:  forms.gle/HNyJbfa8Phai2AyV9

Timeline of the competition:

Video submission deadline: August 15, 2021

First-stage outcome: August 31, 2021

Virtual competition and second-stage outcome: September, 2021

Prizes for each version:

1st ranked ($1000), 2nd ranked ($750), 3rd ranked ($500)

If you have any questions, please contact Fairouz Stambouli (Fairouz.stambouli@dlr.de)

General rules

  • A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted.
  • No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
  • No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
  • No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
  • Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
  • 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 adjudicating panel is final.

Comprehension and content

  • Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed, while explaining terminology and avoiding jargon?
  • Did the presentation clearly describe the impact and/or results of the research, including conclusions and outcomes?
  • Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
  • Was the thesis topic, research significance, results/impact and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
  • Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation – or did they elaborate for too long on one aspect or was the presentation rushed?

Engagement and communication

  • Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
  • Was the presenter careful not to trivialize or generalize their research?
  • Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
  • Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience’s attention?
  • Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact, and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?
  • Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation – was it clear, legible, and concise?