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Three Minute Thesis Competition at IACM – submission deadline May 1, 2026

Dear Colleagues, 

We are accepting submissions for the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition for the International Association for Conflict Management (IACM) conference, July 5-8, 2026, to be held in Vienna, Austria. The competition celebrates conflict and negotiation research conducted by graduate students by giving much greater visibility to students' dissertation or thesis work that relates to conflict and negotiation. Developed by the University of Queensland (UQ), the 3MT^TM competition cultivates students' academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition challenges graduate students to effectively explain their research in three minutes, using language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. Suitable topics are within the interdisciplinary and broad domain of conflict management and negotiation. Our intention for this competition is to support a strong research culture for the next generation of scholars, increase visibility of student work, and build community within IACM.

Organizers:    

·         Ming-Hong Tsai, Singapore Management University

·         Laura Rees, Oregon State University

·         Jennifer Parlamis, University of San Francisco

·         Michael A. Gross, Colorado State University

·         Deborah A. Cai, Temple University

Overview:  The objectives for this novel session and the 3MT^TM competition are to (1) reflect principles of interdisciplinary and engaged scholarship under the broad umbrella of conflict management and negotiation research, (2) advance knowledge and understanding for the practice of negotiation and conflict management, (3) highlight dialogue between theory and practice, and (4) give much greater exposure to graduate student dissertations and theses at IACM. This novel-format session contributes to the study and practice of negotiation and conflict management by showcasing innovative approaches, exploring emerging frontiers and issues, and reflecting contemporary organizational, political, relational, and cultural dynamics. The value of this session to IACM conference participants includes highlighting opportunities, questions, and considerations regarding state-of-the-art research on issues related to negotiation and conflict management. 

Presenters:  Presenters will be the 3MT^TM competitors, who should be master's and doctoral students from any discipline, who are currently enrolled in their graduate program or who defended their thesis or dissertation after April 2025, whose research fits broadly in the domain of conflict management and negotiation, and who are eligible to participate in the 3MT^TM. Presenters will be selected by the organizers based on a call for submissions deadline in advance of the conference, and using the judging criteria and guidelines below. Students should be in the final stages of graduate school so they can present sound conclusions based on their dissertation or thesis research. Recent graduates are eligible to compete if they have graduated less than a year from the time of the submission. Previous IACM 3MT^TM competitors are not eligible to submit.

Judging Criteria: Each competitor will be assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted and emphasizes the effect of the presentation on the audience. 

Virtual Competition Rules Provided to Submitters:

·         Presentations are limited to 3 minutes; competitors exceeding 3 minutes will be disqualified.

·         Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech (timing does not include the 3MT^TM title slide and commences from when the competitor starts speaking, not the start of the video).

·         Videos must meet the following criteria:

o    Filmed on the horizontal;

o    Filmed on a plain background;

o    Filmed from a static position;

o    Filmed from one camera angle;

o    Contain a 3MT^TM PowerPoint slide (top right corner/right side/cut to)

·         Presenters may have up to TWO (2) PowerPoint slides. The first is a title slide. The title slide must include only the following information: the 3MT® logo (available here; see below for where the logo should be positioned), the project title, presenter's first and last name, email contact, and presenter's university affiliation. The second slide is optional, but if included it should provide content, which should be shown just after the initial introduction of the presentation (Slide 1) and remain throughout the presentation. No movement or animation is allowed on this slide. Presentations with more than two slides will be disqualified from consideration.

·         The 3-minute audio must be continuous-no sound edits or breaks.

·         No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment and animated backgrounds) are permitted within the recording.

·         Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps, or songs).

·         No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted within the video recording.

·         If the presenter needs to reference a picture, image or any kind of content on a slide, the person can do so on the title page or at the bottom of the slide in a small box.

·         The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

·         Submissions are via video format (only a video link should be provided to Event Coordinators). Files sent in other formats will not be accepted.

Please note: Competitors *will not* be judged on video/ recording quality or editing capabilities, although all submissions should have clear and understandable audio and visuals. Judging will focus on the presentation, ability to communicate research to a non-specialist audience, and 3MT^TM PowerPoint slide.

Virtual 3MT^TM Process-Video Submission

Competitors record and edit their 3MT^TM presentations (using any available recording or mobile device) and provide the presentation link to the organizers via email for consideration in this IACM Novel Session. The judging panel will review all videos using 3MT^TM scoring sheets and will meet to discuss judging and final placement of winners, including a Winner and 1-2 Runners-up depending on the submission pool. Questions may be directed to Laura Rees at laura.rees@oregonstate.edu.

Judging Criteria Details

Judging criteria are adapted from the 3MT^TM guidelines from Queensland University.

Relevance

·         Was the presentation clearly relevant to negotiation and conflict management?

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 content PowerPoint slide, if included, enhance the presentation-was it clear, legible, and concise?

Competitor Guidelines (write for your audience):

·         Avoid jargon and academic language

·         Explain concepts important to your research-you may know all about Professor Smith's theories, but your audience may not.

·         Highlight the outcomes of your research, and the desired outcome.

·         Imagine that you are explaining your research to a close friend or fellow student from another field.

·         Convey your excitement and enthusiasm for your subject.

·         Tell a story:  you may present your 3MT^TM as a narrative, with a beginning, middle and end.

·         It's not easy to condense your research into three minutes, so you may find it easier to break your presentation down into smaller sections.

·         Try writing an opener to catch the attention of the audience, then highlight your different points, and finally have a summary to restate the importance of your work.

·         Have a clear outcome in mind: know what you want your audience to take away from your presentation.

·         Try to leave the audience with an understanding of what you are doing, why it is important, and what you hope to achieve.

·         What not to do: Do not write your presentation like an academic paper.

·         Try to use shorter words, shorter sentences, and shorter paragraphs.

·         You can use humor; however, be careful not to devalue your presentation.

·         Revise: Proof your 3MT^TM presentation by reading it aloud, to yourself and to an audience of friends and family. Ask for feedback. Ask your audience if your presentation clearly highlights what your research is about and why it is important.

·         Less is more: text and complicated graphics can distract your audience-you don't want them to read your slide instead of listening to your 3MT^TM.

·         Personal Touches: personal touches can allow your audience to understand the impact of your research.

·         Creativity drives interest: do not rely on your slide to convey your message-it should simply complement your oration.

·         Work your message: think about how your slide might be able to assist with the format and delivery of your presentation-is there a metaphor that helps explain your research? 

·         An engaging visual presentation can make or break any oration, so make sure your slide is legible, clear and concise.

Vocal range

·         Speak clearly and use variety in your voice (fast/slow, loud/soft).

·         Do not rush-find your rhythm.

·         Remember to pause at key points as it gives the audience time to think about what you are saying.

Body language

·         Stand straight and confidently.

·         Hold your head up and make eye contact.

·         Never turn your back to the audience.

·         Practice how you will use your hands and move around the stage. It is okay to move around energetically if that is your personality, however, it is also appropriate for a 3MT presentation to be delivered from a single spot on stage.

·         Do not make the common mistakes of rolling back and forth on your heels, pacing for no reason, or playing with your hair as these habits are distracting for the audience. 

Record yourself

·         Record and listen to your presentation to hear where you pause, speak too quickly, or get it just right.

·         Then work on your weaknesses and exploit your strengths.

Dress 

·         There is no dress code; if you are unsure of how to dress you may like to dress for a job interview or an important meeting. It is important that you feel comfortable so you can focus on your presentation.

·         If you are presenting on a stage that has a wooden floor, be aware of the noise your footwear might make.

·         Do not wear a costume of any kind as this is against the rules (as is the use of props).

Practice, practice, practice: Feeling nervous before you present is natural, and a little nervousness can even be beneficial to your overall speech. Nonetheless, it is important to practice so you can present with confidence and clarity. Practicing will also help you gauge the timing of your 3MT so that you keep within the time limit.

Additional Guidelines for 3MT^TM recording (device options, light, sound, background), setup (support, camera orientation, eyeline, framing, focus, proximity, test recording, and presentation tips), and video editing can be found at:  https://threeminutethesis.uq.edu.au/home.

Submission information

To submit, email the organizers at IACM3MT@gmail.com with your first and last name, the title, email contact, and the university affiliation of the presenter along with a link to a downloadable file of your video submission. The video file format must be viewable on both PC and Mac machines without special software (e.g., MP4). Files sent in other formats will not be accepted. Please note: Competitors *will not* be judged based on the video/recording quality or editing capabilities. Judging will focus on the presentation, especially the ability to communicate research to a non-specialist audience within the three-minute time limit.

The deadline for submissions is: May 1, 2026 (11:59 pm, Eastern Time zone). Submissions received with a date/time including May 2, 2026, will not be included in the competition. The decisions of the adjudicating panel are final.

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Laura Rees
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
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