The Irish Universities Association (IUA) are delighted to announce the upcoming “Ma thèse en 180 secondes” national competition, organised in partnership with National Centre for Franco – Irish Studies (AFIS) and the French Embassy in Ireland.
Doctoral Students – Join us and share your passion for your thesis subject while you test your French oral skills ! You will have 3 minutes to present your research to a non-specialist audience.
This year, the MT180 competition will take place in Trinity College on Thursday May 30th 2024.
Ready to face the challenge?
All participants must be doctoral students at an Irish higher education or research institution and present their PhD thesis subject in French in 3 minutes (180 seconds), for a general and non-specialist public.
Presentations should be clear, concise and convincing.
- The deadline for sending your completed registration form is Monday 22nd April 2024.
- The competition will take place in Trinity College Dublin on Thursday 30th May 2024.
Registration for participation in the competition is now open!
For any further information, do not hesitate to send an email to irlande.mt180@gmail.com
To take part in MT180, participants must meet the following eligibility conditions :
- be registered or have been registered in a higher education or research institution in Ireland;
- be registered or have been registered in a higher education or research establishment in a research doctoral program with the writing of a thesis (PhD) or have obtained their doctorate during the twelve months preceding the international final;
- present a sufficient state of progress of the doctoral research project;
- express themselves in French
Just send the registration form below!
- The oral presentation must be given in French;
- No props, other than note sheets, will be allowed: no laser pointer, no clothing accessories used specifically for the presentation, etc.;
• Candidates may accompany their presentation with a visual support. It is not mandatory, but strongly recommended. Only one non-animated slide is allowed.
• The text on the slide must be in French;
• Applicants must ensure that the images used are royalty-free or ensure that they have permission from the authors of the images for use in this competition;
• Neither the name of the participating doctoral student nor the logo of their university should appear on the slide;
• The slide must respect the format, size and definition requested as indicated above
• The title of the presentation written on the slide may differ from that of the doctoral thesis, in order to suit a non-specialist audience
The members of the jury will evaluate the presentations given by the doctoral students according to three main criteria:
Public speaking skills and engagement
For example:
- Has the participant demonstrated the qualities of a speaker (rhetoric and eloquence): clear and confident voice, rhythm, fluidity of movement, presence, etc.
• Did the participant communicate their passion for their topic of study?
• Did the participant arouse public curiosity about their topic?
• Has the participant indicated a personal interest or possibly links with society?
Popularization
For example :
- Did the participant explain the concepts or ideas in accessible language?
Did the participant use figures of speech, relevant examples or humour to illustrate their point?
Structure of the presentation
For example :
- Did the structure of the presentation and the flow of ideas facilitate understanding of the subject?
Did the participant clearly explain the research they are conducting?
• Were the different parts (introduction, development, conclusion) of the presentation balanced?
“Coup de coeur”
Particularly exceptional point left to the discretion of the jury member. This may include emphasizing the originality of the candidate’s presentation.
