'Ma Thèse en 180 Secondes' National Competition

• Candidates must be currently enrolled or have previously been enrolled at a higher education or research institution in Ireland;
• Candidates must be currently enrolled or have previously been enrolled in a doctoral research program with a thesis (Ph.D.) at a higher education or research institution, or have obtained their doctorate within the twelve months preceding the international final;
• Candidates must demonstrate sufficient progress in their doctoral research project;
• Candidates must be able to communicate effectively in French.

• 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. This is not mandatory, but strongly recommended. They are limited to one static slide to illustrate their points. This slide will be projected onto a large screen at the back of the stage;
• No audio or video support will be permitted;
• The text on the slide must be in French;
• Candidates must ensure that the images used are royalty-free or obtain permission from the image authors for their use in this competition;
• The name and surname of the participating doctoral student and the logo of their university must not appear on the visual;
• The visual must comply with the format, size, and resolution required by the institution organising the competition;
• The title of the presentation on the visual may differ from the title of the doctoral student’s thesis in order to make their topic more accessible.

Evaluated according to three main criteria:

Speaking skills and commitment
For example:

• Did the participant demonstrate speaking skills (rhetoric and eloquence): clear and confident voice, rhythm, fluid gestures, stage presence, etc.?
• Did the participant convey their passion for their subject of study?
• Did the participant spark the audience’s curiosity about their subject?
• Did the participant express personal interest or possibly connections to the community?

Popularization.
For example:

• Did the participant explain the concepts or ideas in accessible language?
• Did the participant use stylistic devices, relevant examples, or humour to illustrate their points?

The structure of the presentation.
For example:

• Did the structure of the presentation and the flow of ideas facilitate understanding of the topic?
• Did the participant clearly explain the research they are conducting?
• Balance between the different parts (introduction, development, conclusion) of the presentation.