Ver. 1 (2019.05.31)

HIRAKU 3MT Competition 2019
Guideline for Applicants
1.

Description of the Competition
HIRAKU 3MT Competition is exciting opportunity for Ph.D. students to effectively explain theirresearch in limited three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. It aims to develop
their presentation and research communication skills, while expecting broader society as audience to deepen
positive understanding in doctorate resources/researches.

Date & Time:
Venue:

Saturday, September 15, 2018 10:30 - 17:00
Higashi Hiroshima Arts & Culture Hall (Kurara)
7-19, Saijo Sakaemachi, Higashihiroshi, 739-0015
Followed by Social Gathering Session from 17:30
at the Café “Soraoto” in Kurara (subject to change)(Participation Fee: approx. 2,500yen per student)

Leading-Host:

Co-Host:“Home for Innovative Researchers and Academic
Knolwedge Users (HIRAKU)” under the Building ofConsortia for the Development of Human Resources
and Science and Technology
Global Science Campus Hiroshima, Hiroshima University Organization of the Leading
Graduate Education Program (“Phoenix Leader Education Program for Renaissance fromRadiation Disaster” and “TAOYAKA PROGRAM for creating a flexible, enduring,peaceful society”)

SpecialSponsors:

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Springer Japan KK (Springer Nature), Chugai Technos
Corporation, TODA KOGYO CORP., The Japan Steel Works, Ltd. and Mazda Motor
CorporationSponsors:

KYOWA HAKKO BIO CO.,LTD. Yamaguchi Production Center, NIPPON STEELCORPORATION, NH Foods Ltd. R&D Center, Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.

Supported by:

Toastmasters International, Sendajuku

Audience:
Number ofPresenters:

Open to public (including high-school students)
Approximately 12 presenters for Japanese Section / 12 presenters for English Section(You can apply to both, but 3MT Opearting Office will choose the section you would present.
depending on the number of applicants. We might have pre-screening in case of excessive
number of applicants.)

HIRAKU 3MT https://home.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/hiraku/en/event/competition_2019/
Official Site:

1/6

Ver. 1 (2019.05.31)

Time Table of the Program:
TimeProgram
12:30-13:00
Reception
13:00-13:10
Opening Remarks
13:10-13:30
Research Frontline to Create our Future!
13:30-15:20“Create your Future in Three Minutes! Presentation (Japanese Section)”
15:20-15:30
Break (Move to the lobby hall)
15:25-16:25“Create your Future with One piece of Paper! Poster Session”(Poster presentations by high-school students at the lobby hall – Japanese/English)
16:25-16:30
Break (Move back to the hall)
16:30-17:10
Awards Ceremony
17:10-17:15
Closing Remarks
17:25-17:35
Photo Session
18:00-20:00
Reception
The program is subject to change.

2.

Registration for Entry
Due July 10, 2019 (WED)
Please send e-mail with “HIRAKU 3MT Competition 2019 Application” in the Subject Title and thefollowing information in the e-mail contents, to the respective contact office in charge at each
university* by noon Wednesday, July 10, 2019; (1) Name of University, Graduate School, ResearchDepartment (2) School Year (3) Name/Furikana (4) Phone Number and (5) Section to Apply (Japanese orEnglish), (6) Presentation Title*. Application procedure may differ by university.
*As to (6) Presentation Tile, make it easy for public audience (including high school students) toget some clues about your presentation. Make it within 25 letters in Japanese, 12 words in English.
【Contact Office at each University】
https://home.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/hiraku/en/event/competition_2019/contact_office/【Pre-Screening】
Pre-screening might be conducted per university in case of excessive number ofapplicants. List of presenters on September 14th will be finalized late July 2019, andnotified directly by HIRAKU 3MT Operating Office.
For those applied to both Japanese and English sections, it will be announced together
with the above, which section to present at the competition.

2/6

Ver. 1 (2019.05.31)

3.

Upcoming Scheudle(1) Finalists to be announced
Late July(2)Submit Leaflet Info
due July 31 (Wed)(3)Submit Slide
due Aug 23 (Fri)(4) CompetitionSep 14 (Sat)(1) PR (Self-Promotion Message) & Research Description Entry in HIRAKU-PF
Due July 31, 2019 (WED)
We need your photo, Self-Promotion (PR) message and your research description, for the leaflet
distributed to the audience at the competition. Please upload/enter the data within the system “YoungResearchers’ Portfolio (HIRAKU-PF)” to meet the below conditions. Refer to the attached “別紙１(Appendix1) 記載例_2016 Winner Ref.pdf”. Please be noted that applicants to English section arerequired to submit your Self-Promotion message in Japanese for the sake of public audience. Research
Summary can be submitted in English.
Entry ItemProfile Photo
Self-PromotionMessageResearch SummaryDescription
Upload your profile photograph in theePortfolio
Please briefly describe your future objectives,strengths, preference at research, etc.
Please make it easy & brief for public audience(including high school students) to understand.

Conditions
over W228 x H300 pixels
in JPEG format
300 letters in Japaneseregardless of the section topresent.
Within 500 letters inJapanese for JapaneseSection / 250 words in
English for English
SectionHIRAKU 3MT Office will create a bulletin board group in HIRAKU-PF and inform you of the group
title via e-mail. Please log in to the system to check the designated bulletin board group. Refer to the“Appendix 2_HIRAKU-PF User Guide.pdf” to know how to create a new account and how to upload theabove data.
【What’s HIRAKU-PF?】HIRAKU-PF is a core IT system of the consortium, “Home for Innovative Researchers and Academic
Knowledge Users (or HIRAKU)”. It aims to nourish young researchers to maximize their potentials,
build network beyond academia and expend their future opportunities.
For those who have entered the doctorate course at Hiroshima University on or after April 2017, youhave been already granted the HIRAKU-PF access. If you forget about your password, please contact
hiraku3m@hiroshima-u.ac.jp←Click the left banner or below URL to access
HIRAKU PF: https://hiraku.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/login(2) Submit finalized presentation slide
Due August 23, 2019 (FRI)
Please submit your presentation slide (a single PDF slide in 4:3 landscape format) in the HIRAKU-PF
bulletin board group created in the above step (1) by the above due date.

3/6

Ver. 1 (2019.05.31)
When you create a presentation slide, please make sure to check intellectual property rights or any
other legal rights of other parties and properly indicate the source as necessary.
You shall not be allowed to replace your slide after the due date in principle.
(3) HIRAKU 3MT Competition 2019
September 14, 2019 (SAT)i) Time & Venue[Meeting Time]
12:00 Saturday, September 14, 2019
[Meeting Venue]
2F Reception Desk at the Large Hall, Higashi Hiroshima Arts & Culture Hall
“Kurara”ii)

Rules of the Presentation
Here are the 3MT competition 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.
Take necessary care of intellectual property rights or any other legal rights of other parties to createa presentation slide. The source/attribution needs to be clearly indicated as necessary.
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 througheither movement or speech.

iii) Judge and Awards(a) Judging PanelJudging Panel consists of representatives from academia and special sponsors, etc., who will
determine winners of each Award listed in iii)-(c), following the Judging Criteria described in iii)-(b).
People’s Choice Award winner will be determined by audience’ vote and certified by the Judging Panel.
(b) Judging Criteria
Audience will cast a vote to one of the presenters, judging from the following criteria.
 Did the presentation provide the future vision and significance of the research to have the audienceagree to them?
 Did the research description attract and excite the audience?
 Were the research outcomes/approaches new and surprising?
 Was the presentation easy enough for the non-specialist audience to follow?
 Note: Judging Panel will take into consideration all other perspectives than described above.
Judging Panel will make judgment on the following criteria, taking the above into consideration.
<Comprehension and content>

Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background to the research question being
addressed and its significance?
Did the presentation clearly describe the key results of the research including conclusions andoutcomes?
Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
4/6

Ver. 1 (2019.05.31)


Was the thesis topic, key results and research significance and outcomes communicated in language
appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
Did the speaker avoid scientific jargon, explain terminology and provide adequate backgroundinformation to illustrate points?

<Engagement and communication>




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?
Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
Was the presenter careful not to trivialise or generalise 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?
The above is retrieved from the judging criteria of Three Minute Thesis Competition held atUniversity of Queensland.

(c) Awards
Winner, Global Challenge Award, Runner-up and People’ Choice and Sponsor Awards will be given
based on the above judge iii)-(b).
 We will be sending the Global Challenge Award recipient to the 2018 Asia-Pacific 3MT Finals(3MT®) to be held in Australia.
 We are planning to finalize recipients of each award per section (Japanese and English), but wemay combine the two sections for some awards.
 Rest of presenters will be receiving the Challenge Award (or Participation Award).

(d) Prizes and Sub-Prizes
Each Award recipient will be given a respecteve certificate, prize and sub-prize. Sub-prizes mayinclude the company lab-tour, Internship Program, Foreign Language Training, etc. Please fully
leverage the opportunity to improve your communication and presentation skills, to develop yourknowledge/competencies as well as to expand your network.
4.

3MT Referencesi)

ii)

References from Past Competitions★ HIRAKU 3MT Competition Past Winning Presentations
https://home.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/hiraku/hiraku3mt_pastwinners/★ HIRAKU 3MT Compeittion 2018 – Info-Session
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRzT3XIFA5s&feature=youtu.beSpeech Training by Toastmasters Club (Optional)
You can take the speech trainig for free by Toastmasters Club, non-profit organization developing
public speaking and leadership skills through practice and feedback with 345,000 memberships at
15,900 clubs in 142 countries (http://www.district76.org/ja/). You can join their activities at yournearest club for free once in October-November before the Competition. We would recommend thisopportunity to those who want to receive feedback to your presentation from people in public. You
need to pay any commuting expenses yourself to get the venue. Training method could differ by
5/6

Ver. 1 (2019.05.31)
respective clubs at each region.
【Toastmasters Club HP】
http://www.district76.org/ja/【How to apply】
Please pick up a club you want to visit from the list (http://www.district76.org/ja/clubs/),click ”Contact US” under the Main Menu and send your request message as follows:“I am a contestant at the competition introduced here ( http://www.district76.org/ja/clubs/support).
Iwould like to visit your club to receive your feedback to my presentation. Thank you very much foryour cooperation in advance.”

5.

Other Points of Attention(1) Treatment of your Personal Information
Personal information collected through your registration/application process shall be handled properly
within the scope of the purposes of utilization set forth in the privacy policy or Rule concerning thehandling of Hiroshima University Personal Information. (URL only in Japanese: http://home.hiroshimau.ac.jp/~houki/reiki/act/frame/frame110000027.htm) HIRAKU 3MT Office will take measures necessary
to prevent leak or loss of or damage to collected information and shall otherwise manage such information
properly.
We shall use the collected information to communicate with applicants regarding theirregistration/application, to publicize the presenters’ information in our offical websites or brochures/othermaterials to be distributed at the competition, to conduct smooth operation of the HIRAKU 3MT
Competition including screening, presentation and judge of the day, as well as to send you information
about the HIRAKU events or seminars, etc. in the future.
Please be kindly noted that a Sponsor Award recipient might be directly contacted by the sponsor, basedon the contact information given by HIRAKU 3MT Office.
(2) Live-Streaming & Web-Publicatin of Movies & Photographs
Please be aware that we are planning to take movies and photographs during the competition and livestream the data online. We will be also publicizing the image/movie data later on in our websites, etc.
(3) Other Remarks
We may anticipate kind cooperation from the presenters to develop future HIRAKU 3MT Competitions
as well as the other HIRAKU programs.

6.

Inquiries/Contacts
HIRAKU 3MT Operating Office (or HIRAKU Operating Council Office)Global Career Design Center at Hiroshima University
7-1, Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8514
TEL：082-424-2058
E-mail： hiraku3m@hiroshima-u.ac.jp

6/6