Big ideas in just three minutes: researchers rise to the thesis challenge

In March 2026, the famous Three Minute Thesis competition returned to the University of Leeds and the School of Education was represented by three postgraduate researchers.  

What is 3MT? 

Originating from the University of Queensland, the 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) is a worldwide academic competition where doctoral students present their research using a single slide and under three minutes. Judges score presentations on comprehension, content, engagement, and communication. 

Three School of Education-based postgraduate researchers signed up to the competition, representing a diverse range of education-related topics shown by their presentation titles:  

Hannah Wainwright: What happens when people make home anyway? 

Clare Copley: The Seen and the Overlooked: Rethinking Developmental Coordination Disorder 

Gergely Kajos: What if I don’t have my own words?  

Over 30 doctoral students from across multiple faculties took part in the first round of the competition and two of our students – Hannah and Gergely – made it to the finals.  

At the finals, Hannah won the People’s Choice Award and Gergely came Runner up. The recording of their performance in the Finals is available to watch here:  

Interested in being a postdoctural researcher with the School of Education? Find out more here.