CSU 3MT Participant Training and Challenge Program
This webpage is dedicated to provide guidance and resources for the 2026 3MT Participants as they prepare for the final 3MT challenge in February.
This Three-Minute Talk (3MT) Training and Challenge provides a unique opportunity to develop your research and professional communication skills in a supportive, interdisciplinary environment with CSU colleagues. We are excited to work with you this year!
Read about previous 3MT Competitions and winners in the Source articles below:
2025: CSU graduate student Charli Geer places third in statewide 3MT competition
2024: CSU graduate student Scott Wrigley places third in statewide 3MT Competition
- 2023: Graduate School Three-Minute Talk Awardees announced AND Bailey Wade places first in statewide 3MT Competition
The CSU 3MT program and competition is run by CSU Writes with support from the Office of the Vice President for Research and the Graduate School.
December 2025 – January 2026
February 2nd – 6th, 2026
February 11, 2026 | 5-7pm | LSC, Longs Peak Room
3MT Professional Development Training
December 2025 – January 2026
Participating in the Training Course offers intensive communications professional development and builds interdisciplinary cohorts of graduate students, in addition to preparing participants for the 3MT Competition.
Schedule:
WEEK 1: DEC 9 – 19
- Intro Session: Process, 3MT Rules
- Training Materials:
- COHORT ASSIGNMENTS Spreadsheet
- Cohort Meeting #1: STRATEGY
- Weekly Group Meeting (click to view)
WINTER BREAK: DEC 19, 2025 – JAN 20, 2026
- Draft Your Presentations
WEEK 2: JAN 20 – 23
- Cohort Meeting #2: DRAFTS & FEEDBACK
- Weekly Group Meeting (click to view)
WEEK 3: JAN 26 – 30
- Cohort Meeting #3: REVISIONS & PRACTICE
- Weekly Group Meeting (click to view)
- Sign Up for Preliminary Rounds Presentation (Click to sign up)
- Optional Practice Presentation: Wed. JAN 29 3pm – LSC 300
WEEK 4: FEB 2 – 6
- Weekly Group Meeting (click to view)
- Submit your Slide & Presentation Title information to the corresponding cohort folder below:
- Cohort Meeting #4: FINALIZE SLIDE & TALK
- Preliminary Rounds: Feb 3, 4, 6 || 3-4:30pm || LSC 300
- See Presentation Schedule below
WEEK 5: FEB 9 – 11
- Cohort Meeting #5: PREPARING COLLEAGUES
- Final Competition: Feb 11 || 5-7pm || Longs Peak Room (LSC)
3MT Preliminary Challenge Round
February 2nd – 6th, 2026 | 3-4:30pm | LSC 300
Students will be placed into one of three groups to give their timed 3MT talk in the Preliminary Challenge Round on Tuesday, Wednesday, OR Thursday. The top 10 scorers will go on to compete in the final challenge.
All graduate students who participate through the preliminary challenge rounds will receive a 3-Minute Talk certificate of completion in recognition of their professional development in research/scholarly/creative/entrepreneurial communication.
3MT Final Competition
February 11, 2026 | 5-7pm | LSC Longs Peak Room
The Final Competition will be a formal event in which the 10 finalists from the Preliminary Challenge Rounds will give their timed presentations in front of 5-6 judges. The event will include a catered dinner. Presenters are encouraged to invite their department mentors and student cohorts, 3MT cohorts, family, and friends.
The top three scorers in the Final Competition will receive monetary awards.
The first-place award-winner will have the opportunity to represent CSU state-wide by competing at two competitions:
- Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS) Annual Meeting, April 1-3, 2026
- Colorado Council of Graduate Schools (CO-CGS) 3-Minute Talk competition (TBA-April 2026).
