The University of Crete successfully hosted the final round of the “My Thesis in 3 Minutes – Three Minute Thesis (3MT)” competition on June 10, 2026, in a packed Auditorium at Voutes Campus, Heraklion. This marks the fourth time the competition has been organized in Greece by the University of Crete.

Originally developed in 2008 at the University of Queensland, Australia, the Three Minute Thesis competition has grown into a global academic initiative embraced by more than 600 universities across over 65 countries. The competition challenges doctoral candidates to present their research in a clear and compelling manner to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes, using only a single presentation slide.

Ten doctoral candidates from across the University of Crete advanced to the final round after achieving the highest scores during the preliminary stage, which attracted 44 participants from a wide range of academic disciplines. Each finalist was tasked with explaining the purpose, significance, and impact of their research in an accessible and engaging way.

Following evaluations by both the judging panel and the audience, three awards were presented:

Award Winners

First Prize was awarded to Marina Mastrokosta, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Philology, for her presentation entitled “The Acquisition of the Concept of Space-Time in First and Second Language.”

Second Prize was awarded to Martha Tselika, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biology, for her presentation “Functional mutations in ACCase. From insects to plants: How a mutation changes toxicity””

The People’s Choice Award was presented to Evangelia Giannakaki, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemistry, for her research titled “Development of Self-Healing Polymeric Coatings.”

The event opened with remarks from Professor Georgios M. Kontakis, Rector of the University of Crete, followed by an address from Professor Maria Vamvakaki, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Lifelong Learning, and Research Policy.

Professor Maria Papadopouli of the Department of Computer Science, Coordinator and Scientific Director of the competition, introduced the 3MT institution and outlined the voting process for attendees.

The University of Crete Choir enriched the evening with a musical performance, adding an artistic dimension to the celebration of research and academic excellence.

Following the competition, attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with the doctoral candidates during a poster session and reception with finger food and wine. The interaction between researchers and guests was particularly lively and enthusiastic, reflecting the strong public interest in scientific research and innovation.

The event brought together representatives of public authorities, members of the University administration, faculty, researchers, administrative staff, business leaders, students, and members of the wider community. It served as a meaningful celebration of research and knowledge, highlighting their vital role in advancing society and improving quality of life.

The competition is coordinated and scientifically supervised by Professor Maria Papadopouli of the UoC Department of Computer Science. It is organized by the University’s Public Relations Department and the Welcome Office, with the support of the University of Crete’s Property Management and Development Company and the UoC Digital Governance Unit.

The University of Crete extends its sincere appreciation to the competition’s sponsors for their valuable support:

• Alpha Omega Education
• Starttech Ventures
• Ideas Forward
• Heraklion Pharmaceutical Association
• Wines of Crete
• Gefsinous

For more information, please visit the competition webpage: https://welcome.uoc.gr/3mt-2026/