The Three Minute Thesis is an exercise in developing academic and research communication skills. Higher degrees by research students have three minutes to present a compelling oration on their thesis topic and its significance in language appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience. The first heats of the competition will be organised by Schools, with the winners proceeding to a Faculty-based semi-final The top two contestants from each Faculty will go into the University final The Deakin winner will receive $2000, with $1000 going to the runner-up and $500 going to the Peoples Choice awarded by the audience The winner will be sponsored to travel to University of Western Australia on 29th September to represent Deakin in the Australasian competition, in which there are even more substantial prizes ($5000 for the winner)