Additional Events

The x2026 organizing committee is proud to announce the 3-Minute Pitch Competition session, based on a research pitch. This event will replace the Canada in 2067 competition, typically held at CSC conferences.

The competition follows the spirit of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT)® competition that originated at the University of Queensland. This session is an opportunity for students to showcase the innovation and impact of their research, as well as their innovative chemistry and chemical engineering business ideas, to a wider audience of the chemistry and chemical engineering communities. It is open to all undergraduate and graduate students.

Participants have 3 minutes or less to present their research pitch to a panel of non-specialist judges. The challenge is to present complex technical information in an engaging, accessible, and compelling way.

Eligibility

The participant should be an undergraduate or graduate student in a chemistry or chemical engineering program. Participants must submit their application by the deadline of Apr. 24, 2026 in order to secure their participation in the 3-Minute Pitch Competition.

Deadline

Apr. 24, 2026

Competition procedure

Abstracts should be written in layperson terms. The research pitch abstract should address the problem that the research project aims to solve, the participant’s contributions, and the significance of these contributions. Shortlisted candidates will be notified to participate in the 3-Minute Pitch Competition after the abstract submission deadline.

Rules for the competition

• Participants will present to the judging panel in an open forum.
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum.
• Competitors exceeding 3 minutes will be cut off and judged on their presentations up to the 3-minute mark.
• The timer starts when the presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
• Only one static PowerPoint slide is permitted per presentation. The slide should be in widescreen (16:9) format.
• The competition will be in English.
• No additional electronic media (e.g., sound and video files) are permitted.
• No additional props (e.g., costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
• The decision of the judging panel is final.

Submissions

Submit an abstract including the title, presenter name(s), university, and a summary (100 to 200 words) of your talk. Participants are asked to submit through the student competition portal.

Awards

1^st place Undergraduate: $300 and a certificate

2^nd place Undergraduate: $200 and a certificate

3^rd place Undergraduate: $100 and a certificate

1^st place Graduate: $300 and a certificate

2^nd place Graduate: $200 and a certificate

3^rd place Graduate: $100 and a certificate

Judging Criteria

Research Pitch

Participants in the 3-Minute Pitch Competition will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Aim and description of the research: Clear explanation of hypothesis, objectives, and the specific research questions being tackled; methods used to answer the research questions; results (if available).
2. Novelty and impact: Originality of research, its relevance, and potential impact.
3. Presentation: Communication skills, effective use of visuals, accessibility of presentation, and audience engagement.

The judging panel for the 3-Minute Pitch Competition will be composed of individuals from academia, industry, and science communication.

3-Minute Pitch Competition Winners

TBD

Register for the 3-Minute Pitch Competition