Initiated for the first time in French language by the Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas) in Quebec in 2012, the “My thesis in 180 seconds” competition was launched in France by the CNRS and the CPU in 2014.

The competition consists in PhD students presenting their thesis subject in three minutes only, while making it attractive and understandable by all. Each PhD student must give a clear, concise, and nonetheless convincing talk about his/her research project, with the support of only one slide! It is a unique opportunity for them to popularise the contents and stakes of their works with the general public, and acquire communication skills well beyond a mere stylistic exercise. PhD students benefit from training courses to meet that challenge, to help them popularise their research and quickly capture attention from an audience.

Each year, the Doctoral College organizes the regional final : 10 PhD students are selected to take part and try to win one out of the two regional prizes : the Audience Award and the Jury Award. The two laureates then represent the Region at the national final, maybe even the international final…!

The 10 PhD students also have the opportunity to make their presentation to high school students in the Region during the session reserved for them each year and at the end of which the Rectorate awards a Prize for high school students to their preferred candidate.