University of Sydney: From Complex Research to Compelling Stories
About the organisation
Industry: Education
Organisation Size: 5,000-10,000 employees
The University of Sydney is one of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, recognised globally for excellence in teaching and innovation. Each year, Higher Degree by Research students participate in the internationally recognised Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, where they are challenged to communicate years of complex research in just three minutes to a non-specialist audience.
The Challenge
Communicating and presenting research is very different from reading and writing it.
Competitors in the 3MT competition must distil an 80,000-word thesis into a clear, engaging three-minute presentation using only a single static PowerPoint slide. Success requires more than academic expertise — it demands the ability to connect with an audience, communicate with clarity and confidence, and inspire interest in complex ideas.
The University of Sydney partnered with NIDA Corporate Training to help participants strengthen their presentation skills and translate sophisticated research into compelling stories that could engage judges and audiences beyond their field of study.
The NIDA Corporate Training Solution
We designed and delivered a customised workshop specifically for University of Sydney researchers preparing for the 3MT competition.
Drawing on NIDA’s actor training methodology, the workshop focused on helping participants communicate succinctly with authenticity, confidence and impact while remaining true to the integrity of their research.
Participants explored and practiced techniques to:
- communicate complex ideas using clear, accessible language.
- structure presentations into compelling narratives.
- build audience engagement through storytelling.
- strengthen vocal presence, clarity, and projection.
- use body language with purpose and confidence.
- maximise impact within the strict three-minute time limit.
- present naturally while managing nerves and performance pressure.
- use their single presentation slide to support, rather than distract from, their message.
Throughout the workshop, participants received individual coaching and practical feedback, enabling them to refine both the content and delivery of their presentations.
Our Impact
All three finalists in the University of Sydney’s 3MT competition had participated in the NIDA Corporate Training workshop, demonstrating the value of combining outstanding research with exceptional communication skills.
Participants consistently highlighted the practical content and highly personalised coaching as the most valuable aspects of the workshop. They reported enthusiasm of practicing the skills they learned from the workshop beyond research:
The workshop is very helpful for presentation and communication skills that will be used for life in professional and personal settings.
I will 100% be taking away the tools we learned in this workshop and applying it to my life beyond 3MT!
Participants also valued the supportive learning environment created by their tutor:
Sandy was a great facilitator, making sure everyone felt included and gave helpful one-on-one advice.
Sandy was so incredible, patient and non-judgmental. I felt comfortable with him and trusted everything he said.
The success of the program reinforced that effective research communication is not only essential for competition success, but also a lifelong professional skill that enables researchers to share ideas, influence audiences and increase the real-world impact of their work.
From these excellent outcomes the University has invited NIDA Corporate Training back to prepare participants for the next competition.
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