The UAB opens its ninth "Thesis in 4 Minutes" call to bring PhD research closer to society

The "Thesis in 4 Minutes" competition, now in its ninth edition, has established itself as a key initiative for fostering scientific communication and the transfer of knowledge to society. Promoted by the UAB through its School for Doctoral Studies, the competition is open to PhD students from all scientific disciplines and aims to promote the ability to synthesise and use language that is understandable to a non-specialist audience.

The call is addressed to PhD students at the UAB who are at least in their second year, with active enrolment and who have not defended their thesis at the time of the competition. Also, approval must be obtained from the thesis supervisor, one must commit to attending all stages of the competition in person, and any confidential data or information regarding the research must be omitted during the public presentation.

In addition, the winner will represent the UAB in the competition organised by the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation, which will be held on 11 June 2026 in Vic.

The competition consists of two phases. In the first, those interested in participating must submit their application via an online form, in which they must include a summary of their thesis of up to 500 words and a short presentation video of no more than one minute, in landscape format and in MP4. A committee composed of representatives from the Vice-Rectorates involved – the Vice-Rectorate for Research, the Vice-Rectorate for Communication and the Vice-Rectorate for Culture and Language Policy – the Directorate of the School for Doctoral Studies and members of the Standing Board will select the final candidates, assessing their synthesis capacity, outreach quality, and communication skills. The chosen video may be used in the presentation of the competition and in its promotion on social media. 

In the second phase, the selected participants will receive three hours of specific training to prepare their oral presentation before the competition.

The registration period will be open from 2 to 16 March 2026. The candidates selected for the final phase will be notified by email on 8 April. The finalists will then take part in a training session on 28 April (10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) and present their research to the jury on 12 May 2026.

Presentations must have a maximum duration of four minutes and may be delivered in Catalan, Spanish or English. Only static slides (a maximum of two is recommended) and minimal supporting material are permitted. The use of videos, audio or other stage resources is not allowed. The final event will be broadcast live on the UAB's official YouTube channel.

According to the administration of the School for Doctoral Studies, "Thesis in 4 Minutes is an opportunity for PhD candidates to develop essential communication skills and to share with society the impact and relevance of their research."

The competition also highlights the UAB's commitment to scientific outreach and the Catalan language, with the awarding of the Assumpció Català i Poch special mention for the best presentation in Catalan.

The jury will award a first prize of €800, and up to €100 for travel expenses to and from Vic, and a personalised training session to prepare for the Catalan final; a second prize of €500; a €200 audience prize; and the special Assumpció Català i Poch mention, worth €300. These two latter distinctions are compatible with the main prizes.

With this new edition, the UAB reaffirms its commitment to the comprehensive training of research trainees and to the dissemination of scientific knowledge, and brings doctoral research closer to the public in an accessible, rigorous and innovative way.

The full rules and regulations of the call can be found on the School for Doctoral Studies website.