Dance Your PhD

Struggling to convey your research topic or results to your family and friends who are not in your research field? Perhaps you’ve considered joining HKUST’s 3 Minute Thesis competition. But, there are other ways to convey your research results: Dance!

Yes, you read that right—Dance Your PhD.

For the past 17 years, AAAS/Science Magazine “Dance Your PhD Thesis Contest” has offered researchers a unique and fun way to communicate their work into the world. It started as a live event in Vienna in 2008, but later moved to video entries. 

The 2025 Dance Your PhD Competition has just been announced! 

Why Participate? 

Breaking down complex research into a format that’s accessible to the general public is a critical skill for any academic. Dance not only challenges you to explain your work in a creative way, it also helps you connect with people on a deeply emotional level. Plus, it’s fun! 

Who Can Join? 

• You must be a PhD or a PhD student working on your degree
• Your PhD must be in a science related field. There will be an overall winner and then category winners: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Social Sciences, and a special AI/Quantum category
• You must be in the dance

Other Than Glory, What Do Winners Get?

• Category winners: USD 750
• Overall winner: USD 2,000

How to Get Started?

• Get inspired by previous winners’ videos! See an example below—the Overall Winner from 2020/21. 
• Learn the rules from this FAQ
• Submit the entry form & upload your dance video to YouTube. Deadline is March 28, 2025. 

Molecular Clusters [Dance Your PhD 2020/2021 Overall Winner]

– By Victoria Caplan, Library

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