An Arts graduate student earned top recognition at the university’s 2026 GRADflix showcase for her ability to bring complex philosophical research to viewers beyond the academic community. Madeleine Kenyon, a PhD candidate in Applied Philosophy whose research examines how society constructs sexual violence perpetrators and the challenges of teaching sexual consent, received third place in the annual competition for her one-minute video explaining her work.
“Making my video allowed me to be creative - I got to practice exactly what my research explores: strategic communication,” Kenyon shared.
GRADflix challenges graduate students to communicate the essence of their research in a one-minute video designed for a broad audience. Through creative storytelling, visuals and clear explanations, participants transform complex academic ideas into short films that highlight both the significance of their work and the people behind it.
Kenyon’s doctoral research examines how social narratives shape the way sexual violence perpetrators are understood and discussed. She also studies the challenges educators face when teaching sexual consent in ways that are both accurate and effective at reducing harm.
“Creating the GRADflix video forced me to reflect on the foundations of my research, rather than the minute details…I had the chance to ask myself, ‘If I were going to describe this whole chapter in one sentence, what would I say?’. This meant stripping back all of the jargon and technical terminology and instead locating my work in the social phenomenon it aims to address.”
Kenyon was among five graduate students from the Faculty of Arts selected as finalists in this year’s showcase. She was joined by Madeline Cranston (Sociology and Legal Studies), George Dumitru (Philosophy), Kota Kitagawa (Philosophy) and Karen Ward (English Language and Literature), highlighting the creativity and impact of graduate research across the faculty.
Organized by Waterloo’s Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA), the annual competition culminates in a screening event where finalists premiere their videos for the university community, showcasing the diverse scholarship taking place at Waterloo.
The five Faculty of Arts finalists in the GRADFlix competition.
Beyond the competition itself, opportunities like GRADflix give graduate students a chance to develop skills that extend well beyond traditional academic training. Condensing months—or years—of research into a one-minute video challenges participants to think differently about how they share ideas, encouraging clarity, creativity and a stronger connection to the communities their work aims to serve.
“It’s important for researchers to communicate our work beyond academic audiences because so much of what we are learning and developing has implications for people outside of the institution,” noted Kenyon.
For many students, the experience becomes a valuable exercise in translating specialized knowledge into meaningful conversations with the public. By creating space for this kind of experimentation and storytelling, events like GRADflix help prepare graduate researchers to engage wider audiences and ensure their work contributes to discussions and decisions beyond the university.