Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)
Needles Hall, second floor, room 2201
Showcase your graduate research
Consider entering these creative contests and research communication opportunities; you could win some big money for showcasing your graduate research in creative and engaging ways!
University of Waterloo opportunities
GRADflix is a research communication opportunity for graduate students. Participants will create a video, moving slide show, or animation of no longer than 60 seconds (one minute) in length that describes their research. This competition is designed to help you create a digital asset that could also be submitted to external competitions, such as SSHRC's Storytellers competition or NSERC's Science, Action! competition. Submission deadlines typically take place in the fall term, with a showcase event in the early winter term.
External opportunities
NSERC's Science Exposed Contest: This research image contest (open to scientific research in all fields of study) challenges Canadians to combine creativity and science for a chance to win one of four cash prizes of $2,000. The submission deadline is typically in January.
NSERC's Science, Action!: This contest challenges graduate students who are part of a research team holding an NSERC or FRQNT grant to film or animate a creative one-minute video that shows the benefits or significance of their research in the natural sciences and engineering fields and how it relates to the UNDP's Sustainable Development Goals. Six prizes of $4000 are available to win, and the top 25 videos will also be featured publically on a variety of platforms and events! This is a fantastic opportunity for graduate students to showcase the value of their research and win amazing prizes!
SSHRC's Storytellers Competition: Tell a story about your research! Submit an original work—video, audio, text or infographic—featuring SSHRC-funded research. You could win a cash prize of $3,000 and and a trip to the Social Science and Humanities Research Council's Congress to deliver a presentation about your research. The submission deadline is typically in January.