The Department of Systems Design Engineering (SYDE) invites graduate students in the SYDE and Biomedical Engineering (BME) programs to submit original art related to their research for display in the Mark Chien TA Room (E5-6108).
The contest is an opportunity for graduate students to showcase their research, scholarly and artistic work in a compelling and vibrant way. We invite art submissions in a variety of media: microscopic images of cells, an image captured while working in the field, a visualization of data, scientific illustrations, a picture of your prototype, abstract or conceptual art inspired by research or whatever else you can imagine.
Displaying this art aims to decorate a new space and to display your work through compelling visuals to engage our community in seeing research in new ways.
Submission is open until Monday, March 9, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
Contest details
This contest is open to registered current graduate students in the Systems Design Engineering and Biomedical Engineering programs.
The selected artist will receive $200 on their WatCard.
Complete the web form below to enter. Entries must include a title for the image, a brief description in plain language (not more than 100 words) of the image and a description of the technique (not more than 50 words) used to create the image and of any changes made to the image.
- Only one entry may be submitted per person. You must own the submitted image(s) and for which you hold the exclusive rights to distribute.
- All types of image technologies may be used (i.e., photography using either natural light or other spectra, images produced by optical or electronic instruments, computer-generated images, images from models, drawings, diagrams, graphs, etc.).
- Image files should be a .jpg, tif or png and be no less than 500KB in size, but not exceeding 99 megabytes.
- An image may be enhanced or modified, but any changes must not alter its meaning. Colourization and graphic processing of images using software such as Adobe Photoshop are permitted to clarify or accentuate certain content, but these changes must not misrepresent or distort the content.
- The Department of Systems Design Engineering reserves the right to use submitted photos through this contest for promotional purposes (website, social media, publications), regardless of whether you are selected as a prize winner.
- The winner will work with the Department to determine the appropriate size of the displayed art, printing and framing, and a plaque.
- Selected artwork will be displayed for up to two years and will remain the property of the department unless the winner requests its return. Any costs associated with returning the artwork will be the responsibility of the winner.
Please attach your image in a high-resolution format to the web form or send a link to Amanda Brown, at a58brown@uwaterloo.ca.
Submissions will be adjudicated by staff and faculty within the Department of Systems Design Engineering.
If you have any further questions, please reach out to Amanda Brown