Bake Your Research: Highlights from the 2026 competition
On January 16, the Society of the Water Institute Graduate Students (SWIGS) welcomed researchers to the third annual Bake Your Research competition. The much-loved event once again challenged participants to translate complex water research into edible creations that were as informative as they were delicious.
Now in its third year, Bake Your Research continues to grow in ambition and creativity. This year’s entries demonstrated a strong mix of scientific insight, storytelling and culinary skill, with submissions ranging from layered landscapes to detailed depictions of hydrological and biogeochemical processes.
Many thanks to the judges from UW Food Services, Chef Mark Meinzinger and chef Shona-Lee Whittaker, who generously volunteered their time and expertise. Their evaluations considered presentation, texture and taste, adding a professional culinary perspective to the competition.
Beyond the judging, the event provided a welcoming space for connection and conversation, giving participants and attendees the opportunity to learn about each other’s work and celebrate creative approaches to science communication.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Bake Your Research competition:
First place was awarded to the Wetland Soils and Greenhouse Gas Exchange Lab for their multi-layer peat bucket cake, recognized for its clear representation of peatland structure and processes.
Second place went to a collaborative submission from the Biogeochemistry and WetSYS labs, which impressed judges with its detailed interpretation of aquatic biogeochemical processes.
Third place was awarded to the StrEAMS Lab and the RECOVER Group for visually engaging submissions that highlighted watershed-scale research.
The Water Institute thanks everyone who participated and helped make this year’s competition a success. We hope you enjoy the photos from the event and look forward to seeing what our community creates next year.
Highlights: from the 2026 Bake Your Research competition:
