Visualise Your Thesis Competition 2018

A competition for University of Melbourne graduate researchers

2019 Visualise Your Thesis: see the 2019 competition, or below for 2018.

University of Melbourne graduate research students present their research in 60 seconds. The 2019 competition will be run in July/August 2019. More information.

The 2018 University of Melbourne Visualise Your Thesis Competition winners

  • 1st Prize – Marianne Mueller ‘Antipsychotic Medication and Longitudinal Brain Imaging in First Episode Psychosis’ (Centre for Youth Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
  • 2nd Prize – Hugh Gundlach ‘Nature and Nurture - What schools need to know about retaining teachers’ (Melbourne Graduate School of Education)
  • 3rd Prize – Hannah Kelly ‘Nanoparticle Interactions with the Immune System’ (Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
  • Special Commendation – Jessica Tang ‘Beating glaucoma with better monitoring’ (Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)
  • Viewers' Choice (sponsored by University House) – Sarah Moneer ‘How do we process multiple sources of visual information?’ (Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)

See all of the entries - 2018 ePoster Competition Entries

The Visualise Your Thesis competition gives graduate researchers the opportunity to:

  • showcase their research to a broad audience
  • build essential communication skills
  • represent the University in a national showcase

Using the competition template and with a time limit of 60 seconds. Graduate researchers were asked to develop a dynamic, engaging, audio-visual "elevator pitch" (e-Poster) to communicate their research to a broad, non-specialist audience. Graduate researchers could include images, video, sound, animation, visualisations and text.

Key dates for Visualise Your Thesis 2018 - University of Melbourne

  • Submissions accepted from: Monday 16 July 2018
  • Workshops, webinars and tech clinics commence: 7 August 2018
  • Entries close: Sunday 19 August 2018 at 11:59pm
  • Visualise Your Thesis 2018 awards event: Wednesday 29 August 2018, 4:00-5:00pm
  • National online Visualise Your Thesis Showcase - (winning entries from participating universities: Sept - Nov 2018)

Get Started

Visualise Your Thesis workshops, webinars & technical clinics [Closed]

Provided participants with the opportunity to hone your communication skills and get the winning edge:

  • Keep it short, sharp and to the point: Working with text
  • Design your ePoster: Make it visual
  • Create your ePoster with PowerPoint
  • Test your ePoster

Previous competitions

Have a look at our galleries showcasing previous University of Melbourne e-Poster competitions.

2018 ePoster Competition Entries

2017 ePoster Competition Entries

2016 ePoster Competition Entries

Key Information - 2018 Competition

  • Terms and conditions

    Schedule to the Terms

    1. Competition2018 University of Melbourne Visualise your Thesis Competition
    2. Participating InstitutionUniversity of Melbourne
    3. Website or Coordinator (Clause 1)

    http://go.unimelb.edu.au/syv6

    Coordinated by the Visualise your Thesis team

    4. Time Zone (Clause 4)Victoria, Australia
    5. Competition Period
    (Clause 5)
    Commerces: 2 July 2018
    Ends: 19 August 2018, 11.59 p.m.
    6. Entry Restrictions (Clause 6)Entry is only open to individuals who, during the Competition Period, are the Participating Institution’s currently-enrolled graduate researchers undertaking Higher Degree by Research (HDR) programs.
    7. Entry Method (Clause 7)

    Each entrant must:

    1. submit a short, eye-catching 60-second digital   display which encapsulates their thesis (ePoster) to eposter@lists.unimelb.edu.au by the closing date of the Competition Period;
    2. use the Poster Template (available on the Website or from the Coordinator) to generate their Competition entry in accordance with the guidelines specified in the Submission Checklist (available on the Website or from the Coordinator);
    3. include complete and correct references for any resources used to create the ePoster, including citation of any images, audio, and video; and
    4. ensure that the use of media belonging to third parties (including images, audio and video files) complies with copyright legislation and regulations and the Competition Terms.
    8. Maximum Number of Entries (Clause 8)There is only one entry permitted from each entrant
    9. Privacy Laws (Clause 10)The University has obligations in relation to the collection and management of personal and health information under the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic)
    10. Privacy Policies (Clause 10)The University of Melbourne's Privacy Policy – www.unimelb.edu.au/governance/compliance/privacy
    11. Content (Clause 11)Any materials submitted by an entrant via the Competition including but not limited to presentations, comments, recordings and images.
    12. Winner (Clause 16)One 1st place winner.
    Minor prizes: 2nd placed, 3rd placed and Viewers' Choice
    13. Judging Details
    (Clause 16)
    This is a game of skill and chance plays no part in determining the Winner. The entrants to the Competition will be judged by a panel established by the Participating Institution on 29 August 2018, 10.00am -12.00pm. at Elizabeth Murdoch building, The University of Melbourne. The panel will use the Judging Criteria (available on the Website or from the Competition Kit for registered participants) to determine the Winner. Prize (clause 17)
    14. Prize
    (Clause 17)
    1st Prize: AUD$1,000 Visa card
    2nd Prize: AUD$ 500 Visa card
    3rd Prize: AUD$ 250 Visa card
    Viewers' Choice: AUD$100 VISA card
    15. Claim Prize (Clause 17)The Winner must contact the University of Melbourne by 31 August 2018 and provide proof of identity in order the collect the Prize.
    16. Winner Notification (Clause 18)

    The Winner will be contacted via their submitted email address.

    17. Replacement Winner (if required)
    (Clause 20)
    The re-selection of the Winner (if required) will take place at the same place as the original selection of the Winner as detailed in item 13 of the Schedule on 29 August 2018.
    18. Replacement Winner Notification (if required)
    (Clause 20)
    Any Replacement Winner will be contacted via their submitted email address.
    19.Replacement Winner Claim Prize (if required)
    (Clause 20)
    Not applicable

    General Terms

    ENTRANTS

    1. By entering the Competition, you agree to be bound by the Terms of the Competition. The Terms governing the Competition include these General Terms, the Schedule to these Terms and any instructions relating to the Competition on the Participating Institution’s Website or from the Participating Institution’s Coordinator. Only entries that comply with the Terms will be considered valid entries to this Competition.
    2. Any capitalised terms used in these General Terms have the meaning given in the Schedule, unless stated otherwise. In the event of any inconsistency between the Schedule to the Terms (Schedule) and these General Terms, the Schedule will take precedence.
    3. The Visualise Your Thesis competition format and resources have been founded and designed by The University of Melbourne. The University of Melbourne has granted a licence to the Participating Institution permitting the Participating Institution to run this Competition. The Participating Institution is solely responsible for the running of the Competition and The University of Melbourne is not liable for the operation of this Competition in any way, including without limitation selection of the Winner and any Prizes (if offered by the Participating Institution).
    4. All times and dates in the Terms refer to the Time Zone in operation at the time of the Competition.
    5. The Competition will be conducted during the Competition Period. The Participating Institution is not responsible for any entry that is not received by the Participating Institution during the Competition Period, for whatever reason. Incomplete or indecipherable entries will not be accepted.
    6. Eligibility to enter the Competition is subject to the Entry Restrictions.
    7. To enter the Competition, entrants must enter the Competition in accordance with the Entry Method (and any other entry details provided by the Participating Institution on the Website or from the Coordinator) during the Competition Period.
    8. Entrants can enter the Competition up to the Maximum Number of Entries. Entries must be submitted separately and entry must individually meet the requirements in the Schedule and are subject to the Entry Restrictions.
    9. Each entrant is responsible for their own costs associated with entering the Competition.
    10. By entering this Competition each entrant agrees that the Participating Institution may use their name, contact
      details and image for the purposes of the Competition. Each entrant agrees that:
      1. the Participating Institution may provide the first-placed Winner’s name and image to The University of Melbourne; and
      2. that The University of Melbourne may publish the first-placed Winner’s name and image on its website and in other forums promoting the Competition and future competitions of similar nature.
      Each name, contact detail and image are considered to be ‘personal information’ under Privacy Laws. The University of Melbourne and the Participating Institution have comprehensive privacy policies addressing issues relating to the use, collection, security and access to personal information available at their respective Privacy Policies.
    11. Entrants agree that they are fully responsible for any Content. The Participating Institution is not liable in any way for such Content to the full extent permitted by law and may remove or decline to publish any Content without notice for any reason whatsoever. Entrants warrant and agree that:
      1. they will not submit any Content that is unlawful or fraudulent, or that the Participating Institution may deem in breach of any intellectual property, privacy, publicity or other rights, defamatory, obscene, derogatory, pornographic, sexually inappropriate, violent, abusive, harassing, threatening, objectionable with respect to race, religion, origin or gender, not suitable for children aged under 14, or otherwise unsuitable for publication;
      2. their Content shall not contain viruses or cause injury or harm to any person or entity;
      3. they will obtain prior consent from any person who, or from the owner(s) of any property that, appears in their Content;
      4. the Content is the original work of the entrant that does not infringe the rights of any third party or otherwise they will obtain full prior consent from any person who has jointly created or has any rights in the Content to the uses contemplated by these Terms, and the Content does not infringe the rights of any third party;
      5. they consent to any use of the Content by the Participating Institution which may otherwise infringe the Content creator’s/creators’ moral rights pursuant to the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) and warrant that they have the full authority to grant these rights; and
      6. they will comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including without limitation, those governing copyright, content, defamation, privacy, publicity and the access or use of others' computer or communication systems.
      Without limiting any other terms herein, the entrant agrees to indemnify the Participating Institution for any breach of the above terms.
    12. As a condition of entering this Competition, each entrant licenses and grants the Participating Institution, its affiliates and sub-licensees a non-exclusive, fee-free, royalty-free, perpetual, world-wide, irrevocable and sub-licensable right to use their entry for the purposes of judging the Competition and to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish and display their entry (including Content) for all the Participating Institution’s ongoing promotional purposes including regramming, advertising, use on the Participating Institution’s website and social media channels, including promotional purposes not related this Competition. The Participating Institution will not enter into commercial arrangements or directly profit from the licence.
    13. For the avoidance of doubt, each entrant agrees that the licence granted to the Participating Institution by each entrant includes the right of the Participating Institution to grant a non-exclusive, fee-free, royalty-free, perpetual, world-wide, irrevocable and sub-licensable sub-licence to The University of Melbourne which permits The University of Melbourne to use and display the first-placed Winner’s entry (including Content) for all The University of Melbourne’s ongoing promotional purposes in relation to the Competition and for The University of Melbourne’s ongoing promotion and showcase of the proposed national ‘Visualise Your Thesis’ competition.
    14. If this Competition is interfered with in any way or is not capable of being conducted as reasonably anticipated due to any reason beyond the reasonable control of the Participating Institution, including but not limited to technical difficulties, unauthorised intervention or fraud, the Participating Institution reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to the fullest extent permitted by law:
      1. to disqualify any entrant; or
      2. to modify, suspend, terminate or cancel the Competition, as the Participating Institution deems appropriate.
    15. Except for any liability that cannot by law be excluded, including any statutory consumer guarantees provided under the consumer protection laws of Australia, the Participating Institution (including its respective officers, employees and agents) excludes all liability (including negligence) for any personal injury, or any loss or damage (including loss of opportunity), whether direct, indirect, special or consequential, arising in any way out of the Competition.

      WINNER 
    16. The Winner will be determined from the valid entries received by the Participating Institution in accordance with the Judging Details.
    17. The Prize will be awarded as specified in the Schedule. The Prize values are the recommended retail value as provided by the relevant supplier, are in Australian dollars and are correct as at the time of the commencement of the Competition Period. The Winner must claim the Prize in accordance with Claim Prize. Please allow at least 28 days from the date of notification for the delivery of the Prize. Transport to claim the prize is not part of the prize and is the sole responsibility of the Winner. The Prize cannot be exchanged or redeemed for other goods, services, cash or credit. If, for some reason the Prize is unavailable, the Participating Institution reserves the right to substitute the Prize for a prize of equal or greater value.
    18. The Winner will be notified in accordance with Winner Notification. The Winner will also be announced on the Participating Institution’s website and published on The University of Melbourne website in accordance with clause 10 above.
    19. If the Winner does not comply with these Terms and/or does not claim the Prize in accordance with Claim Prize, the Participating Institution reserves the right to select a replacement winner from the remaining valid entries in accordance with clause 16 above.
    20. If a winner re-selection is required, the selection of the replacement winner will be conducted by the Participating Institution in accordance with Replacement Winner. The Replacement Winner will also be announced on the Participating Institution’s website and published on The University of Melbourne website in accordance with clause 10 above. The Replacement Winner must claim the Prize in accordance with Replacement Winner Claim Prize.
    21. The result of the Competition is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  • Judging criteria

    Visual impact:

    • How well designed, creative, innovative and engaging is the e-poster?
    • Is it visually striking and memorable?
    • Does it attract from a distance and deliver details close up?
    • Does it make a good first impression and then offer rich content on further examination?
    • Does it make the most of the available technology?

    Content:

    • Does the e-poster provide an understanding of the research question being addressed, its significance, and potential impact?
    • Is the research communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
    • Is the e-poster free from jargon, unexplained acronyms and incomprehensible technical terms?
    • Does the e-poster leave you inspired and curious?

    Scholarly Citizenship:

    • Does the e-poster include complete and correct references for any resources used to create the e-poster? Including: citation of any images, audio, and video:
    • Does the e-poster include acknowledgements for other people or groups who helped with the project or e-poster?
  • How to use the ePoster template

    Download the ePoster PowerPoint template to your computer, delete the text, images and video in the template and add your own content.

    You may add additional slides to the template, however:

    • Your entire presentation will be displayed for at most 60 seconds, and
    • The maximum file size allowed is 100 MB.

    Your ePoster will be displayed using (PowerPoint 2016) for Windows. Please test your ePoster before completing it.

    To test your ePoster, view your PowerPoint slideshow on a computer at the university that has standard software installed, such as on any student computer in a University of Melbourne library branch that you need to log in to.

    Once you have completed your ePoster:

    1. Save a copy of the PowerPoint file. Only .pptx files will be accepted.
    2. Email your entry to: eposter@lists.unimelb.edu.au with the subject line: ‘Research Week Poster Competition Entry’
      1. If the .pptx file is less than 15 MB, you can attach your PowerPoint file to the email.
      2. If the file larger than 15 MB, include a link in the email to your poster on Dropbox, Google Drive or CloudStor.
      3. Your entry will be confirmed by email receipt. If you do not hear from us, please contact us at eposter@lists.unimelb.edu.au

    You are responsible for proof-reading and testing your poster before submission, see the tips and submission checklist below.

  • Tips for creating your ePoster

    Replace the text in the template by typing or pasting in your own text.

    Remove the images in the template and add your own images to support your descriptions such as data visualisations, graphs, an infographic, tables, or photos.

    Be creative and change the layout, text boxes, colours and fonts, just make sure you:

    • Do not change the layout, design, or colours of the title slide, and the references slide (i.e. the first and last slides).
    • Do not use a body text font size smaller than 14 pt.
    • Do not change the Page Setup in PowerPoint (your ePoster will be displayed on an screen in widescreen format).
    • Include the required information on the poster as specified in the template: Introduction, Research Significance, Method, Results, Conclusion, however note that:
      • You may include this information in the form of text, images, video and/or audio.
      • If you use text, you can modify the headings in the template to suit your project, for example: 'Background' instead of 'Introduction', ‘Approach’ instead of ‘Method’, or ‘Implications’ instead of ‘Conclusion'.
      • Depending on the stage of your project, you may not have results or a conclusion yet, however you can state this and include any information or ideas you have at this stage.
    • Consider copyright, particularly when adding images, audio or video to your poster, see the advice on the University of Melbourne Copyright Office website.
    • Include a valid Twitter handle or Instagram handle: people will be encouraged to tweet to poster authors with questions and comments, and to post photos of the awards event.

    Set your slides to advance automatically in PowerPoint:

    1. Select the Transitions tab.
    2. Tick the After checkbox.
    3. Enter the number of seconds you wish to display the slide for.

    For further instructions, see: Set the speed and timing of transitions

    Note: your entire PowerPoint presentation should display for a maximum total time of 60 seconds.

  • Tips for adding audio and video to your ePoster

    Your poster will be displayed using Microsoft (PowerPoint 2016) for Windows, ensure that any audio or video files you embed in your poster are in formats supported.

    Supported audio and video file formats: Video and audio file formats supported in (PowerPoint 2016)

    Note that embedded online videos, such as YouTube or Vimeo videos or similar will not work, as the screens will not be connected to the internet.

    If animations or videos do not run, they may be removed without discussion with you. Therefore it is recommended that you provide a representative image in the correct place, in case this is necessary.

    Make sure your audio and video:

    1. Is embedded in the PowerPoint file. Do not submit separate media files.
    2. Starts automatically and loops continuously. Your e-poster will be displayed in rotation with a number of other posters on a screen in slide show mode. No interaction will be possible.
    3. Is optimised and compressed.

    Further instructions

    For further help with PowerPoint, see:

  • Prizes and awards
    • 1st prize: AUD$1,000 VISA card
    • 2nd prize: AUD$500 VISA card
    • 3rd prize: AUD$250 VISA card
    • Viewers' Choice prize: AUD$100 VISA card (sponsored by University House)
  • Deadlines

    Submissions accepted from: Monday, 16 July 2018

    Workshops, webinars and tech clinics commence: 7 August 2018

    Entries close: Sunday 19 August 2018, at 11:59pm

    Visualise Your Thesis 2018 awards event: Wednesday 29 August 2018, 4:00-5:00pm

    National online Visualise Your Thesis Showcase  - winning entries from participating universities: Sept - Nov 2018

  • Submission checklist
    1. Poster in PowerPoint file .pptx format?
    2. Entire presentation displays for no more than 60 seconds?
    3. Slides set to advance automatically in PowerPoint?
    4. PowerPoint file size no more than 100 MB?
    5. No embedded online videos, such as YouTube or Vimeo videos or similar?
    6. No separate media files: i.e. all media embedded in the PowerPoint file?
    7. All video and audio starts automatically and loops continuously?
    8. All video and audio is optimised and compressed?
    9. First slide and last slide from template included, i.e. the title slide and references slide?
    10. References included for any resources used to create your ePoster?
    11. Acknowledgements included for people, or groups, who helped with your project or ePoster?
    12. Citations included for any media used or created, including images, audio and video files?
    13. Does the use of media, including images, audio and video files, comply with copyright legislation and regulations? See: Students' Introduction to Copyright
    14. Text font size no smaller than 14 pt?
    15. Page setup in PowerPoint the same as for the template? (i.e. page setup not changed?)
    16. Required information included on the poster as specified in the template: Introduction, Research Significance, Method, Results, Conclusion?
    17. Text on the ePoster proof-read?
    18. Valid Twitter handle or Instagram handle included?
    19. ePoster tested using PowerPoint 2016 for Windows?
  • Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

    Can I change the layout and design of the ePoster template for my poster?

    Yes! You are encouraged to change the template and be creative, and visual impact and creativity are part of the judging criteria. You can use the template as a starting point, but please change the template layout, text boxes, colours and fonts, just make sure you include the necessary information about your research project (see the instructions under:Tips for creating your ePoster). Note that you can include the information in the form of images, video and/or audio, and do not have to just use text.

    How may slides can I include in my ePoster?

    You can include as few or as many slides as you wish, but keep in mind that:

    • You must include the first slide and last slide, i.e. the title slide and references slide.
    • Your complete PowerPoint presentation should run for a total of 60 seconds,
    • The maximum file size for your PowerPoint file is 100 MB.

    How long should my ePoster PowerPoint presentation last for?

    You ePoster PowerPoint presentation should last for at most 60 seconds. Your PowerPoint presentation will be displayed on a screen in rotation with a number of other ePosters in slide show mode, and each ePoster in the loop will be displayed for up to 60 seconds at a time.

    Can I include audio in my ePoster?

    Yes, you may include include audio in your ePoster if you wish. However, you should consider that the maximum file size for your ePoster is 100 MB, and that ePosters will be displayed on several screens in the same area.

    Have a question that is not included here?

    Please email us at: eposter@lists.unimelb.edu.au

Visualise Your Thesis Workshops & Tech Clinics