Visualise Your Thesis Competition
A competition for University of Melbourne graduate researchers
The Visualise Your Thesis Competition helps graduate researchers to develop essential digital communication skills to effectively convey their complex research to a general audience.
Visualise Your Thesis is a competition open to currently enrolled and attending PhD, MPhil or Masters by Research students at the University of Melbourne.
The 2022 competition has now ended.
You can watch the 2022 VYT entries on Figshare
2022 Competition Awards
Transcript: (Word Doc File 28.0 KB) or (PDF File 116.0 KB)
Prize Winners
Congratulations
1st place
Samuel Widodo
Department of Surgery (RMG), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Prize: AUD$2,000
Winning entry goes on to the international competition.
2nd place
Justeen Wheatley
Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Faculty of Fine Arts and Music
Prize: AUD$1,000
3rd prize
Carl Jonsson
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Melbourne Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
Prize: AUD$500
Viewers Choice Award
The 2022 VYT entries were made available on Figshare.
The winner of the 2022 Viewers' Choice Award was the video with the most votes as recorded in the 2022 viewers choice voting form.
Votes were counted from Wednesday 22nd(GMT) June to Sunday 3rd July, 11:59pm (GMT).
Congratulations
Samuel Widodo
Department of Surgery (RMG), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Viewers' Choice prize: AUD$100 gift card (Sponsored by University House)
Judges
Dr Vanessa Bartlett
How do technologies shape wellbeing? How does art help us home in on the emotional and experiential implications of this question? These issues drive Vanessa’s curatorial practice, leading to expansive projects that include exhibitions, workshops, essays and books. Her exhibitions at major international arts spaces, such as FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology), UNSW Galleries and Furtherfield, have been seen by over 40,000 people and have featured in The Guardian, Creative Review and BBC Radio 4. She has edited two books for award-winning academic publisher Liverpool University Press (UK), the most recent of which was co-edited with neuroscientist Henrietta Bowden-Jones. She is currently McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne, where she leads the Art, AI and Digital Ethics research stream and the Stomach Ache project funded by University of Melbourne Creativity and Wellbeing Research Initiative.
Professor Liliana Bove
Liliana Bove is a Professor in Marketing at The University of Melbourne, Australia. Specialising in Service and customer experience she has published in leading journals such as the Journal of Marketing, International Journal of Research in Marketing, Journal of Service Research and the Journal of Retailing. Liliana has received a number of research awards including the American Marketing Association SERVSIG Best Article Award and the Dean's Prize for Exceptional Distinction in Research Training. Prior to commencing her academic career, Liliana held various scientific, marketing and management roles over a ten year period in the chemical, airline and health industries. She is a distinguished member of ANZMAC, Co-Chair of the 2021 ANZMAC conference and a council member of University College.
Dr Siew Fang Law
Dr Siew Fang Law is the Senior Lecturer in Higher Education Engagement, Collaboration and Partnership at the Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education (MCSHE), Melbourne Graduate School of Education. Her academic role contributes to the Centre’s awards and non-awards professional development programs, focusing on developing best practices for positive University-Industry-Community engagement, collaboration and partnerships.
2022 Competition Timeline
- Monday 11 April
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Competition launch - expressions of interest (EOIs) to participate open
- Thursday 28 April
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11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Visualise Your Thesis Information Session
- Wednesday 3 May
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01:00 - 02:00 pm
Copyright information session
- Friday 13 May
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5pm
Submission of entry for copyright compliance check for 2022 competition
- May
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VYT Committee copyright compliance check
- Monday 30 May
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5pm
Expressions of interest to participate close.
- Sunday 5 June
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11:55pm
Final submission of entry due date for 2022 competition. View the entries here.
- Wednesday - Sunday 22 June - 3 July
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12:00am - 11:59pm
Viewers Choice Award voting open. Vote here.
- Thursday 7 July
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09:30 - 10:30 am
Awards Announcement Event.
Questions? Contact the VYT team : VYT-local@unimelb.edu.au
Check out the resources below to support you in the competition.
Communicating your message
- Keep it short, sharp and to the point with Simon Clews (writer, editor and specialist trainer in written and oral communication)
Online workshop held on 14 July 2020
Click on the button below to view the recording of the interactive workshop. (Available to University of Melbourne students and staff only via SSO)
Watch recording
Design
- Effective Presentation Design for Visualise Your Thesis with Anitra Nottingham (designer)
Workshop held on 17 July 2019
View session slides
- Presentation Design for Researchers with Anitra Nottingham (designer)
Online workshop held on 16 July 2020
Click on the button below to view the recording of the interactive workshop. (Available to University of Melbourne students and staff only via SSO)
Watch recording
- How to Create Research Impact with Data Visualisation and Infographics with Alana Pirrone (Design and Data Visualisation Consultant)Online Researcher Connect event held on 17 June 2020
View session details
Images
- Working With Images – Understanding Copyright and Licensing (Thing 05: 23 Research Things)
- Images library guide – a guide to searching and locating images
- Creative Commons – Image Search
Effective Video Storytelling for Researchers
1. Finding your why
Chapter 1 of the 'Effective Video Storytelling for Researchers' series
2. Show, don't tell
Chapter 2 of the 'Effective Video Storytelling for Researchers' series
3. Your video lab at home
Chapter 3 of the 'Effective Video Storytelling for Researchers' series
Copyright for Visualise Your Thesis - 5 Videos
Keeping your entry copyright compliant*
An Introduction to Copyright for Visualise Your ThesisTM Competition.
Seeking Permissions*
Using copyright materials for Visualise Your ThesisTM Competition.
Accessing expired copyright materials*
Using public domain works for Visualise Your ThesisTM Competition.
Existing Permissions*
Using Creative Commons for Visualise Your ThesisTM Competition.
Protecting your copyright materials*
Using your own materials for Visualise Your ThesisTM Competition
* While we endeavour to ensure that all content published in these Visualise Your Thesis videos is correct at the time of publishing, we make no warranty about the accuracy, completeness or reliability of this content. The information provided here is general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice.
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What are the judges looking for?
Entries will be judged against the following criteria:
Content
- Does the video provide an understanding of the research question being addressed, its significance, and potential impact?
- Is the research communicated in a format and uses language appropriate for non-specialist audiences?
- Is the video free from jargon, unexplained acronyms and incomprehensible technical terms?
- Does the video leave you inspired and curious?
Impact
- Is the video engaging and creative?
- Is it visually striking and memorable?
- Does it make a good first impression and then offer rich content on further examination?
- Does the video want to make you find out more about this kind of research?
- If sound was used (optional), did this contribute to the impact of the presentation and was in keeping with its mood and style?
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How long should my entry be?
There is a 60 second time limit for entries; however, you can include as few or as many slides as you wish, keeping in mind that:
- You must include the first slide and last slide, i.e. the title slide and references slides
- Your presentation (excl. bookend slides) should run for a maximum of 60 seconds
- Your title and reference slide(s) should run for 5 seconds each
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I’m enrolled for a degree that has a thesis component – can I enter the competition?
The Visualise Your Thesis competition is open to currently-enrolled graduate researchers (i.e. students enrolled in M.Phil., Masters by Research, Ph.D. or Professional Doctorate programmes) at any stage of their candidature who are active and attending.
Not eligible to enter the competition are:
- Honours students
- Masters by coursework students (even if their program has a research/thesis component).
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I’m on a leave of absence, can I still submit an entry?
No. Only currently-enrolled graduate researchers who are active and attending are eligible to enter the competition. If you are on a leave of absence unfortunately you are not eligible to enter. If your candidature has lapsed you are also ineligible to enter the competition.
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I’m affiliated with a research institute and a university and both run a VYT competition. Can I enter twice?
No. You can only enter once, so you will have to decide whether you’d like to represent your university or research institute.
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Can I re-submit an entry from a previous year?
Entries should be unique and original. The resubmission of previous entries is only permitted where substantial revision has occurred. And no doubt your research has progressed significantly, and you’d like your entry to reflect this!
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How does this competition differ from the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®)?
This competition does not have a verbal presentation component and relies purely on each submission's visual presentation. Students who are in earlier stages of research (have not reached confirmation/ before writing up) are also welcome to enter the competition.
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Got a question that is not included here?
Please email us at: VYT-local@unimelb.edu.au
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I’m a graduate researcher and also an employee at my university – can I enter the competition?
Currently-enrolled graduate researchers who are employed by their university who may have, or may be perceived to have, influence over the competition outcome, research funding or related resourcing, or an otherwise unfair advantage over the other entrants from their university, may be deemed ineligible to participate. Entrants who are currently employed by their university are encouraged to disclose their employment status and provide information about whether their employment status may provide them with an unfair advantage over other entrants from their university.
Past competitions
Have a look at our galleries showcasing previous competitions.