Visualise Your Thesis Competition
Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) challenges graduate researchers at any stage of their candidature to present their projects in a 60-second, eye-catching video. Using a pre-supplied template, you are tasked with developing a striking video presentation that succinctly describes your research, and its potential benefits, to a non-specialist audience.
VYT provides you with an opportunity to build and apply your information and digital literacy skills. By creating a “visual elevator pitch” you will develop crucial employability skills including effective communication, information and digital literacy and visual storytelling. You will also build your awareness of open access to information and copyright.
2023 Competition
Eligibility
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.
Competitors must agree to their entry being displayed on the University of Melbourne’s Visualise Your Thesis website (winning entry only) and on La Trobe University websites and media.
Prizes
- First prize: $1000
- Second prize: $500
- Popular vote: $250
The winning entry (first place) will represent La Trobe University in the 2023 Visualise Your Thesis International Competition, which will be held online.
The rules
- You must use the supplied PowerPoint template to create your video
- No separate media files or links to online content (all media is embedded in the PowerPoint file)
- Your video must not exceed 60 seconds, except for the title and reference slides
- Your video has an absolute maximum file size of 100MB (take this into account when including graphics and sound)
- You must include references for any resources used to create your video
- Media, including images, audio and video files, must comply with the competition’s copyright rules
- Late submissions will not be accepted
- The decision of the adjudicating panel is final
How to participate
Contact Library Community Programs & Engagement lib-communityoutreach@latrobe.edu.au for your competition pack.
Attend the sessions and when you are ready, send your completed video to lib-communityoutreach@latrobe.edu.au.
Entries close – Friday 4 August 2023.
Judging criteria
Entries will be judged against the following criteria:
CATEGORY | CRITERIA |
|---|---|
TOPIC UNDERSTANDING |
|
| COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE |
|
| CREATIVITY AND ENGAGEMENT |
|
TOPIC SIGNIFICANCE |
|
Support and coaching
Presenting information in a short and effective way is a useful skill for graduate researchers. The Library and Research Education and Development team (RED) team have provided a range of supports helping candidates prepare, including:
Workshops | Date & Time | Mode | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
Visualise Your Thesis – what to expect This is an introductory session where you can find out more about VYT from some previous winners and ask questions about the program. | Wednesday 10 May 2.00 pm - 3.00 pm | Online | Register |
How to tell a story with your research In this one hour workshop, learn how to find the story in your research and find the right way to explain your work and its impact so that any audience will not only understand your work, but become invested in your research. | Tuesday 30 May 2.00 pm - 3.00 pm | Online | Register |
Understanding copyright and using audio and visual elements to increase your impact In this one hour workshop, you’ll gain the skills necessary to understand how copyright works and how to choose images, audio and other resources that are copyright-compliant for your Visualise Your Thesis entry. You’ll also learn the basics of audio and visual design and how you can use them to increase your impact and make your presentation more engaging for your audience. | Wednesday 21 June 11.30 am - 12.30 pm | Online | Register |
| Visualise Your Thesis – drop-in help session | Wednesday 12 July 11.30 am - 12.30 pm | Online | Register |
The RED team have ongoing workshops and events to support your research – Research Education and Development (RED) Events | Eventbrite.
If you want some inspiration for this year's competition, have a look at the Visualise Your Thesis figshare site (visualiseyourthesis.figshare.com/), which features winning entries from local competitions held at Australian and international universities.
You can also view a playlist of our previous La Trobe competition entries.
More information
For more information, contact the Library Community Engagement Team at lib-communityoutreach@latrobe.edu.au.