Images of Research
Images of Research is a research competition open to current graduate students and postdoctoral scholars at the University of Alberta. Researchers from all disciplines are challenged to capture the essence of their research in a single image.
Images of Research is organized by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) and the University of Alberta Library (UAL)
Share Your Vision: Images of Research Competition and Exhibition
Are you a graduate student or postdoctoral scholar looking to advance your professional development? The annual Images of Research competition and exhibition offers a unique platform for knowledge mobilization at the University of Alberta.
This initiative challenges you to capture the essence of your complex research in a single, compelling image. Organized by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies with support from the University of Alberta Library, the competition helps you bridge the gap between academic discovery and public engagement.
Submit your entry for the 2026 competition
Why Participate in Images of Research?
Participating in the exhibition and competition is more than just a chance to win cash prizes. It is a powerful exercise in knowledge mobilization that translates your academic work into a visually engaging format for new audiences.
- Professional Development: Enhance your visual communication skills and learn to articulate your findings to a multidisciplinary audience.
- Permanent Digital Citation: All semifinalist images and descriptions are permanently archived in the university’s Education and Research Archive, giving you a lasting, citable digital asset.
- Cash Prizes: Competitors can win cash prizes for their creative work. There will be five (5) prizes consisting of:
1. One (1) Best Traditional Image prize of $600 CAD;
2. one (1) Runner-up Traditional Image prize of $400 CAD;
3. one (1) Best AI Image prize of $600 CAD;
4. one (1) Runner-up AI Image prize of $400 CAD; and
5. one (1) People's Choice prize of $250 CAD.
Important Dates and Deadlines
All deadlines are strictly enforced based on Edmonton time (Mountain Standard Time).
- Submissions Open: July 8 at 9 a.m.
- Submissions Close: Aug. 19 at 5 p.m.
- Adjudication Period: Aug. 24-30
- Winner Notification: Aug. 31
- Exhibition Opening: Sept. 17
- People's Choice Voting: Sept. 17-20
- People’s Choice Winner Notification: Sept. 21
Upcoming Workshops
Photography Basics for Research Communication: Images of Research Prep (3 hours PD Credit)
July 29 | 1 - 4 p.m. MT | Room 2-20, Digital Scholarship Centre, Cameron Library
Images of Research Workshop: Writing, Images, and Research Communication
Aug. 4 | 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. MT | Online (Drop-in Session)
Submission Requirements
To ensure a seamless adjudication process, your submission must fulfill specific technical and written criteria.
Read the Images of Research Competition Official Rules »
1) Technical Image Specifications
Images are printed for the physical exhibition, meaning high-resolution files are required.
- File Formats: Only .jpg, .jpeg, .png or .tiff files are accepted.
- Resolution: Minimum of 200 dpi. You can use our online image and resolution tool to check your dimensions (12"x18" or 15"x15").
- Image Dimensions: If your file does not match the required aspect ratios, the event team will resize it for printing purposes only. The original proportions will be preserved for online viewing and judging.
- Submission Best Practices: Avoid using digital zoom or resampling images in editing software like Photoshop to artificially increase file size. For the best results, use optical zoom, stabilize your camera to prevent blur, optimize your lighting to enhance colour clarity and export files from mobile devices using "JPEG max" or "Original Size" settings.
2) Written Components
- Title and Short Description: Provide a title and a descriptive summary of up to 1200 characters. Explain what the image displays and how it connects to your broader research.
- The Creation Process: Include a detailed narrative of up to 1200 characters explaining the tools, techniques, methods or artificial intelligence technologies used to generate the image.
- Accessibility (Alt Text): To support inclusive design, provide a clear, concise alternative text description of up to 125 characters. This text ensures screen-reader users can fully understand the visual essence of your work.
Adjudication and Judging Criteria
A multidisciplinary jury composed of university and local community members evaluates all eligible submissions. The panel scores entries based on four equal metrics:
- Originality and Creativity: The overall unique perspective of the submission.
- Aesthetic Appeal: The visual impact, use of colour and clarity of the image.
- Research Relationship: How successfully the image represents the core theme of the scholar's research.
- Narrative Clarity: The effectiveness and accuracy of the title and written descriptions, including adherence to length restrictions and freedom from typographical errors.
If a submission fails to meet the technical specifications, it will be returned to the competitor. You will receive explicit criteria outlining how to fix the submission and will have five business days to return the corrected files.
Competition History
Launched during the 2015-16 academic year, the Images of Research competition has adapted to celebrate research from all disciplines. The program shifted to an online-only format during the 2020 pandemic, which allowed organizers to display semifinalist work to a global audience. Since 2023, the virtual gallery has expanded to archive all eligible submissions, and the framework updated in 2024 to formally include transparent documentation of AI tool integration during image creation.
Explore the IOR competition archive
Contact Information
For questions regarding the competition layout, technical criteria or submission uploads, please contact gradpd@ualberta.ca.