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Build the impact of your research by showcasing its importance in an engaging and concise manner!

The Visualise Your Thesis competition developed by the University of Melbourne challenges currently enrolled Higher Degree by Research Students to present their research in a 60 second, digital display. USQ is launching its inaugural local competition from which the winner will compete in this year’s International online showcase hosted by The University of Melbourne towards the end of the year. Check-out last year’s showcase!

The local competition is a highly supportive way (training and a peer-review process are part of the experience!) for you to create a competitive entry and win great prizes.

 Join the USQ Visualise Your Thesis competition to :

      • Build your digital communication skills (and learn about copyright!).
      • Increase your confidence to communicate your research in creative and engaging ways.
      • Get your research showcased on USQ multimedia platforms.
      • An opportunity to win great prizes

2021 USQ VYT WINNERS

First Place: Amanda Martin

Personal Characteristics That Relate to Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) in Australian Paramedics

 

 

Second Place: Luke Bayliss

Understanding the Movement from Suicidal Thoughts to Suicide Attempt

 

 

 

People’s Choice Award: Ganesh Pant

Safeguarding an Iconic Wildlife Species From Adverse Impacts of Climate Change

2021 Visualise Your Thesis Presentations

Your Title Goes Here
Key Dates

People’s Choice Award: Voting for the People’s Choice Award will be available from 16-22 August.  USQ staff and students can register one vote for the presentation they feel best demonstrates the importance and impact of the research creatively in 60 seconds. Register your vote for the People’s Choice Award.

Expression of Interest:  Closed 24 May- late applications cannot be accepted as per the competition Terms and Conditions.

Training:  Various VYT training sessions are being planned to assist you develop your submissions.  Students who submitted an EOI will receive an email invitation about each live training session as dates are confirmed.  Each training session recording will be made available as soon as possible after the live session.

VYT Training session recordings and accompanying resources:

Initial submissions (for peer review process) accepted:  30 May – 9am 5 July 2021

Peer review of submissions returned by:  16 July 2021

Final submissions accepted until:  5:00pm Friday 30 July AEST

Eligibility

The Visualise Your Thesis competition is open to currently-enrolled Higher Degree by Research students at any stage of their candidature who are active and enrolled.

You are not eligible to enter the competition if you are:

  • An Honours student
  • A Masters by coursework student (even if the program has a research/thesis component)
  • A Higher Degree by Research student on a leave of absence 
  • A non-enrolled candidate
  • A Higher Degree by Research student who is employed by USQ 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 USQ.

Research institutes affiliated with multiple universities may run their own VYT competition. However, Higher Degree by Research students may only enter one local Competition per year.

Submitting your entry

There are four steps to enter the Visualise Your Thesis competition.

Step 1: Expression of Interest

  • Register your interest has now CLOSED

All eligible entrants will be accepted. Expression of interest is to ensure you are kept updated with relevant communications and training.

Step 2: Training

  • Attend synchronously online or view asynchronously the training sessions for the competition.

Step 3: Initial submissions to receive peer-review feedback

  • Submit initial submissions by 9:00am 5 July 2021 to researchsupportteam@unisq.edu.au.
  • Include ‘VYT initial submission’ in the subject line of your email.
  • Submissions must be a PowerPoint or MP4 file.
  • Include a OneDrive link to your submission (do not include the file with your submission).
  • Feedback from the review panel will be provided by 16 July 2021.
  • Engage with the panel feedback, and revise your final submission accordingly.

Step 4: Final submission

  • Submit final submission by 5pm 30 July 2021 to researchsupportteam@unisq.edu.au
  • Include ‘VYT final submission’ in the subject line of your email.
  • Include a OneDrive link to your submission (do not include the file in your submission).
  • Attach the completed checklist to your email.

Submissions must meet the competition’s copyright and technical requirements (see 2021 VYT Competition Kit and Terms and Conditions).  Entries not meeting these requirements will be disqualified. Email questions to researchsupportteam@unisq.edu.au.  Include VYT in the subject line of email.

Prizes

The prizes for the USQ Visualise Your Thesis competition are:

1st prize: $1000 (AU) – and representation of USQ in the International Visualise Your Thesis Competition

2nd prize: $500 (AU)

People’s choice: $250 (AU)

The USQ competition winner also has the opportunity of competing in this year’s International online showcase hosted by The University of Melbourne towards the end of the year.

The USQ prizes must be used within 12 months for research-related endeavours (refer Terms and Conditions for more information). The winner must agree to their entry being displayed on the University of Melbourne’s Visualise Your Thesis website and in the University of Southern Queensland’s website and other online media locations.

Training and Support

The Visualise Your Thesis competition is an opportunity to build your digital communication skills through explaining your research in an engaging and concise manner which showcases its importance! Check out last year’s presentations for creative ideas.

Training sessions will be provided by USQ staff to ensure entries meet Copyright requirements, and to enhance participants digital literacy skills (for example, using PowerPoint etc) if required. Students who submitted an EOI will receive an email invitation about each live training session as dates are confirmed. 

VYT Training session recordings and accompanying resources:

    All training sessions will be recorded for those who cannot attend in real-time. However, the submission checklist requires participants to declare that they have engaged with the provided training materials.

    In addition to the training sessions, the USQ Visual Your Thesis competition provides one-to-one support through the initial submission process which is a peer review initiative to ensure all entries are Copyright compliant and meet an acceptable digital literacy standard. This peer review process will be facilitated by USQ staff with expertise in digital literacy, research communication and copyright. Participants will receive tailored feedback on their submission through this peer-review process.

    Check the Library’s Open Access and Creative Commons website for Creative Commons content: https://www.unisq.edu.au/library/copyright/open-access-creative-commons.

    Participation kit and information

    Email the Research Support Team for further information.  Please use VYT in the subject of your email.

    Terms and Conditions

    All entrants should ensure that they are familiar with the Terms and Conditions of this competition before submission.

    Contact Us

    If you have any questions regarding the competition, please email the Research Support Team for further information.

    FAQs

    Presentation Transcription 

    I don’t use any spoken/recorded voice content in my entry, do I need a transcript?

    No, you only need a transcript if spoken word conveys meaning in your presentation.

    I have spoken content but also use key words in my slides which convey the same meaning as the spoken content, do I need a transcript?

    No, if you already have text/written content that duplicates the spoken content, you do not need a transcript.

    I tell the story of my research primarily through spoken word with minimal written signposting of my spoken words. Do I need a transcript?

    Yes, please provide a transcript to ensure that your entry is accessible to those using a screen reader.

    I have found it difficult to capture my research in 60 seconds so I have elaborated on the key ideas in my entry in the transcript. Is that ok?

    No, if you are providing a transcript, it can only reflect the level of detail and content of your entry.

    Should I put the script in the notes section of my PowerPoint slides?

    No, please provide your transcript in your cover email with your final submission.

    I’ve submitted my EOI, what happens next?

    If you submitted an EOI before the closing date (24 May), the VYT team will have advised you by email that your EOI was received. Please email the Library Research Support Team if you have not received a confirmation email.  Students who submitted an EOI will  be informed by email of the mandatory training you are required to participate in, prior to submitting your entry.

    Checking my eligibility.

    Before you commit to the training schedule and the preparation of your submission, it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements for this competition.

    • You need to be active and enrolled for the full duration of the competition period.
    • If you are on a LOA you are ineligible.
    • If you are under examination or will be submitting for examination within the competition period, email: researchsupportteam@unisq.edu.au

    See the Terms and Conditions section of the website for the full eligibility criteria. We would hate to have you put in all the efforts for your entry, to then be excluded as you do not meet the eligibility requirements.

    What training do I need to complete?

    You will be required to participate in mandatory training to enter the VYT competition. This training will be facilitated by the Library Research Support team and colleagues, and will be delivered online. Recordings will be provided for students who cannot attend live sessions. The training will cover topics on presenting research, referencing, digital literacy, copyright and IP.

    Your application will also undergo a peer review process.

     What is a peer review process?

    The Library Research Support Team will facilitate and undertake a peer review process, which will provide one-to-one support and tailored individual feedback on each entry. Each submission will be reviewed to ensure all entries are copyright compliant, meet an acceptable digital literacy standard, assess how it meets judging criteria, and provide feedback on overall quality.

     Can I change the layout and design of PowerPoint template for my entry?

    You can be creative as you would like with your presentation but your entry must be copyright compliant.  The pre-formatted bookend slides (the title and references) need to retained but you are free to add your own content – this can be in the form of images, video and/or audio, and does not have to be just text. Be creative and think outside the box!

    How long should my entry be?

    There is a 60 second time limit for entries, and you can include as many slides as you like. This time limit excludes the title and reference slides. You must include the preformatted bookend slide templates provided in the Participant kits and information section of the website. The bookend slides must play for 5 seconds each.

    Can I include audio in my entry?
    Yes, you can include audio in your entry, but the maximum file size for your powerpoint or mp4 file is 100 MB.

    Copyright compliance

    Your entry must comply with the Copyright law.  See the Library’s Open Access and Creative Commons website for Creative Commons content: https://www.unisq.edu.au/library/copyright/open-access-creative-commons

    2020 VYT Entries

    Check out previous entries for creative ideas: https://melbourne.figshare.com/Melbourne-VYT

    Meet the 2021 USQ VYT Competition Judges

    Professor Andrea Lamont-Mills is a passionate research professional; dedicated to making a difference to the way we approach mental health through online support and sport psychology. As a registered psychologist, Professor Lamont-Mills provides psychological services to pre-elite adolescent athletes and career advice to adolescents who are transitioning from high school to university. With over 20 years of experience, Professor Lamont-Mills now aims to bring high-quality research to the forefront of USQ through her role as the Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science.

    Associate Professor Charlotte Brownlow is the Associate Dean of the Graduate Research School. Associate Professor Brownlow’s research interests focus on diversity and difference, particularly in the area of neurodiversity. She is interested in the co-production of research with community members and has recently worked on a funded research project for Positive Partnerships. Associate Professor Brownlow’s leads the Neurodiversity research stream within the Health and Social Justice research theme, in the Centre for Health Research at USQ.

    Professor Ian Wells joined USQ in March of this year as Director of USQ College. Over his career Ian has held leadership roles at Queensland University of Technology, Macquarie University and TAFE Queensland. Prior to moving into education Professor Wells worked extensively as an analyst and manager within Australia’s intelligence and security network.  Professor Wells has published in the field of Indian history, education and intelligence.

    Dr Margaret Baguley is a Professor in Arts Education, Curriculum and Pedagogy at USQ and Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts. Her research areas encompass the dynamics of creative collaboration, historical commemoration and the arts, visual arts and arts education. She is a practising artist and is currently working on a group exhibition to be shown at the Pentagon later this year. Professor Baguley has recently been appointed to the Queensland Rhodes Scholarship Committee. She is the President of Art Education Australia.

    2020 Visualise Your Thesis Competition Winners