GradFlix offers an exciting opportunity for graduate students to share their current research in a dynamic and creative way, gain insights into the work of their peers and get a chance to win a prize for the best GradFlix showcase.
Results for GRADflix 2024:
Winner: Cassidy Laub (Translational Medicine) - ""
People's Choice: Sara Stickley (Biomedical & Molecular Science) - ""
Missed this year's showcase? !
WhyÌýshould you participate?
- Learn a new skill: use digital narrative to explain a complex idea, and develop your "elevator pitch" while doing so!
- Expand your network: having a video about your research will make it easier to network online. Add the video to your LinkedIn profile, or add a link to your resume. In addition, the GradFlix showcase event will allow you to network with other students, faculty members and community.Ìý
- Broaden your communication skills: you willÌýbe developing your research communication skills, while also teaching you howÌýto communicate to non-specialist audiences.Ìý
- Gain greater exposure for your research: videoÌýisÌýan accessible, easy-to-share format for telling your research story.Ìý
- Have the opportunity to be the People’s Choice winner.
- Apply the skills you learn through this competition to your teaching: many professors use technology in the classroom, and video is one way to integrate technology in to your teaching.
- Enter more competitions: depending on your field of study, your video may meet theÌýcriteria for submission toÌýSSHRC's Storytellers competition as an example.Ìý Consider submitting your video to other competitions, too!
Important dates 2024
Registration Opens - March 1st -
Information Session and Introduction to Storytelling - March 7th, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PMÌý(Gordon Hall 302), orÌýMarch 11th (Online), 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Drop-In Sessions - March 18th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, 25th, 26th, 27th,Ìý 12:00 - 1:00 PM, Gordon Hall 302 (except 27th in Gordon Hall 324)
Feedback Sessions - April 5th, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PMÌý(Gordon Hall 302), orÌýApril 11th (Online), 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Registration closes - April 18th
Deadline to Submit your Video - April 22nd.Ìý Share your video with Colette Steer (steerc@queensu.ca), via OneDrive
Judges deliberate after viewing videos - April 23rd to April 28th
GRADflix Showcase in Biosciences 1102 - May 1st, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Ontario GRADflix showcase and reception - Tuesday, May 7th at Lakehead University, Orillia campus (winner of Queen's will attend).
Eligibility and video requirements
To be eligible to participate in GRADflix Showcase Event, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a Queen’s University graduate student who is registered in a master's (thesis or MRP) or PhD program at the time of the GRADflix showcase.Ìý
- Master's and PhD students who have degree completed, but have not yet convocated, are eligible to participate.
- You must be willing to allow your video to be made public and provide a photo and short biography if you are selected as a finalist. Your photo and biography will also be made public.Ìý
- By submitting your video, you are agreeing that your submission is an original work created byÌýyou, and that you haveÌýall necessary rights in and to the submission.Ìý
- Videos can take many forms, but must include: movement (slide transitions, zoom, or a subject moving on video), soundÌý(voice over, sound, and/or music).
- Your video can be no more than 60 seconds. Acknowledgements/credits at the end of the video doÌýnot count as part of the 60 seconds limitation.
- Your video must focus on research conducted for your thesis, MRP or dissertation in your current graduate program at Queen’s University.
- All video submissions will be required to submit a script for closed captioning purposes for when we post onÌý our YouTube account after the showcase event.
- When creating your video keep copyright in mind. As your video will be made available online, you need to make sure that you are using third party content properly. If you want to avoid copyright complications, take a look at theÌýÌýprovided by the University of Waterloo's Copyright and Licensing Librarian,ÌýLauren Byl.
- Abstracts, oral descriptions, slides, pictures and videos can all constitute public disclosure and affect intellectual property rights and patentability. If this may be a concern, consult with your supervisor, or Queen’s Intellectual Property websiteÌýforÌýfurther information.
- You also agree that this submission does not infringe upon or violate any laws or any third party rights, including, but not limited to, copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or other proprietary rights and must not constitute material that would be considered libelling, defamatory, a privacy violation, tortious or a contract breach.
The SGSPA has produced a helpful information session for students that want to participate in GRADflix.
You can check it out on our .
Criteria to consider when producing your video
Communication (50%)
Your ability to communicate your research effectively and efficiently to a general audience through language and visuals. A strong video will demonstrate:
- Ability to explain complex ideas to a non-specialist audience
- Well-designed script with clear language and terminology
- Good pacingÌýand sequencing of information (i.e. easy to follow)
- Audio and visualsÌýthat add information, clarify ideas, or complement the message
- Clear explanation ofÌýcontribution(s) to research/scholarship
°ä°ù±ð²¹³Ù¾±±¹¾±³Ù²âÌý(30%)
Your ability to present your research in a unique and thoughtful way. A strong video will demonstrate:
- Creative use ofÌý(limited) time
- Novel and interestingÌýpresentation of information
- Engaging formatÌýthat captures audience interest
Technical quality (20%)
Your ability to produce a video with quality visual and audio components. A strong video will demonstrate:
- High quality sound and images
- Integration of appealing audio/visual elements
Note: By submitting your video, you are agreeing that all sounds, images, information, etc. are cited or credited in the video, as required.
Resources and examples
We are currently producing our own resources, but the University of Waterloo has many great resources you can use and look at.Ìý
(YouTube Video Link)
Creating Copyright Conscious Videos (PDF, 260 KB)
Other tutorials can be found online covering storyboarding, stop motion animation and more. Here are two examples:
Ìý (on the McMaster University Library website)
Examples of video styles
Wondering what we're looking for in terms of style? You have lots of options! Check out some of the following examples on Waterloo’s YouTube of grad student videos. Notice that some are animations, others are video-recorded, and some are made with PowerPoint or sketches.
| Video Type | Example |
| Animation |
by Alyssa Grocutt (Queen's) Ìýby Hasan Ahmet Gokce Ìýby Siobhan Sutherland |
| Video recording |
by Francesco Marrato (Queen's) by Martina Jakubchik Paloheimo Ìýby Rachel Green |
| Stop motion |
by Sara Stickley Ìýby Muhammad Saad |
| Mixed media |
Ìýby Jaydeep Mistry Ìýby Jason Lajoie |
Ìý