Showcase your expertise and passion for research.
About the competition
The Undergraduate Research Poster Competition is an annual event that takes place every fall at UM. $5,000 in cash prizes (three awards in each category) are up for grabs in five categories:
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Applied Sciences
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Creative Works
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Health Sciences
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Natural Sciences
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Social Sciences and Humanities
The event gives undergraduate students the opportunity to present research they’ve conducted with their advisors over the past year. The breadth and variety of research is significant.
The Undergraduate Research Poster Competition is a recognized UM Co-Curricular Record activity and all participants will be recognized.
Dates and Deadlines
2022 Poster Competition Info Session: TBA
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Registration Deadline - to include form, pdf poster and video link
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Competition date
Eligibility
The Poster Competition is open to all UM undergraduate students who:
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Are enrolled at UM as an undergraduate student
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Have a UM advisor
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Are on track to obtain a UM undergraduate degree
Note: Students who graduated in spring 2021 are eligible to participate, as long as the research represented on the poster was completed while they were and undergraduate student.
2021 Competition Format & Specifications
The 2021 competition was held virtually because of the covid-19 pandemic.
Competition format
Students will produce a poster and submit it in PDF format. They must also submit an accompanying video with their poster when registering. The posters and a link to the videos will be displayed on the poster competition website for viewing and judging, with winners announced on this webpage.
Poster specifications
48”w x 36”h – landscape – pdf file no greater than 25 mb in size
Include the correct UM logo per the brand guidelines
You are NOT required to print your poster for this online competition.
File naming requirements
Use this file naming convention for your PDF file:
2021-UMUPC-CATEGORY-LASTNAME-FIRSTNAME.pdf (upper or lowercase)
Video specifications
The video should capture you explaining your poster in a maximum time of 3 minutes.
- Check out the UM3MT webpage for tips and videos on presenting your research in a succinct way.
- Your video will allow viewers to watch you present as if you were at an in-person poster session
- It is not required that your poster be in view (in the background) while filming your presentation
- The poster pdf will be on the webpage next to the link to your video presentation, when uploaded, to allow viewers to see your poster and watch your presentation
Video must be no longer than 3 minutes in length.
The link can be Public or Unlisted but must be included in the submission form as a link. Information on the difference between these two options and how to change these settings can be found on this Google Youtube info page.
When posting your video to YouTube include the following info in your video:
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Title of your poster
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Your name
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Your research mentor/supervisor’s name, department, faculty
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Category you are competing in (applied sciences, creative works, health sciences, natural sciences, social sciences and humanities)
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This text:
The Undergraduate Research Poster Competition is an annual event that takes place every fall at the University of Manitoba (UM). $5,000 in cash prizes (three awards in each category) are up for grabs in five categories: Applied Sciences, Creative Works, Health Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and Humanities.
The competition is sponsored by the VP Research and International office. The competition provides UM undergraduate students the opportunity to present research (including a literature search) they’ve conducted with their advisors over the past year. The breadth and variety of research is significant.
The Undergraduate Research Poster Competition is a recognized UM Co-Curricular Record activity and all participants receive this recognition. Each poster is adjudicated and awarding of prizes is based on the judging criterion. Details can be found on the Undergraduate Research Poster Competition webpage
Video FAQs
How long should my video be?
Maximum length is 3 minutes.
How do I record the video?
The video can be recorded using a camera or smartphone and then uploaded to YouTube. As long as it is an uploaded video of you presenting your research posted on Youtube, how you record it is up to you.
How do I post a video to YouTube?
Visit Google's page for How To upload videos to YouTube from your computer, smartphone or tablet.
How do I make my poster Unlisted on YouTube, to protect my Intellectual Property, if I am planning to publish my research?
This link to Google provides an overview of the difference between a Private and Unlisted video. For the Poster Competition you must provide either a Public or Unlisted link to the video in the submission form.
Judging Criteria
The judges will be evaluating your posters on the following criteria:
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Scholarly Content/ Scientific/Creative Content | 25 Points |
| Appropriate use of images, graphic representation, and/or tables | 10 Points |
| For Non-Creative Works (Natural Sciences, Health Sciences, Applied Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities): Appropriateness of headings, clear objectives and conclusions. For Creative Works: Clear description/explanation of creative process, identification of issue explored and learning that resulted from the creative project. |
25 Points |
| Overall impression and significance of research | 25 Points |
| Effective communication to the audience through written or visual language that avoids the use of jargon | 15 Points |
| Total | 100 Points |
Resources & Information
Poster Competition Info Session Oct. 7, 2021 (PDF)
86+ million tips for creating a research poster presentation from Google
Ten Simple Rules for a Good Poster Presentation - from 2007, but still relevant!
8 ways to create a powerful research poster - tips on using white space, colour, organization and fonts.
Design tips for creating arts and humanities posters – from Mark McDayter’s blog
FAQs
I am now in a Master’s program at UM. Can I submit a poster I completed before I graduated?
Yes, as long as you were a UM undergraduate student and the poster was completed on/before you graduated in spring 2021.
I am a UM student doing research at another university – am I still eligible to participate in the competition?
Yes.
Could I submit a poster for a project that isn't completed yet?
Yes. We don’t want to discourage you, so if you are comfortable entering the competition with uncompleted work, we will accept the poster.
I did a project this summer with a company where I worked. Could I present the research work I did with them at this competition?
Yes. As long as you are currently enrolled as an undergraduate student and you have a UM advisor, we will accept the poster.
This summer I participated in a project with many people working on it. Should my poster demonstrate the entirety of the project or just my contribution as a research assistant?
Preferably, you should be the first author of the research on the poster. A disclaimer is highly recommended. You need to be able to identify your role in the context of the larger project. Also, you must contact the others involved for their permission should you present the entirety of the project.
How do I know which category my poster will fall under?
You should check with your research advisor.
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For more information contact
Office of the Vice-President (Research and International)
204-474-6915