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Graduate Studies Office
Image of DCU Students, Glasnevin Campus
Image of DCU Students, Glasnevin Campus

Research on Walls

Visual Communications Competition for Research Students

This year will mark the third  Research on Walls Competition, a visual showcase of research undertaken by our diverse postgraduate research student community in DCU. The competition challenges research students to capture their research in a single photographic image (i.e. a photo taken by each participant in a landscape format). Research students from all years and areas of study are encouraged to participate in this competition.

To participate, you are required to submit a photo image of your research (specifics outlined below), accompanied with a short title and an abstract not exceeding 150 words. All entrants will be required to attend the final event, scheduled for the afternoon on May 12th, 2026. Applicants will be notified if they have met the entry requirements after the submission deadline by the Graduate Studies Office.

 

Abstract Call is now open to all registered postgraduate research students. 

 

Application Process
Application Process

 

To be considered for the competition, research students are required to submit:

  1. A photo image* depicting your research 
  2. An abstract explaining how the image relates to your research (up to 150 words maximum)

*The photo image has to be taken in landscape format only and submitted as a PDF document, with specific details outlined in this guide. Please familiarise yourself with the competition rules before submission. Failure to comply with the entry requirements to this competition may disqualify your submission.

 

Submit your entry

 

 

 

 

Competition Rules
Competition Rules

 

This competition is open to all registered research students in all years of study. The competition challenges research students to capture their research in a single photographic image and the creativity of the image is at the discretion of each entrant. While we have not specified the image resolution requirements, we would advise that all submissions are captured in as high a resolution as possible.

Previous winners may not apply. 

NB: AI generated images, images obtained online or images where original content is altered are not permissible. Please also note that a poster such as those presented at conferences is not suitable for this competition.  

 

In submitting your image and form you are certifying that you are eligible to apply and have read and abide by the following rules:

  1. Entrants must be registered research students in DCU.

  2. Entrants must have taken the photo themselves.

  3. Permission has been granted by anyone featuring in your work.

  4. While retaining the copyright of the individual photo, you are giving permission for your entry to be reproduced by DCU for our website or for promotional material.
Scoring Criteria
Scoring Criteria

 

All entries will be assessed by an expert judging panel, with emphasis on the following criteria:

 

  1. How well the image depicts the overall research topic.

  2. How well the title and abstract correlates with your image.

  3. Overall composition of the image.