Share the Art of your Discovery
Research Revealed is a photo competition for University of Oregon undergraduates involved in research and creative scholarship.
Research Revealed is sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, and the Research Communications office.
Past Winners
These three winners received monetary prizes and were featured at last year's Undergraduate Research Symposium.
1st Place: Spotting the Oregon Spotted Frog
Eden I McCall
"This photograph I made of the Oregon spotted frog, taken at a small artificial pond in downtown Bend, Oregon, forms a crucial part of my multimedia research project on conservation and science communication. The spotted frog once lived throughout Oregon; however, a now familiar narrative for threatened species, due to habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change, the frog has lost more than 80% of its historic range. Contrary to the notion that it must now live in only remote, pristine areas, the frog is actually found thriving in the heart of a city—between yoga studios and residential complexes—because humans have created a quasi-natural environment that supports it. My work, which spans journalism, spatial data science, and multimedia storytelling, uses immersive photography and other visuals as well as maps and data graphics to show how community-driven conservation efforts support ecosystem health and foster coexistence between humans and nature. This image, capturing the frog in its unexpectedly urban environment and at an intimate range, attempts to connect people with nature and contribute to the narrative about local stewardship and ecological resilience, aiming to inspire awareness and action to protect the natural world."
2nd Place: Among the Monkeyflowers
Olivia Wilborn-Pilotte
"This photo shows me collecting data for my thesis on pollination strategy as an evolutionary response to climate change in a native wildflower species, the scarlet monkeyflower. Here I am using a small glass tube to collect nectar from a flower to measure the volume of nectar and the sugar concentration. The nectar is collected by inserting a small glass tube into the base of the flower, which draws the nectar into the tube via capillary action. The volume is then measured in the tube and the nectar is deposited onto an instrument called a refractometer, which measures the sugar concentration."
3rd Place: Design for Healing, Restoring Planet Earth
Tamara Alarcon Basurto
"Documenting the translucent properties of the bio-material composite in natural light, the image showcases the initial stages of my research. Through observation, I recorded my first impressions of the materials I created. Subsequently, I categorized and grouped them based on their similarities in qualities and constraints."
Competition Details
Important Dates
- Contest opens March 31, 2025 (first day of spring term).
- Contest closes April 26, 2025.
- Entrants will be notified by May 9, 2025.
- Award winning photos will be displayed at Undergraduate Research Symposium on May 22, 2025.
Eligibility
The competition is open to all currently enrolled undergraduates at the University of Oregon.
Evaluation Criteria
Submissions may depict the subject of your research or capture the process of doing research. Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
- Aesthetic appeal.
- Creativity, composition, and visual impact.
- Conciseness and clarity of the written description of the image.
Prizes
- First place: $250
- Second place: $150
- Third place: $100
University fiscal policy requires that monetary awards in excess of $50 are reported as taxable income to the recipient.
Submission Guidelines
- Size: Files must be no larger than 30 MB
- Minimum resolution: 300 dpi, vertical or horizontal orientations are accepted
- Image format: .jpg, .png., or .tif
- Description of image (maximum 150 words): The submission should include a description of what the person in the photo is doing if the image is a portrait of someone conducting research, or a description of what’s occurring in the photo if the image is of a research subject itself. The description should be written so that someone who is not a researcher in your field can understand what is occurring in the photo.
- If submitted image is a portrait of someone conducting research, a model release form must be completed for that person.
- Images containing human research subjects MUST have PI approval before submission.
- No imagery of vertebrate research animals will be accepted.
- Photos may be edited to a reasonable degree (basic editing of color, contrast, brightness, etc.). Drastic alterations (e.g., addition or removal of significant portions of the photo using editing software, etc.) are generally discouraged.
- No AI-generated images will be accepted.
- Submissions must be original, unpublished work and must be created by the student submitting the image. See this UO Libraries page on copyright.
- By submitting an image to this contest, the students release usage rights to the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation.
Submission Portal
Use the submission form to complete your entry by April 26 at 11:59 p.m.