Picturing Research: A DRMC Competition 2024/25

The Durham Research Methods Centre (DRMC) invites research staff and postgraduate (PGT and PGR) researchers to submit a pictorial representation of their research to the Picturing Research competition.  

Picturing Research is a DRMC initiative showcasing research conducted by Durham University researchers. It is an opportunity to extend the reach of research to wider audiences and different means of communication. 

The competition aims to highlight the contributions and impact of Durham researchers to society, locally and globally.  

Inspired by the focus of the DRMC on “designing novel methods to tackle complex, real-world challenges’, the competition focuses on: 

• Interdisciplinarity  

• Innovative research  

• Engaging community  

The idea is very straightforward: capture/represent your research in one image/photo with the support of a 100-word description. 

This year the competition features 3 Award categories that contestants can apply for: 

1. Open (any research topic)
2. Digital
3. Health and Wellbeing (sponsored by The Wolfson Research Institute)

Award: £100 voucher per category 

By submitting a picture to the competition, participants agree for it to be displayed online for the purpose of the competition. 

Submissions are judged on the following criteria:

• Pictorial effect: the picture is striking, stands out and entices the viewer to want to know more about the message it aims to convey
• Creativity: The research is represented in a unique and original way
• Communication: the combination of the picture and caption conveys research ideas in an accessible way

VOTING has now closed! The winners will be announced on the 20^th May 2025 at the DRMC Christine Merrell Annual Methods Lecture. 

Competition guidelines

• The competition is open to researchers of all stages of career (including PGT and PGR researchers) working and studying at Durham University.
• Only one submission per candidate will be accepted.
• Submissions must be based on researchers’ current research, or recently concluded research project.
• Submissions are to be made via the online form created for the competition.
• Descriptions should be written in plain English, targeted at a non-specialist audience.
• Submissions are applicants’ own creations. This should be stated when submitting your submission.
• By submitting a picture to the competition, applicants agree for it to be displayed online and in other exhibition formats for the purpose of the competition and the showcasing of the University’s research capacity.
• Submission after the deadline will not be considered.