Lights. Camera. GradFlix!

Whether you’re looking forward to a career beyond academia or you have your sights set on the tenure track, GradFlix is an opportunity to brush up on those all-important communications skills.
GradFlix is a video competition where graduate students have one minute to share their research story for a chance to win prizes and be featured in McMaster’s GradFlix showcase. Participants create a video, moving slide show, or animation of no longer than 60 seconds (one minute) in length that describes their research.
The deadline to register for GradFlix is February 28 at 10 a.m. You do not need a completed video at registration; videos are due for submission on March 11.
Why should you participate in GradFlix?
Communication skills are important, whether your audience is a potential employer, an industry partner, a project team, policy makers, or a lecture hall of first-year students.
GradFlix provides an opportunity for you to explain what it is you do, in a digital narrative format that you can share in your portfolio, attach to your LinkedIn profile and other social media accounts, hyperlink from your resume – it offers so many ways for you to share your communication skills and research story with new audiences, including potential research partners and employers.
- Expand your digital skill toolbox: Use digital narrative to explain a complex idea and develop your “elevator pitch” while doing so. Plus, you can apply your newfound tech skills to your teaching.
- Build on your communications skills: Develop your research communication skills, while learning how to communicate with non-specialist audiences.
- Introduce your research to a new and broader audience: Video is an accessible, easy-to-share format for telling your research story and building your network.
- Win prizes!
Get creative
Videos can take many forms. Perhaps you would like to share your research in a poem. Maybe an original piece of music by you can accompany your visuals. Telling your story through animations may be something you’ve thought about. You may think that sock puppets can be ideal narrators of your story. Check out McMaster’s inaugural 2021 GradFlix finalists for some inspiration.
GradFlix is your chance to channel your inner creative self while describing your research.
Remember, you aren’t being judged on the potential impact of your research, but rather how effectively (and creatively) you communicate your research story in your GradFlix!
Resources, feedback sessions and coaching
Registered participants will be able to sign up for one-on-one feedback sessions with communications and technical experts from across McMaster! These are great opportunities to share your GradFlix video/plans and get some advice from people who work in communications.
Several workshops and training sessions have already happened. You can check out the recordings of those sessions on our website.
Register online for GradFlix by February 28 at 10 a.m.
Competitions and contests, Research, Skills-buildingRelated News
News Listing

Nominate a member of the grad community for Graduate Student Recognition Award
Awards and scholarships, Community, Competitions and contests
December 16, 2024

Turn your ideas into reality with the Digital Society Lab Hack
Competitions and contests, Skills-building
December 9, 2024

McMaster earns top spot for graduate student research intensity in annual rankings
Community, Research
December 9, 2024