Video Research Awards | Service Learning and Undergraduate Research

The Video Research Awards (VRA) is a video presentation competition for undergraduate research students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Why should students enter?

Students participating in undergraduate research need to be able to communicate effectively about their work, even as they move on from UAB and head out into their careers.
Our office wants to help UAB students present their ideas and tell their stories to people in their respective fields and elsewhere.
First place: $1,000, second and third place: $500.

Why videos? Short videos are great communication style in today's world of social media, and short presentations are similar to giving a TED talk. Both of these styles are great for talking about your research and why it matters, without overwhelming your audience.

What are the Spring 2025 Deadlines?

April 14: Deadline for VRA Interest Form
April 20: Videos must be uploaded to Canvas
April 21-23: Public voting on Canvas
April 24-25: Voting by judges

How it Works

Students create two-minute videos summarizing their research.
The community votes and the top vote getters move to the second round.
The top three students selected by a panel.

Who Can Enter?

Any UAB undergraduate student involved in research in any major. Individual projects or projects you have completed with a professor or inside a lab are eligible. Group projects are also eligible if you follow the group project checklist:

Ensure everyone involved with your project agrees to enter the competition.
Before entering, students must agree on how the award money will be divided among members of the group.

How to Submit a Video

Submit your initial submission form by April 14. You are responsible for the creation and upload your video to Expo canvas by April 20. There are no format restrictions — you can talk directly to the camera, discuss you work with another person, or even use graphics and animations to make the video visually appealing.

Judging is based on:

The hook: Does the student get the audience's attention and make them want to learn more?
The narrative: Does the student tell a story of their methods, or where they are going as a researcher?
Merit and quality: Do the research methods suggest rigorous or creative work?
Accessibility: Is the student targeting a general audience?

Voting

Public voting will occur via Canvas from April 21 through 23. Then a panel of judges will score the top six videos and choose winners.

Video Tips and How-Tos

You can gain insight on how to create a winning video by watching the winners of previous VRA competitions, as well as videos from undergraduate researchers at other universities. You can also explore these resources for guidance: