Our ECR CCS Visual Communications competition 2023 was for images, infographics or data visualisations which communicate an aspect of CCS to a lay audience.

Communicating CCS can be complicated, especially at a level that’ll be understood by the general public. But it’s so important, essential even, as public perception and the social licence to operate are one of the keys to the success of CCS.

It’s a true cliché (as most are) that a picture is worth 1,000 words.  Sharing research through articles, papers and word-heavy slides comes naturally to many academics, but little thought seems to be given to visually communicating any element, beyond graphs and figures.

Another challenge when you’re an expert in an area, is that you forget how little other people know.  The amount of jargon used in CCS circles is also huge, but as it’s your native language you won’t usually notice.  Visual communication can speak a more universal language.  Images, infographics and data visualizations are also highly favoured by journalists.  If we want to see CCS featured more, and more positively, in the media then making our communication simpler and clearer – through both words and images – may help achieve that.

Winning entries will be showcased on the UKCCSRC website and promoted through the UKCCSRC social media channels.

• Up to three images can be entered per person
• Images to be uploaded to the entry form below
• Images must be in jpg, jpeg and png
• Each image must not exceed 5MB
• Applicants must be UKCCSRC ECR members
• ECRs are only eligible for one Professional Development Bursary (PDB) but can submit more than one entry
• ECRs can submit a joint image (the PDB will be shared equally between the ECRs involved if that submission is one of the top three highest scoring images)
• ECR Member eligibility will be checked (main criterion is that the applicants are still eligible for the EPSRC New Investigator Award)
• Up to three PDB (£500 each) available for the three highest scoring images

Terms and conditions PDF

• Deadline for applications will be 2pm, Tuesday 12^th September
• The applications will be peer reviewed by the ECR community following closure of the competition (50%)
• Applications will also be assessed by the UKCCSRC Advisory Council (50%)
• Once the deadline for applications has passed, the UKCCSRC ECR community will be notified and the submitted images will be available for review
• UKCCSRC ECR members will be able to select their top three images
• The UKCCSRC reserves the absolute right to interpret these rules and make final award decisions
• Applicants can expect to hear an outcome by 4^th October 2023

Please contact the UKCCSRC Team by emailing info@ukccsrc.ac.uk if you have any questions relating to this competition.