Submit an entry for the 'Reel Impact' Prize 2025
The 2025 Reel Impact Prize is now accepting applications.
The Prize aims to encourage innovative research translation by challenging researchers to succinctly describe the social impact of their research to a non-specialist audience, and its potential to address the challenges facing Australia and the world.
Researchers are encouraged to come along to the workshop ready to share and develop their potential 'impactful' research story. During the workshop they will have the chance to receive personalised feedback and helpful suggestions in preparation for submission to the Prize.
The 2025 Program Kit is available through the LMS Subjects and Communities Catalogue where entrants can learn through the Canvas subject how to prepare and develop their winning submission, comprising either a 60-second video or visual storyboard, to try and win the $8000 prize. The Program Kit also contains the necessary entrant guide, a submission form and templates.
The Reel Impact Prize is open to all current academic staff members of the University of Melbourne, and entries are accepted from individual researchers or project teams.
Go to Research Gateway (Staff and graduate researchers only, login required).
Watch a video about the Prize
About the Reel Impact Prize
The Reel Impact Prize was launched in 2023 as an additional prize to complement the premier award of the Marles Medal that recognises excellence in research impact. The Reel Impact Prize aims to encourage innovative research translation by challenging researchers at the University of Melbourne to succinctly describe the impact their research has had within society to a non-specialist audience.
The prize builds upon the skills matrix of the graduate researcher translation prizes of 3MT and Visualise Your Thesis, but instead invites academic staff to present their research impact as either a 60-second engaging video or a visual storyboard.
The competition challenges researchers to succinctly describe their research and its impact in society to a non-specialist audience, and provides a unique opportunity to build research translation and digital literacy skills.
Up to three winning entries can each receive $8000 to collaborate with their choice of professional media storyteller to create an animated or live-action production (or any other novel type of creative output) to highlight the impact that has been achieved through their research.
The prize aims to also build collaborative links and partnerships with professional artists and media storytellers to enhance the development of creative dissemination of impactful research to general audiences beyond academia.
Reel Impact is open to all current Academic staff members of the University of Melbourne, and entries are accepted from individual researchers or project teams.
Reel Impact Prize winners 2023
Sight and insight: unlocking treatment and knowledge for Inherited Retinal Diseases.
Dr Ceecee Britten-Jones is a research fellow at the University of Melbourne and a practicing optometrist. She leads research on improving the diagnosis of inherited eye diseases and to integrate genetic knowledge into clinical care for better management outcomes. Outside of work, Ceecee spends her time learning new creative pursuits and playing disc golf.
Combatting modern slavery in global supply chains
Vikram Bhakoo is an Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management in the Department of Management and Marketing at the University of Melbourne, and head of the Operations and Supply Chain Group. He researches the supply chain domain through three themes: sustainability, buyer/supplier relationships and qualitative research methods. Currently, he is passionate about understanding and developing effective mechanisms for combating modern slavery in supply chains. He seeks to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach in his studies. He has conducted his fieldwork across a variety of industries such as healthcare, seafood, fashion, retail and construction, typically employing qualitative research methods.
First published on 6 August 2024.
Share this article