All applications should be underpinned by an aspiration to better connect the work and research of McGill University with society at large. Activities should be linked to fields of study, expertise, research and/or teaching carried out at McGill University.

All activities included should have been carried out during the period from January 1 to December 31, 2023. The application deadline is January 31, 2024, at midnight.

The applicants must apply for this prize themselves. There is no need to be nominated. 

Judging

Applications will be judged by an interdisciplinary committee that includes professional communications staff, academics, and representatives from the student body.

Applications will be judged in four (4) different areas. Competition winners and runners-up typically engage and excel in at least two (2) of the following four (4) areas of activity:

• Sharing knowledge through traditional media  
• Sharing knowledge through social media  
• Public engagement
• Activities that have an impact on society  

Please note: 

If you have previously won the prize, you may not apply again in the same category.

Application details

Applications should not be larger than 5 MB. 

Please ensure that your name and the prize category are at the top of all documents submitted. 

Completed applications must contain the following four (4) elements: 

• A list of media and public engagements
• A Q&A (see questions below) – maximum of 500 words
• A photo 
• Letter(s) of support

*A maximum of two (2) letters of support is permitted.

List of media and public engagement highlights

All work included in the application, whether media work, direct public engagement, or work with stakeholders should be tied to sharing knowledge related to your fields of research and/or expertise.

Excellence in media and/or public engagement spans a broad range of audiences and types of activity. Please submit one (1) single page with selected highlights of your media and public engagement activities. Only one (1) single page list will be forwarded to the jury.

Media and public engagement activities to include in your list:

• Knowledge sharing through traditional media – e.g., in articles, interviews in print, radio, TV, online, blogs, podcasts, op-eds, etc. in local, national, and international outlets (if applicable). Please include links wherever possible. If you have been interviewed in languages other than English or French, please provide a translation of the name of the media outlet.
• Knowledge sharing through social media – e.g., Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, blogs or vlogs you create, etc. Please include engagement info, e.g., numbers of followers, reach, etc. 
• Public engagement activities - e.g., activities that involve sharing knowledge directly with the public and stakeholders. For example, lectures to parent groups, involvement with patient groups, or community organizations of various kinds. In the past, applicants have described being engaged in science outreach groups, the publication of educational comic books, participation in festivals or museum exhibitions, workshops at science fairs, etc. Please include approximate number of people reached through engagement activities.
• Activities that have an impact on society – e.g., activities that lead to changes in policies or laws, result in the creation of film festivals or art exhibits, lead to new environmental or health guidelines, etc. These may include engagement with policymakers, non-academic stakeholder groups including the educational sector and schools, local government, government agencies and other public bodies where there is the potential for social, educational, or cultural impact.

Q&A

Please answer the following questions for a total of 500 words in all (i.e., for all three questions together, rather than 500 words a question).

1. What is the larger field of research and/or study you are interested in and why is it exciting/important for you to advance knowledge in this field?
    
2. What or who inspired you to pursue this field?
    
3. Sharing your knowledge with the public and the media goes above and beyond your academic studies and work. What drives you to go this extra distance and what are you hoping to accomplish by doing it?

Photo 

Please include a picture of yourself that conveys the essence of your work or speaks about a particular aspect of it. Examples include work in the field, in the lab, etc. For example, a photo of a geologist on location preparing a specimen for transport would work well. 

Letter(s) of support 

• Letters of support need to be submitted directly by their writers.
• Please forward guidelines for the letters of support, which you will find here to those who will be writing on your behalf.

What not to include:

• Attendance, presentation, and publication in regular academic fora such as academic conferences, on ResearchGate, in all academic journals since these venues are designed to reach academic audiences and not the general public. 
• Examples of public engagement or work with the media for which you receive academic credit or regular compensation. e.g., for a weekly or monthly column. Occasional freelance media work can be included. Please indicate in your application which media engagements were paid. 

If you have any questions, please consult our FAQ page. For additional questions, please contact communications.prize [at] mcgill.ca.