University of Guelph Research in Focus 2026: C$750 Photography Awards for Campus Researchers — Nov 6
A visual storytelling challenge for the university's research community
The University of Guelph is holding its Research in Focus photo contest to highlight the research taking place at the university through compelling photographs. It invites images of investigations, laboratories, people, animals, agricultural settings and other research-related scenes that communicate what researchers actually do. The competition bridges documentary photography and public-facing science communication, with awards for strong visual storytelling rather than digital artworks unrelated to university research.
This is a local institutional call, not a worldwide open competition for any photographer. Eligibility is limited to current faculty, staff, students and postdoctoral researchers of the University of Guelph, including University of Guelph-Humber and Ridgetown Campus. Anyone not currently within those groups should not assume that visiting Guelph or photographing a university building qualifies them.
Original research images from November 2024 onward, maximum three entries
Eligible photographs must depict University of Guelph research and have been taken between November 2024 and November 2026. Each participant can submit at most three images, each with a unique title. Photographs previously published, publicly exhibited or previously submitted to the Office of Research's own earlier contests are not eligible. The creator must have the necessary rights in the original photograph.
Digital images must be at least 1200 by 900 pixels and at least 1MB in size. Minimal corrections to colour or tones may be acceptable, but altering composition, adding signatures or watermarks, or generating or manipulating the photograph with artificial intelligence causes disqualification. The photograph should document a real research activity and respect safety regulations in laboratories and field sites.
Submission details: a research explanation and accessibility alt text
A complete entry includes a descriptive title and a short explanation, limited to 100 words, placing the subject in its research context and explaining why the work matters. The entrant must also provide alt text for accessibility describing the visible scene and composition, plus their affiliation, department, contact details and student, staff, faculty or postdoctoral status. The photo should make sense visually, while the caption helps viewers understand the research without imposing a lengthy technical paper.
The University asks for a photo release form from each identifiable person appearing in the image. Images taken inside restricted locations, such as locked laboratories, additionally require permission from the relevant supervisor. If the submitter is not the photographer, a signed release or permission from the creator is required. These consent obligations should be resolved before sending entries and are essential even when the photo depicts colleagues doing ordinary research work.
Five award categories, from C$250 to C$750
The official prize schedule lists a C$750 first prize, C$500 second prize, C$250 third prize, C$500 community choice prize and a C$750 agricultural innovation award. A winner can receive only one of the first, second, third, agricultural or honourable-mention honours, but may also earn the community choice award. Winners will be selected and contacted by December 4, 2026.
Prize sums apply to the appropriate winning categories; they are not appearance fees paid for every photo. The amounts may create taxable income, and the university's rules put any applicable tax responsibility on recipients. The contest aims to present research photographs publicly; successful submission does not imply a grant to continue research or a paid photography commission.
Deadline November 6 and important image-licensing conditions
Photographs and the supporting information must be submitted by Friday November 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time through the official Research in Focus submission form. Applicants should allow time to collect participant releases, check pixel dimensions and write accessible alt text. The University states that it can withdraw entries failing originality, consent, research relevance or format conditions.
The copyright provisions warrant special attention. Although the University of Guelph says entrants retain copyright, the rules also grant the university an exclusive, perpetual right to publish and use the photograph for promotional purposes, without extra compensation, including edited versions. That is more restrictive than a casual one-time showcase. Photographers intending to license the same image to other parties should seek clarification before accepting the terms.
Source: University of Guelph Office of Research, official 2026 Research in Focus photo competition rules, checked 18 October 2026. The official terms grant an exclusive and perpetual university publication right while stating that entrants retain copyright. Participants should understand this restriction before submitting.