Science Communication Animation Awards
Promote your science with animation and social media campaign.
Sharing research findings is part of good stewardship of resources provided by NIH, other agencies and foundations. Animation Awards are intended to enhance the visibility of important research being done at Vanderbilt that advances a field, has implications for human health and prevention, helps inform policy or implementation, or introduces new and important technology. Strong evidence indicates online media influences the reach of scientific findings, enhancing connections with other scientists, and is a valuable means of presenting reliable information to the public. Including visual materials, especially videos like animations, is associated with greater attention in print, broadcast, online media outlets and blogs, and in social media. This contest is part of a larger project to prospectively map the value of this form of outreach.
What’s the prize?
Awardees will have an opportunity to create a video animation/visual abstract with KindeaLabs.com, in addition to science communication support in developing a media outreach with emphasis on online social media. Real-time tracking of the influence of your media campaign (with metrics such as Altmetrics score, Relative Citation Index, and Lexus-Nexus). Examples of videos produced by KindeaLabs for Vanderbilt researchers include:
- Highlights from Denison Lab: http://bit.ly/DenisonLab
Who is eligible?
This award is intended for research that has been submitted for publication but not yet accepted. Any team of authors who are based at Vanderbilt (VUMC/VU). Allocation of awards will preferentially support early career faculty (K or first R01 without renewal yet) in a ratio of 7:3 until funds for this project are exhausted. If the work is especially compelling, we will also seek other sources of funding on behalf of the scientific team for more established groups.
What’s the application process?
Requesting to be considered for animation should not require additional work beyond what you would need to do to submit and promote the visibility of your paper. The brief description should be a first draft similar to what you might share with the VUMC Reporter or a member of the media. The application packet will be used to understand potential importance for dissemination. Neither this application nor any portion of your materials will be shared inside or outside of Vanderbilt, except confidentially to review committee members.
How can my coauthors and I be considered?
To activate the review process, submit all items below in a single email to verna.n.wright@vumc.org (copy katherine.hartmann@vumc.org) with subject line: Science Animation Awards. A completed packet consists of:
- Name and impact factor of the journal with which the manuscript is out for review.
- Full manuscript including tables, figures, and any appendices or online supplements.
- Brief description (<350 words) in plain language explaining why the science is well-suited to broader distribution in media.
- Current social media handles and platform (FB, Twitter, LinkedIn) for authors, lab, departments who will participate in dissemination.
When will I hear back?
Review is done on a rolling basis with a target turn-around of 21 days, unless additional expertise is required.
Who is deciding?
A multidisciplinary committee of basic, clinical, and translational scientists (n=20). Ex Officio experts may be asked to provide additional input and to vote based on their content or methodologic expertise. A simple majority will constitute approval; quorum for electronic voting is at least 75% of the review committee.
May I see the small print?
We will fund production of a 2-minute animation with voiceover. If authors wish to use expedited services, add length, or pursue more changes or additional materials than offered in the standard agreement, the authors are responsible for the additional cost.