2025 Competition
The uRSAW Storytelling Competition is back!
The uRSAW Storytelling Competition is an opportunity for Undergraduate Researchers to develop and apply their storytelling and media skills and potentially work with a professional Media Production team to bring their story to the screen.
The top pitch will be awarded the incredible opportunity to work with USask's Media Production team this fall to create a two-minute video of their research that will be featured on the Research Profile and Impact website and throughout USask social media channels. They will also receive a $500 prize to be awarded as part of the 2025 SURE Symposium Awards Ceremony on August 27th, 2025. Additional prizes for the top five runners-up are also available.
To participate in the competition, undergraduate students must:
- Submit a 300-word story pitch by August. 8th, 2025.
- Have the consent and permission of their supervisor to participate in the competition.
- Be available to participate in the production of a video with USask Media Production in the fall 2025 term.
Develop your storytelling and media skills!
As part of the 2025 uRSAW Storytelling Competition uRSAW and our partners will be hosting workshops and providing access to media literacy training resources to help you develop your pitch and hone your media skills. These workshops have been added to the SURE Summer Workshop Series schedule and will count towards your SURE Co-Curricular Record efforts.
uRSAW Storytelling Competition Workshop
Students are invited to attend an introductory workshop hosted by Research Profile and Impact and USask Media Production to learn how to tell your research story, write a pitch, and integrate aspects of video storytelling into your pitch on June 25th at 3pm in the Murray Library Rm. G3 or Join us on Zoom.
Date: June 25, 2025
Time: 3:00-4:00pm
Location: Murray Library G3 or Join us on Zoom
USask Media Production Workshops
Smartphone Video Creation
This (in-person workshop) is designed for undergraduate researchers participating in the 2025 uRSAW Storytelling Competition. The focus will be on helping students capture better video content using their smartphones to effectively communicate their research over the summer. We’ll cover practical techniques for shooting quality footage, basic framing and lighting tips, and ideas for creating engaging short videos. Participants will also be encouraged to gather video content throughout their summer research projects.
Date: July 16th, 2025
Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm
Location: Media Production, Education Building, Room TBA
How to Create a Reel (Start to Finish)
This session will guide students through the full process of creating a Reel - from initial concept to final export. Whether you’re documenting your research, showcasing fieldwork, or highlighting a summer experience, this workshop will give you the tools to produce a polished, engaging video using just your phone. We’ll cover the key steps: selecting content, editing clips, adding audio/texts, and publishing tips. Ideal for beginners or anyone wanting to sharpen their short form video skills.
Date: July 23th, 2025
Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm
Location: TBA
Additional Online Resources
Be Media Wise: self-paced online modules
This collection of short self-guided learning modules is designed for you to gain an awareness of media literacy principles and develop media literacy skills needed to be a responsible digital citizen in today's global village.
Video Production Basics DIY Guide
An Online DIY Video Production Guide that offers you production planning templates and checklists that will save you time and improve the quality of your project as well as share tips, tricks and best practices for you to plan, produce, edit and distribute your media production effectively and efficiently.
2024 Competition
Announcing the 2024 First Place Winner!
We are thrilled to announce that Acagos Carriere's research story exploring the intersection of ancestral wisdom and modern scientific inquiry has earned them First Place in the 2024 Competition!
As part of this prize, Acagos collaborated with the USask Media Production team to bring their research story to life in a 3-minute video.
Experience the story: Acagos Carriere - Connecting Ancestral Knowledge and Modern Science
Congratulations to our runners-up!
We are proud to recognize our 2024 Competition runners-up! Each of these scholars brought forward compelling ideas that bridge disciplines, challenge assumptions, and inspire new ways of thinking. Each of these awardees received a prize that included a professional headshot.
Second place: Kara Walz - Odd One Out: Mechanical Engineering in Cancer Research
Third place: Maria Janser - Exploring Antibiotics: Treating European Foulbrood Disease in Honey Bees
Fourth place: Colin Dyck - How USask Researchers are Ensuring We Can Combat Climate Change Effectively