Sounds of Research

Sounds of Research

Sounds of Research is a research competition open to current graduate students and postdoctoral scholars at the University of Alberta. Researchers from all disciplines are challenged to capture the essence of their research through sound.

Finalists will be chosen by a multidisciplinary jury, with awards for first, second, third and honourable mention. Finalist entries will be featured in the Sound Studies Institute’s Sound Art Gallery and preserved in the University of Alberta Library’s Aviary repository as part of a permanent digital sound gallery collection.

The 2025 Sounds of Research Competition and Exhibition is a pilot initiative supported by a Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (TLEF) Innovation Grant. Participants will gain opportunities to communicate about their research in creative and non-traditional ways and develop valuable new skills.

Sounds of Research is organized by the University of Alberta Library (UAL), Sound Studies Institute and the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS).

Submit your sound of research

Complete the submission form and upload your audio content by Nov. 16 at 11:59 p.m.

Learn more and submit

Timeline
  • Submissions open Friday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. MT
  • Submissions close Sunday, Nov. 16 at 11:59 p.m. MT
  • Judging takes place from Nov. 20-27
  • Semifinalists/winners will be notified by email, on or before Thursday, Dec. 4
  • Exhibition opens Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 at the Sound Studies Institute Sound Art Gallery (Arts 3-47)
  • Exhibition celebration takes place Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 from 4 - 6 p.m. MT at the Sound Studies Institute (Arts 3-47)
  • Exhibition closes Friday, Jan. 23, 2026
Competition Rules
Read the complete Competition Rules.
Submission Requirements

Technical Requirements

  • Maximum duration of 5 minutes

  • Format: .wav, 44.1–48 kHz sampling rate / 16–24 bit depth

  • Up to 8 channels (a stereo version is required selected as a semi-finalist)

  • Any sound elements (music, speech, environment, etc.) are welcome

  • Submission must comply with the Framework for Responsible and Ethical Use of AI at the University of Alberta, including transparent disclosure and copyright responsibility

Written Requirements

  • Each submission must include a title and a short description (max. 1,200 characters) explaining how the entry relates to your research. Descriptions should be written in plain language and will be judged alongside the audio recording

  • For collaborative projects, all collaborators must be listed

Additional Resources
  • Some examples of how you might communicate your research with sound:
    • Short Podcast/Research Story: SpokenWeb ShortCuts
    • Field Recording/Soundscape: Fountains of Data, Fontaine Saint-Jean-Baptiste
      • A submitted soundscape would be audio only, with no accompanying video
      • Recordings could also be edited/engineered to create something that expands the soundscape
    • Data Sonification: The Killer Data (Ghayem)
    • Any aural creative expressions: music, poetry or sound piece about your research
  • Finding equipment
  • Sound and Copyright
    If you choose to use pre-recorded/composed sound for your submission:
    • Try to find royalty-free or CC-licensed sound files. Examples:
      • Freesound
      • Pixabay
      • Zapsplat
      • BBC Sound Effects
      • There are lots of sites out there, search "free online sound files" If you would like to use something that is not royalty-free or CC-licensed, reach out to the creator to get permission to use it. Reach out if you have any copyright-related questions!
  • Drop-in hours at the Sound Studies Institute (Arts 3-47)
    • Nov. 4, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. MT
    • Nov. 6, 1 - 4 p.m. MT
Audio Skills Workshops

Want to fine-tune your sound manipulation skills before entering Sounds of Research? Join us for hands-on workshops designed to help you create your submission:

All graduate students are welcome — no prior audio experience required. Completion of these workshops can contribute to the GPS Professional Development Requirement.

Adjudication

Submissions will be evaluated based on:

  • Originality, creativity and aesthetic appeal (30%)
  • Relationship between sound and the student’s research/scholarly/creative work (30%)
  • Effective and appropriate use of the sonic medium (25%) 
  • Effectiveness of artist’s statement (15%) 
Judges
  • Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell, College Dean and Vice-Provost, College of Natural and Applied Sciences
  • Arlene Oak, Professor, Department of Human Ecology, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
  • Michael O'Driscoll, Professor, Department of English and Film Studies, and Director, Kule Institute for Advanced Studies (KIAS), Faculty of Arts
  • Marilene Oliver, Associate Professor, Department of Art and Design, Faculty of Arts
  • Scott Smallwood, Professor, Department of Music, and Director, Sound Studies Institute, Faculty of Arts
Prizes

Judges will select awards for first, second, third and honourable mention. 

There will be four (4) prizes consisting of:

  1. One (1) 1st place prize of $1,000 CAD;
  2. one (1) 2nd place prize of $800 CAD;
  3. one (1) 3rd place prize of $600 CAD; and
  4. one (1) Honourable Mention prize of $300 CAD.

Contact Us

Send questions about the Sounds of Research competition to:

Sean Luyk
Digital Curation Librarian  
Email: luyk@ualberta.ca