This contest seeks images that stem from research in all fields of study except the arts. It is open to all individuals or groups who carry out research in the public or private sectors in Canada.

• Showcase images of research conducted in Canada
• Foster curiosity about science and research in the general public
• Build a database of scientific images from Canadian research
• Contribute to acquisition of knowledge and dissemination of images related to research

The contest’s French segment, La preuve par l’image, was created by Acfas in 2010. Since October 2015, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Acfas have partnered to jointly present the contest, and NSERC agreed to organize the English segment, Science Exposed. Both organizations work closely together to showcase the research images to all Canadians. The contest rules are presented below.

Any individual or group of individuals performing research in the public or private sector in Canada may enter this contest.

Contestants must fall into one of the following categories:

• College or university undergraduate students who are doing research (such students must apply as a member of a group, together with their research professor)
• Graduate (master’s or doctoral) student researchers or postdoctoral fellows
• Research professors at postsecondary institutions or researchers at colleges, polytechnics or universities
• Researchers working in public or private research centres

Contestants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or foreign nationals living in Canada who are pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree or completing a postdoctoral fellowship, and who can confirm their enrollment at a Canadian institution. For group submissions, the group leader and the majority of the group members must meet these criteria.

The contestants’ institutions must be located in Canada. For group submissions, the group leader and the majority of the group members must meet this criterion.

Contestants, whether as individuals or as members of groups, may submit only one image. Thus, a person may not submit an image as an individual if they are a member of a group that is already submitting an image, and vice versa. Also, any one image may be submitted to only one of the two contests: either the French contest (La preuve par l’image) or the English contest (Science Exposed).

There is no limit to the number of images that may be submitted by any given institution.

Any image that is not among the 20 images selected in the French contest or the 20 images selected in the English contest may be submitted again in a future contest.

Contestants submitting images to the French contest must be able to communicate in French, both in writing and orally.

Contestants submitting images to the English contest must be able to communicate in English, both in writing and orally.

All images for the 2026 contest must be submitted no later than Monday, February 9, 2026, at 11:59 pm (ET).  

• Images may come from any field of research in the natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities or health sciences, but not from research in the arts (defined to include visual arts, media arts and research on artistic creation).
• Images must be directly related to and have been created in the context of the contestant’s research.
• Images must therefore come from actual observations made or data produced in the course of research. Images may not be created or assembled by fictitious means, such as artificial intelligence or other software.
• Various methods and technologies may be used to create the images (for example, photography using natural light or other spectra, images produced by optical or electronic instruments, images generated from models, drawings, diagrams, graphs, etc.).
• Colorization and graphic processing with software such as Photoshop© or artificial intelligence may be used to clarify the content of an analog or digital image, but not to produce the image itself.
• Images must be submitted in their original format, not in a compressed file.
• File size must not exceed 99 megabytes.
• Images may be submitted in one of three file formats: .png, .tiff or .jpg.

Images must be submitted with a three-part text description: a catchy title, a plain-language explanation of the research presented in the image, and a description of the technique or technology used to create the image. All three parts must be written in the language of the contest to which the image is being submitted—either in French for La preuve par l’image or in English for Science Exposed. All three parts must be submitted online along with the image.

1. Catchy title

• Maximum of 60 characters, including spaces

2. Plain-language description of the research

• 600 to 900 characters, including spaces
• Briefly introduce the research topic or problem in question
• Describe what is seen in the image—include cues for the reader (e.g., in the top right corner of the image; the cells in red…), spell out any acronyms and define specialized terms
• Explain your research, and make the connection between the image and the research being carried out
• Give examples of concrete research applications or describe the expected benefits of the research

The plain-language text is intended for a non-expert audience of scientifically curious adults

3. Information about the technique or technology used to create the image and of any changes made to the image

• Maximum of 300 characters, including spaces
• Example: We used confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to capture the fluorescent signals, and the image was then colourized.

Curriculum vitae

• Each contestant must upload their curriculum vitae (CV). For group submissions, each group member must upload a CV.
• Contestants who are college or university undergraduate students must also upload their research professor’s CV.

How to make your submission:

1. Read the contest’s terms and conditions. You must agree to these before continuing.
2. Fill out each of the fields on the form and upload your image and the CVs of all contestants.
3. Under “Contest information,” choose either La preuve par l’image or Science Exposed.
4. Click “Upload.” A confirmation email indicating the date and time of your submission will be sent to you. Keep this for your records.

Two juries will select the images: one will select 20 images out of all those submitted for the French contest, La preuve par l’image, and the other will select 20 out of all those submitted for the English contest, Science Exposed. These 40 images will be posted on the web and showcased by various means, including exhibitions.

The juries will be made up of experts in research and culture.

If too many images are submitted, NSERC or Acfas staff may screen some of them out before sending the remaining ones on to the jury.

• Primary criterion: Visual quality of the image
• Aesthetics, evocative power, and ability to spark curiosity or a sense of wonder
• Secondary criterion: Illustration of the research
• Effectiveness in illustrating the research
• Clarity of the descriptive text

Finalists and award winners must agree to participate in various activities to discuss their images.

French contest, La preuve par l'image
The 20 images selected in the French contest will be revealed at the exhibit’s official opening, held as part of the Acfas annual congress in May. The five jury prizes will be presented at the Acfas annual gala in October or November.

• Three Jury Prizes of $2,000 each – sponsored by NSERC
• Jury Prize Humans-Nature of $2,000 – sponsored by Space for Life
• Découverte People’s Choice Award of $2,000 – sponsored by Radio-Canada

English contest, Science Exposed
The 20 images selected in the English contest will be revealed in May on NSERC’s website and social media pages. The recipients of the three jury prizes and the People’s Choice Award will be announced in October or November.

• Three Jury Prizes of $2,000 each
• People's Choice Award of $2,000

• Contestants must have created the image, and they or their institutions must own all rights to the image and obtain the consent of any people appearing in it.
• By submitting an image to either contest, contestants agree that NSERC and Acfas are not responsible for any copyright infringements that might arise in Canada or for any litigation that might ensue from such infringements.
• NSERC and Acfas reserve the right to publish the selected images in any media and in any format to promote the contest, finalists, award-winners or research.
• NSERC and Acfas agree to acknowledge the images’ creators in all publications and presentations of the image, unless circumstances prevent it.
• Every person who is entered in the French contest, La preuve par l’image, as an individual or a member of a group and whose image is selected must sign a copyright licensing agreement with Acfas.

• By submitting an image to the contest, contestants agree to respect the contest’s official rules.
• Decisions made by NSERC and Acfas about any aspect of the contest, including the eligibility or disqualification of application forms, descriptions or images, are final and cannot be appealed.
• Contestants who fill out the submission form and whose images are selected must consent, without compensation, to let NSERC and Acfas and/or their partners use, reproduce, publish, transmit and disseminate their names and photos and information about their awards in any publication or promotion activity, to promote the contest, the finalists, the award recipients or the research.
• All contestants release NSERC and Acfas, their respective personnel, and any party acting on their behalf from any liability for damage of any kind resulting directly or indirectly from the contestants’ participation or attempted participation in the contest.

NSERC and Acfas reserve the right to make changes to the contest rules, to temporarily interrupt the contest or to cancel the contest at any time and without prior notice, without having to justify their decision and without being held accountable for it to anyone in any way. No damages or compensation may be claimed.