Science Research Showcase

The Science Postgraduate Poster Competition provides an excellent opportunity for postgraduate students to present their research to the University of Auckland staff and student community.

All posters will be exhibited in the Science Foyer (ground level of building 302) between Monday, 21 September 2026 and Friday, 25 September 2026. 

• Wednesday 1 July 2026: online registration opens
• Friday 28 August 2026 at 4pm: online registration closes
• Wednesday 23 September 2026 1pm to 3pm: Show & Tell
• Thursday 24 September 2026 5pm to 6pm: awards ceremony at 302-G20

Judges' Choice awards - deliberated by the judging panel

• First Place (doctoral) - $350 voucher
• First Place (masters/honours) - $350 voucher
• Second Place - $ 250 voucher 
• Third Place - $ 100 voucher

People’s Choice awards - voted by staff members and students

• First Place - $200 voucher
• Second Place - $ 150 voucher
• Third Place - $ 100 voucher

The Science Postgraduate Poster Competition is open to science postgraduate research students who remain enrolled for Semester Two 2026. 

• The design of the poster must be the student’s own work.
• Posters must be flat and static, with no attachments or moving images.
• The Faculty of Science will organise for your entry to be printed as an A1 poster.
• The top 25 entries from Science PhD students will automatically progress to the School of Graduate Studies Research Showcase (Poster Category).

• Only one entry per student is allowed.
• The Judging Committee’s decision is final.
• All entrants must ensure that they are the original first author of the poster.
• All entrants must register online and submit their digital poster by 4pm on Friday, 28 August.
• By entering the Science Postgraduate Poster Competition and potentially progressing to the School of Graduate Studies Research Showcase (Poster Category), entrants consent to the University of Auckland using their posters to publicise the entrants’ and/or the University’s research for promotional purposes. Ownership of the poster will remain with the entrant.
• If required, electronic posters will be displayed online on Figshare. Poster entries will be displayed on campus as an exhibition.
• The School of Graduate Studies and the Faculty of Science reserve the right to review the entries and ask entrants to modify the posters to ensure they meet the University of Auckland health and safety policy, research ethics guidelines and equity policy or preserve the entrant’s intellectual property rights.

Posters will be scoredbased on academic content, design and appeal to a broad audience.

The judging criteria for the Science Postgraduate Poster Competition are the same as those for the School of Graduate Studies Research Showcase (Poster Category).

• Designing academic posters
• Designing research posters workshop
• Creative Communication: Designing an Engaging Research Poster (Wahapū access required)

Please contact scienceengagement@auckland.ac.nz for any enquiries.