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RESEARCH FESTIVAL
17 February 2026

SECOND EDITION OF THE RESEARCH PHOTO COMPETITION AT THE GENEVA GRADUATE INSTITUTE

As part of the Graduate Institute’s Research Festival on Monday 11 May 2026, the second edition of the photography competition will be held to showcase captivating images taken by members of the Institute’s research community during their fieldwork. This competition invites professors, researchers, and PhD and master students to submit three photographs that reflect the spirit of their research, offering original perspectives on their methodology and study of the research object. The aim is to celebrate the creativity, diversity, and impact of research conducted at the Institute.  

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

Eligible participants include professors, researchers, and PhD and master students officially attached to the Graduate Institute on 11 May 2026. Participants in the 2025 edition may compete again this year, provided they submit new images.

 

PRIZES

  • Jury Prize: CHF 150 + surprise gift
  • Public Prize: CHF 150 + surprise gift
  • Special Jury Prize (awarded to the most beautiful portrait): surprise gift

Winning photos will be selected based on

  • originality and creativity
  • aesthetics and coherence
  • promotion of the actors/objects/methods of the research field
  • power of storytelling

The jury is chaired by Julie Billaud, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sociology, and includes the photographer Antoine Tardy, the anthropologist and photographer Tobias Marschall, and Nora Doukkali, PhD Researcher in International Relations and Political Sciences.

All submissions will be posted on a dedicated webpage (see the one of the 2025 edition) and screened during the Research Festival.

An online voting system will be available from 4 to 11 May.

Selected photographs may also be framed and displayed in the Centre relevant to the participant’s research.

 

SCHEDULE

  • Entry deadline: 26 April 2026
  • Watch the photos online from 4 to 11 May at 10:00PM and vote during this period (the page will be open on 4 May at midnight).
  • Official display and prize-giving ceremony on 11 May with the members of the jury from 1:30 to 3:00PM

 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Each participant must submit:

  • Three photographs (free layout; resolution: min. 2.5 MB–max. 20 MB; accepted file formats: JPG, TIFF, PNG; please name your photo files as follows: 1_YourName_Title; 2_YourName_Title; 3_YourName_Title)

and in a separate text file:

  • Title and caption for each photo
  • A 100-word presentation of the participant and their research

 

ETHICAL GUIDELINES

  • Participants must submit only their own photographs, for which they hold full copyright.
  • Participants agree to allow the Geneva Graduate Institute to use the submitted images on its website and communication channels.

 

CONTACT & SUBMISSIONS

All entries should be submitted via email to: Marc Galvin – marc.galvin@graduateinstitute.ch (Research Office).

 

ORGANISERS

  • The Research Office
  • The Fab
  • The Centres

We look forward to your submissions and to celebrating the visual impact of research!

Banner image: part of a photo by Nora Doukkali.