Winning the Brain Awareness Video Contest (BAVC)—8 Tips You Need to Check out
For students interested in STEM, it’s important to demonstrate your dedication to the subject when applying to college. One way to do this is to participate in a science contest. This signals a strong commitment to STEM fields, demonstrating that a student is not only interested in science but also willing to challenge themselves and engage deeply with the subject outside of the classroom.
Excelling in these competitions highlights a student’s ability to think critically and creatively, key attributes that colleges look for in applicants. Winning or placing in a contest can earn students prestigious awards, certificates, and more.
Our blog today is about the Brain Awareness Video Contest (BAVC), an annual competition held by the Society for Neuroscience (SfN). Let’s look at what this contest is, how to apply, what prizes are on offer, and some tips for doing well.
What is the Brain Awareness Video Contest?
The BAVC challenges students to make a video that explains a neuroscience concept in an engaging way. Every year since 2011, thousands of students have created videos on exciting neuroscience topics and activities. The contest aims to increase public awareness of brain science and make complex topics accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.
How to apply
Entries for the 2024 BAVC were open from March 15 to June 3. One can expect similar application deadlines for upcoming years. All entrants must upload their video to YouTube before completing their application on the Society for Neuroscience website. You must work with an SfN member to complete the online application form. There are SfN members all around the world, and you can find a member near you with this database.
Submission must include the video’s YouTube link and a complete video file. Make sure your video’s privacy is set to “Unlisted” and that you tag your video with the keywords, “Brain Awareness Video Contest”!
Costs
There is no entry fee or other associated costs with entering BAVC.
Eligibility
The contest is open to all Society for Neuroscience members. Non-members are eligible if entries are sponsored and submitted by an SfN member. Non-members can find an SfN member to sponsor their entry using the Find a Neuroscientist database.
Rules
There are a few rules students should be aware of before entering the video contest. We’ve listed a few of the main requirements below:
Videos must be no longer than 5 minutes in duration.
Videos must be submitted as streaming optimized MP4 files in 649x448 resolution no larger than 100 MB.
Entrants are required to provide a complete transcript of the video upon submission.
Videos must be original and unpublished works.
Entrants must assert that they either own or have the rights to use all content used in the video and that material is properly credited.
Read the rules and requirements of the contest in greater detail here.
Judging and prizes
Videos will be judged according to scientific accuracy, educational usefulness, and creativity. A panel of judges made up of SfN members will determine the following prizes:
First place: $4000 and complimentary registration for one person to attend SfN’s Neuroscience convention
Second place: $500
Third place: $250
People’s Choice: $500
The People’s Choice prize will be chosen by the number of votes received on the Brain Awareness Video Contest website.
8 tips to win
1. Read the rules carefully!
Carefully review the BAVC rules and guidelines regarding content, length, format, and submission procedures. You’ll need to ensure your video meets all the requirements to avoid disqualification. It’s very important to make sure you’re following the rules, especially for documenting your sources, copyright laws, and obtaining permissions for materials you do not own.
2. Choose a compelling topic
Pick a topic that is both interesting and relevant to a broad audience. It’s a good idea to do some research on current trends in neuroscience or common questions people have about the brain. Make sure it’s a subject you’re passionate about, as your enthusiasm will come through in the video. The BAVC recommends applicants think outside the box. Many popular videos are about surprising, new, and exciting facts about the brain.
3. Take advantage of official resources
The BAVC website has its own list of tips and tricks—you can find their tips on how to create a winning BAVC video here. Some of their recommendations include being professional, being concise, knowing your audience, uniqueness, and creativity. BAVC even has a list of resources for obtaining royalty-free music and images, which you can find here.
4. Learn from past winners
The BAVC website also has a list of the past winners, including the 2023 winners. You can watch the first place, second place, third place, and people’s choice videos here. By watching them, you can determine what a first place video looks like, what the difference between first and second is, what video topics people chose, what people did wrong, etc. Your greatest source of inspiration will likely be the work of these past winners!
5. Tell a story
You might consider structuring your video as an engaging narrative—start with a hook that grabs attention, build up the content with relatable examples or scenarios, and conclude with a memorable takeaway. Storytelling can make your video more relatable and impactful. Use visuals, animations, and graphics—think about using metaphors, analogies, or humor to explain your topic. And of course, come up with a catchy title!
6. Practice strong visual and audio quality
Investing in good audio and visual quality will make your video seem a lot more professional. Poor sound, blurry visuals, bad lighting, or incorrect grammar can easily distract from your message—even if you have a great subject. Use clear, high-quality images or footage, and ensure that your voiceover/narration is easy to hear and understand.
7. Seek feedback
Before submitting your video, show it to friends and family who are not familiar with the topic. If they can clearly understand your video, you’ve probably done a good job. If they can’t, you’ll need to go back and make some edits. People’s feedback will help you identify areas that are confusing or need improvement. Even if your video makes sense to you, it might not work for others—you’ll always want a second pair of eyes on your work!
8. Keep in mind the judging criteria
Remember that the videos are judged on scientific accuracy, usefulness for education, and creativity. Therefore, you’ll want to prioritize these three components when creating your video. All these criteria are important and will be evaluated when judges assess your work.
One other option — the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Amelia is a current senior at Harvard College studying art history with a minor in economics. She’s enthusiastic about music, movies, and writing, and is excited to help Lumiere’s students as much as she can!
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