[Infovis] National Science Foundation Visualization Challenge 2014; submissions deadline Sept. 30, 2014

[Zemankova, Maria]

The National Science Foundation (http://www.nsf.gov) and Popular Science (http://www.popsci.com/) launched their new partnership as co-sponsors of the foundation's long-running Visualization Challenge, now called "The Vizzies". The competition aims to recognize some of the most effective visualizations from the worlds of science and engineering. The 2014 Visualization Challenge, formerly the International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge, will continue the annual tradition of promoting and publically acknowledging work that visually and successfully communicates science and engineering research and phenomena.

"For 11 years, NSF co-sponsored the competition with AAAS' (American Association for the Advancement of Science) journal Science. We were seeking new opportunities to celebrate science visualizations and to expand the competition's reach to broader, public audiences," said NSF's Susan Mason, a key member who helped start the original competition. "We believe the alliance with Popular Science will infuse new energy into the competition and will to take it to the next level."

"We are excited about this new partnership. We love showcasing visualizations and featuring them is a major way we've distinguished ourselves from other publications," said Popular Science's executive editor, Jennifer Bogo. "The partnership also allows us to work alongside NSF, and with our 1.3 million print subscribers and 3-4 million unique visitors to popsci.com, we can bring both the participants and the competition greater exposure."

Visualization Challenge participants can submit their entries in one or more of five categories: Photography, Video, Illustration, Posters & Graphics and Games & Apps. The Experts' Choice winner in each category will be awarded $2,500, and a People's Choice prize of $1,000 goes to the best overall entry. 

Submissions deadline:  September 30, 2014

Expert judges appointed by NSF and Popular Science will select winners in each of the five categories.

Contest results will be publicly announced in Popular Science and on popsci.com in March 2015, and Popular Photography will recognize the winning photo. NSF will also publish the names of the winners on its website. 

Further information about the Vizzies is available at NSF's Visualization Challenge website: http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/scivis/index.jsp