Nano Film

Enter the Nano Film Contest! Next Contest Coming Soon!

Nano Film is a video contest for undergraduate and graduate students that are conducting nanotechnology research in the United States and U.S. territories. Participating students should submit short videos that tell a general audience about nanotechnology. How do you hope your work will help the world? What’s the greatest promise in nanotechnology? Where do you hope nanotechnology will make the greatest impact? What do you think is cool about nanotechnology? Be creative!  See the 2017 winning video here!

Federal agencies funding research and development activities in nanotechnology under the auspices of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), with support from the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), are working to highlight the accomplishments of and build community around the NNI, and to educate the general public about nanotechnology. One such effort is Nano Film, a video contest that asks people to talk about nanotechnology.
 

Email submissions information to NNCOvideos@gmail.com and include:

  • Name(s) and affiliation(s):
    • Submissions will be accepted from teams and from individuals. A lead contact person must be designated for team submissions. The order in which names are listed in the submission is the order in which they will appear on the NNI public voting page, the NNI YouTube channel, and on Nano.gov.
  • Title of uploaded video: It should be the same as the video file name you upload using Google Drive.
  • Releases for each recognizable individual appearing in the video: A release form is available here; print, collect signatures, scan, and email us electronic copies.

If you’re a student doing nanotechnology research please also include the following information:

  • Description (150 words or less): Explain your research, use plain language and avoid jargon. Concentrate on the big picture and what problem your research will help to solve.
  • Laboratory website: Include link to the lab where you work, if available
  • Funding source: Include funding agency, program manager, and award/grant number, if possible

Upload videos using Google Drive to NNCOvideos@gmail.com:


Video Criteria:

  • Maximum video length of 3 minutes
  • Maximum file size of 2 GB
  • Save video file as the title listed on emailed submission information
  • Collect signed releases (available here) from any recognizable individual appearing in your video
  • Feel free to use a smartphone or computer to record your video
  • You are allowed to have others (e.g., film students) produce the video


Judging:

Qualifying, appropriate videos will be posted online for public, semi-finalist voting by the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), subject to resource constraints. The voting page will be available on the NNI webpage (http://www.nano.gov/). Anyone is welcome to vote so make sure to tell your friends, lab mates, and family! Once semifinalist videos are determined by public voting, judges from the NNI will choose the winning videos.


Prize:

The winning videos will be spotlighted on the NNI webpage for one month. The winning videos, the names and affiliations of the submitters, and the description of their research will be featured on the homepage of Nano.gov. The NNCO may also arrange for viewing of the winning videos at symposia and technical conferences. In addition, the students that submit the winning videos will be given the opportunity to participate in an NNI podcast with Dr. Lisa Friedersdorf, Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office. They will also be awarded certificates declaring them the 2019 Nano Film Champions.


Timeline:

Deadline to submit videos: February 8, 2019


Rules:

  • The “Nano Film” contest is open to individuals who are at least 18 years of age or older, and who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States and U.S. territories, at the time of entry.
  • Contest entry constitutes agreement to adhere to the rules and stipulations set forth by the NNCO.
  • Any entrant or entry found to be in violation of any rule will be disqualified.
  • Each entrant certifies, through submission to the contest, that the entry is his or her own original creative work and does not violate or infringe the creative work of others, as protected under copyright law.
  • By entering the contest, the entrant agrees to hold harmless NNCO for all legal and administrative claims, including associated expenses that may arise from any claims related to his or her submission or its use.
  • Entrants retain all copyright and equivalent rights but grants NNCO nonexclusive rights to use their names, likenesses, quotes, and submissions for educational publicity and/or promotional purposes. This includes but is not limited to website display, print materials, and exhibits.
  • Entrants confirm, through submission to the contest, that they are not using copyrighted material without the copyright owner's consent.
  • Authors or others who create videos are responsible for gathering releases from people appearing in the video and providing the signed forms with submission.
  • NNCO reserve the right to use semifinalist and finalist winners’ names and entries for educational publicity and/or promotional purposes including website or exhibition of winning entries. It is understood that entries will be shared with reporters covering these awards and for promotion of the competition itself.
  • NNCO reserves the right to disqualify submissions for the contest, as appropriate.
  • NNCO will not be responsible for any claims or complaints from third parties should these videos be exhibited.
  • NNCO reserves the right to make changes to submitted text in order to make it appropriate for the intended audience.
  • NNCO will not respond to any claims or inquiries regarding contest results.
  • NNCO will have the final say on any point not outlined in the entry rules. 
  • Information requested on the entry form will be used to determine how and if the competition is meeting its goals, purposes, and audience. Submission of this information is also necessary to contact entrants.
  • All contestants agree that they, their heirs and estates shall hold harmless the United States, the employees of the federal government, and all NNCO employees for any and all injuries and/or claims arising from participation in this contest.