Biology Best Video Abstract Award

As a dynamic complement to traditional text-based abstracts for their academic work, video abstracts leverage visual elements—such as animated data charts, experiment footage, and concise on-screen narration—to distill complex research topics, methodologies, and key findings into an engaging, accessible format. To reward the authors who made video abstracts of good quality in Biology, we are announcing the Biology Best Video Abstract Award. All applications will be assessed by an Award Evaluation Committee led by the Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Andrés Moya.

Eligibility

Each author may submit one video abstract based on a paper:

The paper must be published between 1 Jan 2024 and 31 Dec 2025 in Biology.
Authors may submit a video abstract created by themselves or produced through the Academic Video Service.

The Prize

Winners will be announced on 2 February 2027. Two winners will be selected, each receiving the following prizes:

CHF 500;
An electronic certificate;
A voucher to waive the Article Processing Charges (APCs) for one submission in the journal (subject to peer review)—valid for one year;
A free Academic Video Service production (no matter where the paper is published), valid for one year.

Requirements

Video abstracts must meet minimum quality standards for both video and audio components. When creating a video abstract, please adhere to the following specifications:

Duration: 1–5 minutes.
Format: mp4, mpeg, flv, rmvb, mov. Maximum file size: 200 MB.
Content Requirements: Introduce the article’s topic, highlight its key results and conclusions, and discuss the potential future developments in the field driven by this work.
Visual Clarity: Avoid including small text that may be difficult to read.
Language: Only English-language video abstracts will be accepted.
Delivery: Authors must speak clearly and at a moderate pace during the presentation.
Copyright & Terms: The copyright is retained by the author(s).
Originality: Use only your own original work.

Selection Criteria

The final evaluation will be based on three weighted components, with a total score of 100%. The specific breakdown is as follows:

1) Video Performance Data (10%)
This component will be assessed by tracking four key metrics of the video: number of views, likes, shares, and collections.
2) Public Voting via Survey (20%)
The voting link opens on 1 November 2026 and closes on 31 December 2026; votes from the official survey during this period count for this component.
3) Award Committee Evaluation (70%)
Members of the Award Committee will conduct a comprehensive review and evaluation of all submitted videos in January 2027.
All video abstracts will be assessed for editorial suitability and quality by the editorial team. Any that are not of good enough quality will not be published.

Biology Video Abstract Example

This video abstract uses 3D visualization to compare ankle bone mechanics in two extinct mammals. It reveals how subtle skeletal differences supported distinct lifestyles—climbing versus digging—within the same family, showcasing how video abstracts can make complex evolutionary research clear and engaging.

Morphofunctional Spaces from the Astragalus

To view more video examples

This video is provided by the MDPI video service, for reference and learning purposes.

Each author may submit one video abstract based on a paper published in Biology between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025.

The submission phase has ended. Submitted videos are currently under review.

Public voting will open on 1 November 2026.

Submit Video