Rice University is a double winner in the 47th annual Telly Awards, which honor excellence in video and television. The university won a silver Telly in the Education and Discovery category for a social media series titled “Discovering Materials Science and Engineering: Engineering Solutions for a Changing World,” which followed freshmen as they were introduced to how materials shape the world in a materials science and nanoengineering course of the same name. Additionally, Rice won a bronze Telly in the Educational Institution category for a nonbroadcast campaign titled “RAMI Undergraduate Research Fellows at Rice University,” which showcases cutting-edge undergraduate research.
This year’s Telly Awards included nearly 14,000 entries, the most in the award’s history and a 6% increase over last season. Submissions were sent from all 50 states and five continents. The awards were announced May 19.
Both videos were conceptualized, filmed and edited in house by Jorge E. Vidal, a communications and marketing specialist for both the Rice Advanced Materials Institute (RAMI) and the Smalley-Curl Institute who also is a member of the Office of Public Affairs.
“Jorge has an extraordinary gift for telling the stories of the Rice Advanced Materials Institute and the Smalley-Curl Institute in ways that are both visually stunning and deeply human,” said Melinda Spaulding Chevalier, vice president for public affairs. “His work captures the curiosity, creativity and sense of possibility that define this university, while connecting with audiences on an emotional level. We’re proud to celebrate this well-deserved honor.”
The main objective for producing these two videos was to showcase the people performing research and students who are enrolled in classes, Vidal said. Through their examples, the goal was to make materials science more accessible to a broader audience, he said.
“These Telly Awards recognize our commitment to telling the stories of the people who make materials science so exciting,” said Lane Martin, director for RAMI and the Robert A. Welch Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Chemistry and Physics and Astronomy. “Whether they are discovering the field in an introductory course or conducting research, these students represent the next generation of materials scientists and engineers. It is incredibly rewarding to help them see how creative, collaborative and fun this field can be and to support them as they begin shaping its future.”
Since 1979, the Telly Awards have honored the best work from some of the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies and publishers from around the world. Winners are selected by a judging council consisting of more than 250 leading experts.
A full list of the winners is available online.