Clemson Libraries is hosting a first-of-its-kind competition for graduate students this coming February.

The Data Visualization Lab at Clemson Libraries is hosting its 2026 Graduate Student Visualization Competition. This competition is open to graduate students across all disciplines and is designed to encourage critical thinking, data storytelling and effective visual communication.

The competition follows an open theme, allowing graduate students to choose topics that align with their research interests.

The entry portal opened Jan. 20, and the submission deadline is Friday, Feb. 3. Judges will review the submissions and rank between Feb. 4-10, and the competition will conclude with an awards ceremony and showcase event on Feb. 13, according to Clemson Libraries.

Graduate students who enter can compete for awards and prizes. All participants will receive free promotional merchandise during the awards ceremony on Feb. 13. Students can compete for first, second or third place with cash awards of $500, $300 and $100, respectively.

The competition has already received a wide range of submissions, spanning from areas of public health, social sciences, engineering, business and emerging technologies.

“Because the theme is open, we’re seeing a wide variety of topics and perspectives, which really highlights how data visualization is relevant across every discipline,” Yaswanth Mulakala, a data visualization specialist and DVL manager, told the Tiger in an interview.

Students can submit both static and interactive visualizations. The entries will be evaluated by a judge panel based on the following factors: clarity, insight, creativity and effective use of data.

“This competition is about more than design, it’s about helping students communicate complex ideas clearly and responsibly through data,” Mulakala explained.

Mulakala elaborated on how this opportunity allows a new perspective on data visualization, adding that “Hosting this competition through the Libraries reinforces the idea that data literacy is a foundational academic skill, just like writing or research.”

To be eligible, you must be a current graduate student, and entries must be comprised of data visualization work completed within the past 12 months. Collaborative submissions with other graduate students are allowed, but only one entry per group is allowed.

For more information, visit the Clemson Libraries website.