Each year, RMIT invites graduate researchers to discover their poetic side and capture their research in just 17 syllables.
The annual RMIT Haiku Your Thesis competition brings together our research community to celebrate the lighter side of graduate research.
What is a haiku?
A haiku is a short, Japanese poetic form that consists of 17 syllables arranged in three unrhymed lines, following a 5-7-5 pattern. It often captures a feeling or moment observed in nature, creating an image in the reader’s mind.
How to participate in Haiku Your Thesis
Participation is open to our currently enrolled RMIT graduate researchers (PhD and Masters by Research candidates). We invite Haiku Your Thesis submissions every September.
After preliminary judging, 15 finalists will be selected to present their haikus at the yearly Haiku Your Thesis Event in October. Winners will be decided following live judging at the event.
Stay tuned!
Haiku Your Thesis Event
Join us on 27 October 2026 at RMIT City campus to hear selected finalists read their haikus and have your say in the Crowd Favourite Award. Stay to enjoy drinks, canapes, hear the winners announced and mingle with the research community.
Time: 4-4:50pm
Location: Media Portal, Building 14, Level 2, room 131, RMIT City Campus
Clarity
- Strength of the link between your haiku and your thesis or research project
Creativity
- Original and thoughtful expression of your research topic
- Innovation in capturing the essence of your research within the haiku format
Resonance
- Overall impact and how well your haiku connects with the reader
- Enjoyability, memorability, and poetic quality
Winner: $500
Runner-up: $300
Crowd Favourite: $200
College winners: $200 each, one per College (College of Business and Law, College of Design and Social Context, STEM College)
- Haiku Your Thesis is open to all currently enrolled RMIT graduate researchers.
- Each competitor may submit one entry.
- Your haiku must relate directly to your thesis or research project.
- It must follow the three-line, 5–7–5 syllable structure.
- The entry must be your own work, without the use of AI.
Past winners
Alessandro Mameli, 2025 winner
2025 RMIT Haiku Your Thesis Competition winner
Alessandro Mameli, School of Science, STEM College
Thesis title: Engineering of Nanodiamond NV Centres for Bio-Imaging
Thesis Haiku:
Bright vacancy shines
In a tiny crystal heart
Shows what lies within
Need help?
For more information about the Research Plus program and events, please e-mail sgr.researchplus@rmit.edu.au.
