The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations is hosting a video contest calling on students to create videos about how a professor's research inspired them or helped them succeed.

The connection between teaching and research is critically important to the strength of Ontario’s universities.

To help raise awareness of the incredible things that happen when research and teaching connect, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) has launched a student video contest.

Called We Teach Ontario, the contest calls on students to make a short video explaining how a professor’s research has inspired or helped them succeed. Students then post their videos to the contest’s Facebook page and encourage their friends to vote for their video.

OCUFA created We Teach Ontario to highlight how, together, teaching and research are at the heart of our province’s universities.

Research supports our physical and mental health, the health of our economy, and the health of our environment. Universities are where most research is done, and where the newest ideas and discoveries are taught to students. University professors need to do research to continue learning and innovating. Research also teaches students to ask the questions that will help them change the world.

Prizes up for grabs include an iPhone, an iPad mini, or a trip to Toronto to attend the OCUFA “Future U” conference.

Details and contest teaser videos can be found on the We Teach Ontario Facebook page.