Annual competition’s goal is to explore and illuminate the aesthetic beauty that results when science, art, and technology intersect.
What do electron microscopes, decellularization, and immunofluorescence have in common with an artist鈥檚 palette of oil paints?
students and researchers deftly used cutting-edge lab technologies like these to create many of the images entered in this year鈥檚 annual . The goal of the competition, which is sponsored by the in collaboration with , is to 鈥渆xplore and illuminate the aesthetic beauty that results when science, art, and technology intersect.鈥�
The competition, which was open to currently enrolled students, faculty, and staff at the University, received 48 submissions representing 16 different disciplines, according to Brian McIntyre, director of operations at URNano and one of the organizers of the competition. Nearly 400 members of the University community cast their votes for the People鈥檚 Choice award.
The prizes are $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 each for third place and People鈥檚 Choice. The winning entries will be displayed in Carlson Library.
鈥淭he Art of Science competition highlights the importance of communicating science in accessible and engaging ways,鈥� says Wendi Heinzelman, dean of the Hajim School. 鈥淭he submissions this year were truly breath-taking, and the creativity of our students, faculty and staff is always inspiring.鈥�
Heinzelman announced the winners at an in-person, outdoors event as a part of a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) student chapter.
First place
鈥淐rystals in Bloom鈥�
Michael Klaczko
Chemistry, PhD candidate
Klaczko used a scanning electron microscope to capture an image of hydroxyapatite crystals. He then added colors in Photoshop to produce the final image.
鈥淭he bursts of color and familiar flower forms will intrigue and inspire thought about crystal growth and ordered structure at the micro-scale,鈥� Klaczko says. 鈥淭he relationship of a material which comprises our bone to the natural and macroscopic world will convey not only the power of electron microscopy but also the similarities that the inorganic and organic world share which may not be obvious.
Second place and People鈥檚 Choice
鈥淚ridescence in Motion鈥�
Benjamin Margulies 鈥�24
Optics
Margulies used commonplace items and simple processes鈥攕hining light onto a soap bubble and capturing the image through a camera lens.
鈥淭his image shows the absolute magic that is light,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hat we observe as all these different colors is the white light being broken up into its component wavelengths by interference.鈥�
Third place
鈥淭he Butterfly Effect鈥�
Anna Lussier 鈥�23
Studio arts
Sarah Broas 鈥�23
Biochemistry
Lussier borrowed a tissue-engineering technique from her collaborator, Sarah Broas 鈥�23, to show how the injection of sodium dodecyl sulfate explodes the contents of a cell, leaving behind, in this case, the cellulose structure of a leaf. Multiple leaves were arranged to create the final image.
Lussier says the image speaks to the problem of public distrust of science. 鈥淥ur piece proposes that transparency is key to regain the public鈥檚 trust. Small steps towards this goal will achieve a more expansive societal shift鈥攖he butterfly effect.鈥�
Read more
2020 Art of Science competition a welcome respite from COVID-19
A student鈥檚 dazzling image of recrystallized urea, viewed under a microscope and shot with an iPhone, takes the top prize in the annual competition.
Finding the 鈥楢rt of Science鈥� in a dandelion
The Art of Science Competition continues to embody the 鈥渃omplex yet elegantly simple鈥� systems found in nature, in engineering, and in all scientific fields, as this year鈥檚 winners show.
