Beyond the coffee table

The microscopic word in all its beauty and majesty, and the insights that can be gained from it, is celebrated at this year’s international micrograph competition during MICROSCIENCE 2010

Nose of mole showing Eimers organs, Steve Gscmesissner

THE Royal Microscopical Society’s international micrograph competition will culminate at MICROSCIENCE 2010 with successful entrants winning a range of great prizes - donated by exhibiting companies. This year, one winner will receive not only the honour and pride of their image being on show, but one lucky winner will also be presented with a diamond.

There are four categories; Light Microscopy - Life, Light Microscopy - Materials, Electron Microscopy - Life, and Electron Microscopy - Materials. This helps to attract several hundred entries and it makes it very difficult for the judges to short-list the 60 that will be on show throughout the show.

“This competition goes way beyond ’coffee table’ pictures and this makes it

Thistle floret, David Spears

special,” says Professor Chris Hawes, a former President of the Society and previous competition judge. “We look for images that have a scientific quality as well as outstanding aesthetic appeal. This provides us with truly eye-catching displays. We are sure that this year will generate another crop of outstanding entries and it is going to be a difficult task to pick the winners.”

Entrants come from all corners of the microscopy community, and have a range of backgrounds and experience. But, what they all have in common is the ability to see and capture a striking image, and the desire to share it with others.

“The competition just goes from strength to strength,” adds Dr John Hutchison,

EBSD image of undeformed AISI430 ferritic stainless steel, John Hinton

another former President of the Society and a regular judge. “We receive entries from all over the world, and the standard is very, very high. It is a great opportunity for microscopists to showcase their skills and their work, and it provides an outlet for those that can capture the breathtaking and engaging beauty of the microscopical world.”

The winning images will be used in the Society’s publicity and will appear in a number of publications after the event, providing great exposure for the successful entrants. Keep an eye out for them and find out who wins that diamond - and in the meantime enjoy these fantastic images from the 2008 contest.

Water flea, Kevin Mackenzie	Longitudinal section of hen’s tongue, Steve Lowry
Photographic fixing salt, Karl E Deckart	SEM of false coloured Lung Cancer Cells, Anne Weston, EM Life short listed

Tungsten flower, Thomas Sholz, EM Materials short listed