“The World's Thinnest 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'” by Donghyup Kim was awarded honorable mention in the 2024 contest. This miniature copy of Vermeer’s ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ is made out of 16 patterned sheets, each just a few atoms deep. The entire portrait is less than 10 nanometers thick; you would have to stack 10,000 of them to reach the thickness of a sheet of paper.
Image by by Donghyup Kim

In the course of scientific research, beautiful images can appear in simulations, under microscopes or in photography. They can offer a window into the process of scientific research to the public, as well as inspiring a moment to step back and consider the beauty of the world. 

University Communications invites all members of the UChicago community to submit images from their scientific research for the fourth annual Science as Art contest. (See the winning entries from 20222023, and 2024.)

The winner will receive $300 and a framed print of the winning image. A “fan favorite,” judged by the public on UChicago’s social media feeds, will also receive $150. The images will be displayed on the UChicago main website, the UChicago Intranet, social media and in exhibitions around campus.

“Bolts and Cogs” by Zewei Wu Wu wrote: “This image was taken during a field trip to the Magellan Telescopes in Chile, as a part of our Field Course in Astrophysics. The pile of scrap metals and parts you see are remnants of our ongoing efforts to study the cosmos. Each piece has played a role in our mission to confirm the presence of strong gravitational lenses — they are the silent witnesses of countless nights spent under the stars, of challenges met and solutions found, and of the tireless efforts to push the boundaries of our knowledge. This image is a tribute to the unseen aspects of our journey in astrophysics, a reminder that even in the face of the infinite cosmos, every bolt, gear, and scrap of metal finds its tangible place.”
Image by Zewei Wu

Requirements: The images must be the result of research affiliated with the University of Chicago. They must be original images created by the submitters. The images must not be created using A.I. image generation tools, and must not be derived from patient data or samples.

Any commonly used image format is acceptable (though TIFFs are preferred). It should be the largest possible resolution. Multiple submissions are allowed.

The deadline to enter is Friday, March 14.

To submit an image to the contest, click here.

Questions? Send inquiries to contest@uchicago.edu.