Ever wonder what happens under an electron microscope?
The annual scientific photo competition from the Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology at Flinders University gives everyone the chance to sit in the chair of scientists hard at work every day trying to answer some of science’s and the world’s pressing issues as they explore processes at nanoscale level.
The Flinders Scientific Image of the Year competition celebrates an intriguing selection of images from our laboratories, along with the diverse research behind them.
This year’s entries cover research into new drug delivery, 3D printing materials, outputs from nanoscale electricity generators and novel ways to prevent biofouling in marine environments.
Go online at the Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology’s 2019 Scientific Image of the Year photo gallery and select your favourite in the People’s Choice award.
Entries are open until 11.59pm on Friday 20 December, and the People’s Choice prize is a lunch voucher at Alere Café (conditions apply).*
Last year’s ‘Grapes of Wrath’ Scientific Image of the Year featured an electron microscopy image of an aggregate of coated particles being encapsulated by what is believed to be a coating agent, says developers Dr Daniel Mangos and Dr Arthur Provatas during their project to develop a new material for 3D printing applications.
Another 2018 winning image was by Thaar Alharbi, whose project included studying the effects of shear stress on carbon nanomaterials.
“I was investigating the effect of shear stress within the Vortex Fluidic Device on carbon nanomaterials such as graphene oxide, carbon onions, and fullerene,” Mr Alharbi says.
Nanoscale is so small that electron microscopes and other specialist equipment is used instead of regular microscopes.
*Members of the Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology cannot vote. Members of the public and other Flinders staff and students are encouraged to enter. One vote per entry please, and the winner will be announced in early January.