Introducing the CEMAS Micrograph Competition

Posted: 
Sam Luther
The featured image titled "Dawn to Dusk" was uncovered at CEMAS by Graduate Fellow Sam Luther. With the image, he earned top honors in Class 4 Artistic Microscopy (Color) for the 2019 International Metallographic Contest.

Every day, users at The Ohio State University’s Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis (CEMAS) are collecting data that is as relevant to the scientific community as it is creative and beautiful. With hundreds of researchers and industry experts leveraging CEMAS each year, the center established the inaugural CEMAS Micrograph Competition to showcase this impactful, artistic work.

The competition is free and open to all members of the CEMAS user community. The top-3 finishers will receive a gift from CEMAS and have their image featured on the CEMAS website and social media platforms. 

Whether submitting data featured in a publication or a raw image taken within the last week, judges are interested in seeing how expertise and tools at CEMAS have impacted research. Although all imaging techniques are eligible, users must have captured submitted images with a CEMAS instrument within the year 2021 (Jan. 2021 - Aug. 2021). Judging will be conducted by a panel of CEMAS faculty and research staff. 

The deadline for submission is August 28, 2021. Winners will be announced in September 2021.

Pseudocolorized or other computer-enhanced images are eligible and encouraged as long as the manipulation is done to highlight key aspects of the image. The judging panel will assign each micrograph a score based on aesthetic value. 

Potential applicants can click here to review the complete list of eligibility requirements and judging criteria. Instructions for the submission process, which are highlighted below, are also included. Inquiries regarding submissions should be directed to cemas@osu.edu.

To submit, please complete each of the items listed:

  • Review the rules and regulations document
  • Access and submit the official entry form: https://go.osu.edu/cemas-micrograph2020
  • When uploading your image, name the file using your full name and entry number. For example, if you enter 3 images, name the files as follows: “(Name)Entry-1,” “(Name)Entry-2,” and “(Name)Entry-3”
  • On the official entry form, there is a section for you to provide the below supplemental information that must include: 
    • Title (please be creative)
    • Brief description of what the image depicts
    • Did you receive any staff assistance?
    • Did you receive assistance to enhance your image?
  • Participants may submit multiple images for entry, but only one image per user can be selected 
  • Image titles must be unique to each entry. Titles should not include the names of participant(s).
  • Inquiries regarding submissions should be directed to cemas@osu.edu