Science Photography Winners
Thomas Endlein, from the University of Cambridge was the overall winner with this picture.
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funded researchers were asked to submit images that capture the excitement of new knowledge; the intricacies of research; or the sheer beauty of the natural world.
Images were entered into 1 of 3 categories:
- Concepts - Illustrations of concepts in any area of contemporary bioscience research, including standard, generated or computer-manipulated images
- Agriculture, Food, Diet and Health - Scientific images illustrating the science
- People - Images of people that convey either the role of researchers or the impact of research on everyday life
The creative flair shown by scientists in our community is impressive and their skill in using photographs to communicate ideas in bioscience is highly commendable.
Asian Weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) can carry weights of more than 100 times their own body weight whilst upside down on a smooth surface. To do this, they have incredibly sticky pads on their feet. However, this does not stop them from running quickly across such surfaces. Research has revealed how they cope with the conflict of sticking to a surface but not getting stuck.
Weaver ants are known for building nests using leaves woven together with silk. They are very territorial and their tendency to defend against intruders can make them a useful tool in controlling agricultural insect pests, avoiding the need for chemical insecticides. They have traditionally been used in this way in Chinese and Southeast Asian citrus orchards for at least 1,500 years.
The concepts category winner was Jolyon Troscianko from the University of Birmingham with his image using a New Caledonian crow using a stick to fish food out of a small hole.
New Caledonian crows use stick tools for 'fishing' wood-boring beetle larvae from their burrows in decaying tree trunks. They tease the larvae by repeatedly poking them with a tool, encouraging them to defend themselves and bite the tool-tip with their powerful mandibles. Once firmly attached to the tool, the crows carefully withdraw the larvae from their deadwood fortresses. This image is a still taken from film showing this unique predator-prey relationship from the larva's perspective.
Jolyon Troscianko from the University of Birmingham was the winner in the concepts category with this picture.
Soil is one of the most biologically diverse habitats on Earth and is sometimes referred to as "the poor man's rainforest". The mites and springtails shown here are some of the most abundant creatures found in soil and they play vitally important roles as part of the food chain in this environment.
The winner in the people category was Emma Foster from the University of Leeds which shows a fisherman catching wild salmon in Puget Sound, USA.
Impacts from human beings such as urbanisation, fishing activities, dam building, forestry, agriculture, mining and poor artificial breeding practices have had a profound effect on the depletion of wild salmon stocks. Not only does this affect the animals that rely on wild fish as their primary food source, but also impacts the local fishing communities. Essential research and recovery plans are being carried out.
Paul Gemmill, BBSRC Director of Communications and Information Management said: "The entrants gave the competition judges a difficult job because the standard of images entered for the compeition was remarkably high. The creative flair shown by scientists in our community is impressive and their skill in using photographs to communicate ideas in bioscience is highly commendable. We would like to congratulate the winners and thank everyone who entered for their efforts in creating these really wonderful images."
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