This year, five entries (marked as “winners”) received equal scores from the judges and have shared the prize. Seven additional images were recognized as Honorable mentions.

 

  • Bubblegum Heart by Deanna Bousalis: This is a section of embryonic mouse heart tissue stained with antibodies specific to cell nuclei and the proteins laminin and actinin. The antibodies are joined to fluorophores that light up a certain color when a specific wavelength of light is shined on them. This technique allows us to identify the abundance and pattern of certain proteins of interest in our tissue, and also creates beautiful images the colors of bubble gum and cotton candy!
    Winner: Bubblegum Heart by Deanna Bousalis
  • The Developing Heart by Deanna Bousalis: This is is an image of an embryonic mouse heart tissue section using scanning electron microscopy. The microscope shoots a beam of electrons at a sample that has been coated with a very thin layer of gold (or other metal), and as the electrons bounce off the gold, the device collects this information to create a representative image of the surface topography of the sample.The resulting image is a beautiful, high definition glimpse into the arrangement of cells in the tissue section! Here you can see red blood cells (the donut-shaped circles) and developing muscle cells (the oblong shapes in the top middle)!
    Winner: The Developing Heart by Deanna Bousalis
  • Winner: Opposites Attract by Jonathan Bremer: These tiny insects were caught in the act during a UF study. Members of a little-known subfamily of wasps (Bethylidae: Pristocerinae), the sexual dimorphism they display is striking. The black male, with his long antennae, large eyes, and functional wings, spends most of his life searching for females and taking an occasional drink of nectar from a flower. The smaller, orange female on the other hand, spends almost her entire life underground, laying eggs on the larvae of subterranean beetles, having no need for wings or eyes.
    Winner: Opposites Attract by Jonathan Bremer
  • Family by Oliver Keller: Many species in the bess beetle family Passalidae exhibit subsocial behaviors in which they excavate tunnels in rotten wood to raise their larvae. Research has shown that they not only display investigative, aggressive, submissive, and neutral behavior, but also can produce sounds to relay different behavioral contexts. Some species have up to 14 different signals associated with different behaviors, which is most for any known arthropods. The larvae can also convey to their parents that they need to be fed. While in Guatemala I came across this large Proculus mniszechi female (about 2.5 inches) with one of her large offspring. Both were giving off distress signals which could clearly be heard and conveyed their discomfort of being photographed.
    Winner: Family by Oliver Keller
  • Moth-erhood by Scott Cinel: This photo was taken in August 2016 at the Wild Sumaco Research Station in the mountains of Ecuador while on a specimen collecting trip and workshop hosted by the Kawahara Lab at the Florida Museum of Natural History. This moth had been attracted the night before by our ultra-violet lamps and decided to stay for a bit while laying her eggs. This may be just one of several clutches she lays throughout her lifespan, though this can vary with by species and according to environmental pressures. For instance, the photographer, a student in the Kawahara Lab, is studying how the perception of bat predators by ultrasound-sensitive moths can lead to dramatic responses, affecting behavior and even reproductive fitness.
    Winner: Moth-erhood by Scott Cinel
  • A Study in Bilingualism by Leah Palmer: The UF Brain and Language Lab is working on a project to determine if the presence of a monolingual speaker affects bilingual speakers’ comprehension of code-switched sentences (sentences using both English and Spanish words). To test this, the lab measures the brain waves of bilingual Spanish speakers as they view code-switched sentences in the presence of a monolingual student and a Spanish-speaking student. This painting shows a Cuban-American girl wearing a cap that measures ERPs (the brain’s response to a stimulus, e.g., a code-switched sentence). The circles surrounding her head contain a few of the ERPs in waveform. Through the windows around her, we see roses and mariposa flowers, the national flowers of America and Cuba, respectively. This artwork is painted in the Art Noveau style—a style famous for taking everyday objects and turning them into art. I believe that this experiment, a unique exploration of different identities, should recognized as a thing of beauty.
    Honorable Mention: A Study in Bilingualism by Leah Palmer
  • Euglossa dilemma by Jonathan Bremer: The green orchid bee, Euglossa dilemma, is a native of the New World tropics but was recently introduced to Florida. Male bees use their enlarged hind tibiae to store fragrant substances that are used to attract females. In the bees' native range, the main source of these fragrant compounds is the orchids that are pollinated in return. This male orchid bee was captured near Key Largo during a survey for Schaus' Swallowtail (Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus).
    Honorable Mention: Euglossa dilemma by Jonathan Bremer
  • Myrmecophily by Geena Hill: Myrmecophily is a particular type of symbiosis that occurs when ants are involved in symbiotic or mutualistic relationships. A specific myrmecophilous relationship is the interaction between lycaenid butterflies and ants, where ants feed on sugary secretions from butterfly caterpillars and in return may provide a protective or physiological benefit to the butterfly. In this photo, carpenter ants are
    Honorable Mention: Myrmecophily by Geena M. Hill
  • Form, Function, and Power by Christina A. Pacak: Mitochondria (blue) are the epitome of form and function. The inner membrane structures are organized into parallel tracks and tight curves designed to efficiently share resources needed for energy generation. The connection formed between the outer membranes of neighboring mitochondria provides opportunities for communication between these dynamic organelles that enable them to respond to their continually changing surroundings. In demanding environments such as a beating heart, mitochondria provide energy to their surrounding sarcomeric structures (orange) and enable these cells to contract. This pseudo colored electron micrograph depicts these incredible organelles aligned along the sarcomeric bands of muscle in a healthy heart. Organized in this way, mitochondria are well positioned to provide energy necessary to enable the constant, rhythmic contractions of sarcomeric structures and power the beating heart.
    Honorable Mention: Form, Function, and Power by Christina A. Pacak
  • Moth shadow puppetry by Geena M. Hill: This sheet full of moths and other insects is from a biological station in Ecuador. We would watch the sheet in shifts every night, all night, to make sure we didn't miss any moths that might come crashing towards the metal halide light. This photo was taken late one night when I was attempting to capture an image of the insect diversity on the sheet, when instead I got this shadowy silhouette of hands on the other side of the sheet. The purpose of collecting these moths was to test their behaviors against bat echolocation to see how they might respond. Some moth species respond to predators in different ways; some change their flight patterns, some play dead, and some may even make ultrasonic noise to avoid getting eaten.
    Honorable Mention: Moth shadow puppetry by Geena M. Hill
  • Gator Island by Allan Gonzalez: Off in the distance, the glow is coming from Tampa Bay and the southwest coast of Florida. The stars and artificial light silhouette one of many islands found around Cedar Key. The closer you get to the Tampa Bay or other areas artificially lit up at night, the stars seem to disappear, but only to our eyes. Light pollution not only affects wildlife such as turtles but it takes away the magic of looking into the night sky and experiencing the wonder of the cosmos. In Cedar Key, the Milky Way lights up the sky at night. Shooting stars are seen throughout the night. The red dots streaking across the sky is a satellite orbiting the planet, captured by a long exposure. Find a dark sky near you and observe in wonder.
    Honorable Mention: Gator Island by Allan Gonzalez
  • Glossy Ibis by Derya Tansel: The glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a wading bird in the ibis family Threskiornithidae. The scientific name derives from Ancient Greek (plegados) and Latin (falcis), both meaning
    Honorable Mention: Glossy Ibis by Derya Tansel
  • Myrmecophily II by Geena M. Hill: Myrmecophily is a particular type of symbiosis that occurs when ants are involved in symbiotic or mutualistic relationships. A specific myrmecophilous relationship is the interaction between lycaenid butterflies and ants, where ants feed on sugary secretions from butterfly caterpillars and in return may provide a protective or physiological benefit to the butterfly. In this photo, carpenter ants are
    Myrmecophily II by Geena M. Hill
  • Crystals by Jessica Tami: This is an image showing the brilliant blue color of an iron-cobalt cubic complex. When we think of metals, I would bet the first picture that comes to mind is a car, or huge pipes. But metals can exist in many different forms. The reason we see a color is because the iron and cobalt exist in their ionic forms and interact with each other through their electrons. In order to make perfect, uniform crystals, scientists need to ensure that their samples are pure, and that they are undisturbed during the crystallization process. From this image, we can see the beautiful side of science: gorgeous colors and satisfying, symmetrical shapes.
    Crystals by Jessica Tami
  • Cellular Plant Perspective 1 by Angela Skrivanek: This picture was taken through the lens of a microscope during Biology II Lab. This was an exciting lab because students were able to take an up-close look of the cellular makeup of plants. In this picture, the exterior wall of the plant and the cell walls, vacuoles, and chloroplasts of the cells making up the interior, as well as water being stored in the interior of the stem are clearly visible. What appears to be a busy highway with cars is actually moving water, nutrients, and pigment cells making their way through plant tissue.
    Cellular Plant Perspective 1 by Angela Skrivanek
  • Anhinga and African Sacred Ibis by Derya Tansel: Territorial fight between the anhinga and the African sacred ibis: The anhinga is a year-round resident of Florida. However, the sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) (which is larger than the Florida native ibis) is from Sub-Saharan Africa. It is believed that the sacred ibises found living in the wild in Florida have descended from the animals that escaped from the Miami Metro Zoo during Hurricane Andrew in 1992. This invasive bird is similar to the native Wood Stork. Photograph was taken by a Canon EOS 6D camera using EF24-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. Location: Wakodahatchee Wetlands, FL.
    Anhinga and African Sacred Ibis by Derya Tansel
  • Beauty is Skin-Deep by Kristen Solocinski: This is an image of skin magnified under a home-made microscope. Using a YouTube tutorial, a laser pointer lens and some wood and screws, I made a microscope I can use with my phone. After a sun burn (use sunscreen!) I added a bit of food coloring to some peeled skin and got an image more beautiful than you would probably expect from shed skin. Perspective can greatly change perception.
    Beauty is Skin-Deep by Kristen Solocinski
  • Stuck On You by Scott Cinel: This is an image of a small epiphyte taken in January 2015 in the cloud forests of the western Panamanian mountains. These plants grow in very moist climates where they are able to catch or absorb all the water they need from rain or the air itself. Epiphytes show up in all types of places and are common sights on power lines, trees, and even on buildings throughout much the tropics.
    Stuck On You by Scott Cinel
  • Great Egret by Derya Tansel: The elegant great egret (Ardea alba) (also known as the common egret, large egret, great white egret or great white heron) is distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world. It builds tree nests in colonies close to water. In 1953, the great egret in flight was chosen as the symbol of the National Audubon Society, which was formed in part to prevent the killing of birds for their feathers. Slightly smaller and more svelte than a great blue heron, they are still large birds with impressive wingspans (130 to 170 cm). Breeding adults show thin, wispy nuptial plumes on body. Photograph was taken by a Canon EOS 6D camera using EF24-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. Location: Wakodahatchee Wetlands, FL.
    Great Egret by Derya Tansel
  • Nephron Staining by Kristen Solocinski: The kidney is able to filter our blood through the actions of the nephron, the functional unit of the kidney. The nephron is shaped like a bendy straw with filtrate on the inside and the walls of the straw representing a single layer of epithelial cells. This image shows many nephrons in a cross-sectional view. In the top right corner are two nephrons showing staining (in brown) for a specific sodium transporter. This transporter is located on the filtrate-facing or apical side of the cells so it can take sodium from the filtrate and return it to the blood. This heterogeneity of the nephron is highlighted by the selective staining of the transporter only in a few cross sections. In a much lighter brown you can see staining of nuclei of individual cells. This image beautifully depicts complexity and beauty of the kidney that you might not expect.
    Nephron Staining by Kristen Solocinski
  • Verticality by Scott Cinel: This photo was taken on Barro Colorado Island, the most well-studied island in the world, which is situated within the Panama Canal and home to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. The Smithsonian hosts hundreds of tropical researchers yearly and the photographer was fortunate enough to spend several weeks there while studying a different elusive butterfly species as a student fellow. Though the sought-after species was never found, this small butterfly, a member of the Lycaenidae family within the insect order known as Lepidoptera, appeared on the first day on the island and was happy to perch on a wall for a quick snapshot before flying off into the dense forest. The extreme diversity of species in the tropics led the photographer capture many more butterflies on film, but none left an impression quite like this one.
    Verticality by Scott Cinel
  • Morphing the blue morpho by Scott Cinel: This image was adapted from a still photograph of a resident blue morpho butterfly in the Florida Museum of Natural History's Butterfly Rainforest using Adobe's Creative Cloud Draw application on the iPhone. By isolating an object within a normal photograph, one is then able to input various design choices before the app redraws the object. The artist can then manipulate the resulting image on-the-fly with various other design settings before sharing the image with the public. This is a prime example of how technology, even applications on the phone in your pocket, can empower and inspire even novice artists.
    Morphing the blue morpho by Scott Cinel
  • Southern Swamp Bird by Chelsea Collison: As a Florida Museum of Natural History educator and nature enthusiast, I’m always looking at the the natural world to better understand its adaptations, ecosystems, and biodiversity. As I gain a stronger personal appreciation and understanding of nature through photographing it’s patterns and details, I’m better prepared to communicate its merits to new audiences. I am often expected to lead lessons on topics outside of my field of study and images like this help me to learn as well as to teach. This photo gives the viewer a closeup look at a southern swamp bird, the limpkin (Aramus guarauna). I’ve compiled three images that emphasize the head, body, and feet of the limpkin in hopes of encouraging inquiry and curiosity in the average onlooker.
    Southern Swamp Bird by Chelsea Collison:
  • Moon Jellies by Angela Skrivanek: This is a picture of Moon Jellyfish, members of the Cnidarian phylum, taken during a Biology of Fishes class field trip this semester. They can be seen gracefully gliding around their tank at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa. The purpose of our trip was to study the behavior of a species of fish using a variety of sample methods and to collect data, which was then used in a paper. Although I did not study these Moon Jellyfish, it was fascinating to watch them flex their ethereal bodies in perpetual motion.
    Moon Jellies by Angela Skrivanek
  • Hidden beauty of the oligodendrocyte by Pedro E Cruz: Myelin sheaths envelope axons and are crucial to the normal function of neurons. Myelin allows the high conduction of neurons up to 200 meters per second. Over time, patients with Alzheimer’s Disease go on to develop severe atrophy of their white-matter tracts, which are the most highly myelinated regions of the brain. Multiple sclerosis is characterized by loss of the myelin sheaths from both the brain and the spinal cord. Oligodendrocytes produce the myelin within the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the ability to experimentally alter these cells would be of great utility within the field. Recombinant Adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors are powerful tools that enable gene transfer in the central nervous system. We restricted gene expression to oligodendrocytes by implementing the myelin basic protein (MBP) promoter in a rAAV vector.
    Hidden beauty of the oligodendrocyte by Pedro E Cruz
  • Made Up by Angela Skrivanek: Made Up is a non-scientific science book about the imaginary cellular composition of the human body. Directly inspired by the true cellular make-up of the human body, fourteen cells illustrate emotional triggers we all possess: Anger, Curiosity, Failure, Fear, Jealousy, Joy, Knowledge, Location, Love, the Past, Success, Talent, Trust, and Work. The cell images are vibrant multi-block and reduction linoleum prints with a diagram explaining how each cell operates. The text is playfully pseudo-scientific and presents theories about the attributes that
    Made Up by Ellen Knudson
  • Shelf Fungus by Angela Skrivanek: I was inspired to take this image after taking Forests for the Future with Dr. Jason Smith. Dr. Smith asked students to look for trees that appeared diseased around campus, take photos of them, and try to determine what condition they were afflicted with based on external signs. I discovered this tree near the UF Physical Plant Offices with what appears to be a shelf fungus from its base to the top, and likely inside the trunk too. The fungus reminded me of the beautiful rings of Saturn or small flying saucers. The tree looked healthy except on one side where it displayed these complex structures, however, it will likely succumb to its illness as there were stumps of other trees surrounding it.
    Shelf Fungus by Angela Skrivanek
  • Feline Kidney Stone by Allison O'Kell: Kidney stones are an important medical problem in people and many species of animals. This is a kidney stone from a domestic cat examined with a scanning electron microscope. Electron microscopes can be used to examine structures at extremely high magnification. The kidney stone is made of calcium oxalate, which is the most common type of mineral found in kidney stones of both cats and people. Kidney stones are formed from microscopic crystals in the urine that stick together (with the help of proteins and other molecules) to form a larger stone. This stone appears to have multiple crystals stacked together forming the jagged surface. Research is ongoing to study kidney stones in cats to see if they form in similar ways to those in people.
    Feline Kidney Stone by Allison O'Kell
  • Chromatographic Collection by Danielle Fagnani: Chemists often utilize a method termed chromatography to separate a mixture of molecules into individual components. Column chromatography is used routinely by organic chemists, in which their sample is dissolved in a solvent and passed through a long column. Each molecule will pass through the column at a different speed (depending on the size and structure of the molecule), and exit the column at different time. Imagine the molecules are racing for sport. As the compounds elute from the column (or cross the finish line of the race), they are collected in individual test tubes. Each tube will contain a different population of molecules, and a chemist can then identify which test tube contains the specific molecule they need. This image shows the compounds collected in test tubes after performing column chromatography. On this day, the third row of test tubes contained the winning compound.
    Chromatographic Collection by Danielle Fagnani
  • The Unreliable Naturalist by Megan Kean: Dodos existed in a time period in which their appearance could only be documented through drawings. However, there are so many different variations and translations through personal style that it becomes difficult to know the dodo’s true appearance. I wanted to create a collection of these varying depictions to emphasize the unreliability of sources and the eventual loss of knowledge. Even though we have dodo skeletons, any model we create around it is still a guess. By uniting the drawings through style and emphasizing the contrast, I call attention to the anatomical differences that make these primary sources unreliable. I used crosshatching and ink pen as it reminded me of old-style engravings in which most of the primary illustrations were made.
    The Unreliable Naturalist by Megan Kean
  • Swallowtail Butterfly by Derya Tansel: Florida is home to ten swallowtail butterfly varieties, more than any other state. They are easy to identify because of their strikingly large size and ability to glide long distances between wing flaps. The Polydamas swallowtail is one of only two United States swallowtails of the genus Battus. It is the only swallowtail without the tail in the United States. Photograph was taken by a Canon EOS 6D camera using EF24-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. Location: Miami, FL.
    Swallowtail Butterfly by Derya Tansel
  • Sounds of Nature by Allan Gonzalez: This was the set up for a wedding ceremony that took place at the Deering Estate in South Florida. In the background is Biscayne Bay. In the foreground, a microphone for the celebrant to guide the bride and groom through their vows. For thousands of years human beings have been drawn to these shores to mark important and beautiful moments. This spot has had human presence for at least 10,000 years. How many more weddings and ceremonies will take place here? We are deciding that every day.
    Sounds of Nature by Allan Gonzalez
  • Layout of a current mirror circuit by Gargi Beri: A manufacturable layout of a circuit designed to copy the current using 3 active devices called transistors. Transistors have played a crucial role in the development of technology ranging from children’s electronic toys to modern supercomputers. These devices are so infinitesimal that if this particular layout, if actually fabricated on a silicon wafer, will have an area less than 1/10th of that of a human hair. Versions of this circuit are present in nearly every electronic device and are commonly called as current mirror circuits. A software called Cadence has been used to create this layout.
    Layout of a current mirror circuit by Gargi Beri
  • Cellular Plant Perspective 2 by Angela Skrivanek: This image reflects the tips of a plant, as seen through a microscope in Biology II Lab. The plant samples used were very small, and not much was discernible to the naked eye save their green color, thinness, and forked top. I was fascinated, however, to discover that despite the simple exterior, the plant interior was a complex network. The rectangular shape of the individual cell walls is observed, as are some chloroplasts, and younger tissue located at the tips of the stems, which serves to increase the length of the stem so that it can capture light.
    Cellular Plant Perspective 2 by Angela Skrivanek
  • Amphiuma by Allan Gonzalez: One morning, our class put out crayfish traps along the shores of a lake. After a few hours, we checked the trap and this two-toed amphiuma (Amphiuma means) was found. These alien looking creatures are a slimy amphibian closely related to salamanders. Hiding away in the muck of lakes, these nocturnal animals are a treat to see. Here a student is holding one in a net, so it does not slip out of his hands. Ask your science teacher or a wildlife professional about them!
    Amphiuma by Allan Gonzalez
  • Scanning Electron Microscopy of Fractured Alumina by Cody Kunka, Matthew DeVries: Due to its versatility and numerous forms, aluminum oxide has many names, including ruby, sapphire, and alumina. Industry employs polycrystalline forms in applications requiring extreme resistance to abrasion, impact, and heat. To test the mechanical response of one of the first 3D-printed samples, we performed high-load indentation and imaged the fracture pattern with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We then applied a Sobel algorithm for edge detection and manually colored fragments by size (from about 1 to 5 microns). Knowing this size distribution facilitates models of deformation and offers comparison to other advanced ceramics.
    Scanning Electron Microscopy of Fractured Alumina by Cody Kunka, Matthew DeVries
  • Hydrogel Micro-architecture by Syed-Mustafa Jamal
    Hydrogel Micro-architecture by Syed-Mustafa Jamal
  • The Dreamers Guide to Mythobotany by Joshua P Hobson: This series of cyanotypes is inspired by the work of early photographer and botanist Anna Atkins. I have created a series of cyanotypes prints depicting, not real plant life, but fictional flora found in literature, cinema and mythology. This work aims to utilize aesthetics to question the authenticity of scientific images. By presenting the images using an indexical photographic process and employing the form of Linnaean taxonomy I ask the viewers to ponder the elevated status and power of photography especially in the scientific arena.
    The Dreamers Guide to Mythobotany by Joshua P Hobson
  • Cicadidae by Joshua P Hobson: This work seeks to address the conditions and attributes of photography as well as the human tendency towards the creation of taxonomies. The desire to categorize, organize and simplify is one of the common human responses to the strange, unexplained and chaotic. This impulse has come to dominate the way we deal with new phenomena. Photography has been utilized since its invention to create and expand archival systems. Pictures transform the nameless into the named, the unwieldy into the static. Inherent in the medium is an impulse to organize. The shadow boxes are made to reference entomological displays. The display is comprised of three prints (two photograms and a photograph) and represents three modes of recording and abstracting the same form. These specimens act to reference both the state of their own creation and their material characteristics. Each element focuses on a specific stage in the birth of the whole.
    Cicadidae by Joshua P Hobson
  • Forgotten Crystals by Kristen Solocinski: Often in lab, we need to quantify differences in a specific protein between two samples. In order to make sure we are seeing true differences in the protein we are interested in, we have to make sure that we start with the same amount of total protein. The BCA (bicinchoninic acid) assay is used to quantify total protein in a sample with a color change from green to purple (darker purple indicating more protein present). After doing this assay, I forgot to wash out the plate and the reagents evaporated and crystallized. This is an image of one of those crystals under a microscope. It serves as a reminder that you can find beauty in almost anything, you just have to look.
    Forgotten Crystals by Kristen Solocinski
  • First Bird Not a Bird at All by Megan Kean: Like my other works,
    First Bird Not a Bird at All by Megan Kean
  • Megischus brunneus by Jonathan Bremer: This Crown of Thorns Wasp (Megischus brunneus) is a rarely seen species from South Florida and was captured near Key Largo during a research expedition. The long ovipositor of the female is used to probe into rotting wood to lay eggs into hidden beetle larvae.
    Megischus brunneus by Jonathan Bremer
  • Pulling Away by Kristen Solocinski: A common way to test a hypothesis in labs is to do experiments in cells in a dish before doing them in animals. When the cells grow enough that they cover the entire surface area of the plate in which they are growing, they have to be thinned out or passaged. We do this using the enzyme trypsin, found in the digestive system to break down proteins in food, which breaks down the matrix the cells put down to attach to the dish. This picture shows cells under the microscope in the process of being trypsinized. They are starting to pull off of the plate but still cling together and are not fully removed yet.
    Pulling Away by Kristen Solocinski
  • Life Cycle by Joshua P Hobson: This work seeks to address the conditions and attributes of photography as well as the human tendency towards the creation of taxonomies. The desire to categorize, organize and simplify is one of the common human responses to the strange, unexplained and chaotic. This impulse has come to dominate the way we deal with new phenomena. Photography has been utilized since its invention to create and expand archival systems. Pictures transform the nameless into the named, the unwieldy into the static. Inherent in the medium is an impulse to organize. Using origami forms of insects I created a series of photographs and photograms. To provide structure and form to my process, I used natural systems such as life/death, metamorphosis and diurnal/nocturnal as guides. I then translated these models into structures for photographic production that dictate the number of total images, the positioning of origami forms and the duration of exposures.
    Life Cycle by Joshua P Hobson
  • Anhinga by Derya Tansel: The anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), also known as snakebird, darter, American darter, or water turkey, is a water bird. It swims with only its head above the water. Unlike most birds, it does not produce oil to waterproof its feathers, which allows the bird to dive deep for prey but requires the bird to spread its wings to dry out after diving. You can often spot the anhinga perched on a branch with wings outstretched, drying its feathers. The fact that their feathers are less water resistant than other birds helps them to swim underwater, where they often spear fish with their long neck and sharp beak. Mating generally occurs in February with egg-laying occurring throughout the spring and early summer. Nests are built in shoreline trees 15 to 20 feet high. Photograph was taken by a Canon EOS 6D camera using EF24-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. Location: Wakodahatchee Wetlands, FL.
    Anhinga by Derya Tansel
  • Entangled by Kristen Solocinski: Over the past few years in graduate school, I have spent a lot of time studying the kidney and the functional unit of the kidney, the nephron. The kidney is the organ responsible for the filtration of blood and maintenance of fluid and ion homeostasis. Each human kidney has about 1 million nephrons and each of these nephrons has a glomerulus. The glomerulus looks like a tangled ball of yarn and is actually made of many loops of tiny capillaries. It is here that blood is first filtered and the filtrate moves along the rest of the nephron tubule where it ultimately becomes urine. I have taken a bit of artistic license with this picture, depicting kidneys, nephrons and blood vessels all intertwined and connected.
    Entangled by Kristen Solocinski
  • Sluggish Steward by Conor MacDonnell: Pictured is the Elimia snail, considered an
    Sluggish Steward by Conor MacDonnell
  • False colour SEM image of polystyrene nanowires lurking under the cracked anodized aluminum oxide thin film by Sarathy Kannan Gopalakrishnan: Anodized Aluminum oxide (AAO) is a porous material with self-organized, ordered array of pores arranged in honey comb like structure. Due to capillary action, the polystyrene coated under the AAO template, rose and dried inside the pores(the black dots) to form nanowires(the red wires).
    False colour SEM image of polystyrene nanowires lurking under the cracked anodized aluminum oxide thin film by Sarathy Kannan Gopalakrishnan
  • Gator Migration (aka student flow) by Tim Young: Sankey diagrams provide a visual representation of the flow of items through a set of processes or steps with the size of the connections being proportional to the number of items. The image represents an entering class of freshman through the course of their undergraduate academic career at the University of Florida. Each step or column represents consecutive fall and spring semesters. Colors represent specific colleges, with student who receive a college degree represented in a lighter shade than the college. We use these diagrams to help us understand the movement of students across colleges as they make academic progress.
    Gator Migration (aka student flow) by Tim Young
  • Monarch Boards by Samm Wehman Epstein: As a scientist and an artist, I enjoy combining my two passions together through my art. Monarch butterflies are one of my favorite species, and they're so beautiful and charismatic that they grasp the attention of those that may not otherwise bat an eye or show concern for insects in general. Monarchs are important bioindicators of environmental health, and will often draw the attention and concern of the public to larger global issues (such as global warming, climate change, habitat loss and pesticide use). Monarchs make an astounding migration where one individual in the eastern population can travel over 4 thousand miles to Mexico in the spring and back into the continental US to breed in the spring. I have spent several years working with monarch conservation; tagging them, counting them, rearing them, counting and surveying milkweed, doing pesticide trials and even visiting migrating monarchs in their overwintering grounds in Mexico. The more I work with them the more it solidifies my passion for them in my art where I love to bring their beauty to life on re-purposed wood and other materials that people throw away. Upcycling helps the environment and prevents materials from going into landfills, tying back into the bigger environmental issues of which monarchs make us more aware. The attached images are of several of my
    Monarch Boards by Samm Wehman Epstein
  • Austin Cary Forest Layers by Angela Skrivanek: This image was taken in the Austin Cary Forest, owned by the University of Florida, while on a Forests for the Future class field trip. This land covers many acres and provides a great way to demonstrate forest management practices to students. This image shows the many layers of a forest from the Canopy and Understory, to the Forest Floor. Here, one observes grasses, fan palms, as well as towering Pine trees. Closer examination of the lower portion of the Pines reflects a controlled burn, a management technique used to restore ecosystem health and provide areas for new growth.
    Austin Cary Forest Layers by Angela Skrivanek
  • Danaus Plexipus by Joshua P Hobson: This work seeks to address the conditions and attributes of photography as well as the human tendency towards the creation of taxonomies. The desire to categorize, organize and simplify is one of the common human responses to the strange, unexplained and chaotic. This impulse has come to dominate the way we deal with new phenomena. Photography has been utilized since its invention to create and expand archival systems. Pictures transform the nameless into the named, the unwieldy into the static. Inherent in the medium is an impulse to organize. The shadow boxes are made to reference entomological displays. The display is comprised of three prints (two photograms and a photograph) and represents three modes of recording and abstracting the same form. These “specimens” act to reference both the state of their own creation and their material characteristics. Each element focuses on a specific stage in the birth of the whole.
    Danaus Plexipus by Joshua P Hobson
  • Diurnal/Nocturnal by Joshua P Hobson: This work seeks to address the conditions and attributes of photography as well as the human tendency towards the creation of taxonomies. The desire to categorize, organize and simplify is one of the common human responses to the strange, unexplained and chaotic. This impulse has come to dominate the way we deal with new phenomena. Photography has been utilized since its invention to create and expand archival systems. Pictures transform the nameless into the named, the unwieldy into the static. Inherent in the medium is an impulse to organize. Using origami forms of insects I created a series of photographs and photograms. To provide structure and form to my process, I used natural systems such as life/death, metamorphosis and diurnal/nocturnal as guides. I then translated these models into structures for photographic production that dictate the number of total images, the positioning of origami forms and the duration of exposures.
    Diurnal/Nocturnal by Joshua P Hobson
  • Falling into Water by Kim Backer-Kelley: The image shows surface tension of water. When a object is dropped in a bowl of water there is a displacement of water. So a splash happens. Then the water comes back to reclaims it space that the object took.
    Falling into Water by Kim Backer-Kelley
  • V. Antipothe's Medica Botanicum by Megan Kean: This work is a handmade field guide book of original specimen drawings and captions. It combines Naturalist-era observation, Medieval medical remedies, and false information to highlight the problems with institutional and representational authorities. Both kinds of intellectuals were convinced that they were right, but both had serious flaws. I am similarly challenging viewers to see if they accept the book as fact because of the scientific language despite the strange descriptions. The harmfulness of the plants highlights this; it makes the risks of using this misguided knowledge more prominent.
    V. Antipothe's Medica Botanicum by Megan Kean
  • Skin deep by Deepa Danan: This is a marker drawing highlighting the muscular anatomy of the neck. As a head and neck surgeon, I see patients with benign and malignant tumors of the mouth, throat, voicebox, face, and neck. When evaluating patients, we have to look beneath the surface to understand exactly where the problem lies and how we can remove the pathology without damaging the surrounding structures which are vital to our daily functions of speech, swallow, and breathing, as well as appearance. We have to be able to see both the problem and the person at the same time, while understanding the delicate balance between form and function.
    Skin deep by Deepa Danan
  • Friends and Fieldwork by Allan Gonzalez: In the Kissimmee prairie, this scientist is observing a grass. Data was taken on the grass to see what stage it is in of its annual cycle and its health. This allows people to understand when plants are flowering, and how flowering time changes throughout many years. This is one of the ways we can document as climate changes over time. Field work is difficult and incredibly rewarding. My favorite way to take data is with friends.
    Friends and Fieldwork by Allan Gonzalez

 

Six videos were also submitted to the contest this year.

The top score was received by Scott Cinel’s video “Slow-Motion spider”:

 

Video “Introduction to Ecosystem Services” by Conor MacDonnell

 

Video “Traveling Water” by Young GuHer

 

Video “Making Hope and 3D Printing Change” by Shannon Butts

 

Video “C. Elegans See Pieter Bruegel, or Problems of Mystic Positivism Movements I. – III.” by Aaron “Ernie” Williams-Roby (can be viewed at vimeo.com/189673925)

Video “realiti . exe” by Ashley Browne, Liz Herold, Brianna Piedra (can be viewed at vimeo.com/251239334)