Science as Art Competition

Scientific images have always had an intriguing appeal to human imagination and creativity that transcend their role as a medium for presenting scientific information. Images of nanoscale structures and processes prove no exception. Artists have used scientific images as sources of inspiration, while scientists, consciously or not, often rely on aesthetic criteria for constructing vitalization methods and fine-tuning images. Some organizations, such as the Materials Research Society (MRS), actively promote communication between science and art in nanotechnology.

The MRS has conducted the Science as Art Competition since 2005. The competition includes scientific images submitted by registered attendees to the meetings of MRS. Even though MRS emphasizes the aesthetic qualities that may transform scientific images into objects of beauty and art, all submissions must have some connection to material science. Those who wish to enter the competition can do so using only one image. The image should somehow complement the science component of the meeting. Any material imaging technique can be used. The images submitted can also be the result of modeling and simulation, or can be obtained by combining several images into one.

In 2005 and 2006, the Science as Art Competition was an annual event held in relation to the spring meeting of the MRS. Since 2007, the competition has been part of the society's spring and fall meetings. The competitions contain more than one level of judging and awarding. At the first 2005 competition, there were three sets of judges: the [Page 699]meeting chairs, a panel of symposium organizers, and all attendees. Three $400 awards were presented to the winning entries. Since 2006, there have been first and second prizes with three selections for each prize and each entry eligible for one prize. In 2007, the levels of judging were reduced to just two: the meeting chairs and all attendees. In 2008 and 2009, the meeting chairs performed a pre-meeting selection of finalists from all submissions.

A selection of images, mostly award winners, is available on the home page of the MRS. Most of these images are characterized by their similarity with familiar imagery, such as trees, flowers, landscapes, explosions, teddy bears, etc. Some are more abstract, and a few distinguish themselves by referring directly to art such as Chinese painting and Pop Art. Most of the images appear in brightly saturated colors. As in any image of nanoscale structures and processes, the palette of possible colors is only limited by the imaging software utilized, frequently Adobe® Photoshop®. Clearly, the choice of color, hue, intensity, and many more imaging parameters involves creative, even artistic decisions. In science, such choices seem to be poorly informed by aesthetics considerations. They are primarily made with regard to the most effective communication of information within the scientific community. The Science as Art Competition challenges scientists to become more reflective in their criteria of enhancing images.