The University of Chicago has revealed the winners of the "Science as Art" competition for 2025. This event celebrates images that capture innovative scientific research from the UChicago community.
Participants in the contest included undergraduates, graduate students, staff, alumni, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty. They submitted images of a wide array of scientific topics—from telescopes to trilobites—each illustrating a unique perspective on knowledge and intellectual exploration.
The grand prize went to graduate student Jui-Chun Freya Chen for her piece, "Anemometer in the High Arctic." Chen explained, “In the summer of 2024, to witness firsthand the changing conditions of the High Arctic, we deployed a series of scientific instruments on the Milne Ice Shelf, a semi-floating expanse of ice in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada. Among them, an anemometer stood as a silent sentinel, measuring the winds that swept across this fragile landscape." She added that their work in this environment, although small on the grand scale of nature, is vital in understanding climate change.
Second place was awarded to graduate student Will Burke for "Rhapsody in Tin." Burke is involved in developing quantum technologies, specifically qubits, the basic elements of quantum computers. He described his image: “In this microscope image, you can see it forms these kaleidoscopic, almost snowflake-like patterns.”
The audience favorite, selected via social media, was "Cellular Vision" by graduate student Krystyna Tesak. Tesak's work focuses on cancer cell metastasis. She noted, “This detailed visualization is part of an investigation into how cytoskeletal properties drive the invasiveness of cancer cells.”
Two artworks received honorable mentions: "Arabidopsis Roots Floating in Zero Gravity" by research analyst Laura Guillard-Gerard, and "My day one" by research specialist Chris Anto and graduate student Emily Hendricks. Guillard-Gerard investigates how leaves and roots regulate genes under varying hormonal conditions, using custom 3-D printed parts for hydroponics. Anto and Hendricks study the processes by which organisms develop complex organs.
The winning entries will be showcased on campus throughout the next year.