Under the Coverslip (UTC) is an annual student-run scientific imaging competition presented by the Postgraduate Students of Anatomy Society and the Department of Anatomy and Physiology.
- Background
The competition began within the Department of Anatomy and Physiology as an informal exhibition of interesting images taken by students throughout their research. Over the years, it has grown in size to include entries from all research students in any Australian university or research institute.
- Competition Purpose
The images presented in this event are intended to not only be aesthetically pleasing but to engage with the public and inform them of the ground breaking scientific research being conducted within the Parkville Precinct and throughout Victoria. By presenting scientific data in this informal manner, we hope to not only celebrate our work as scientists but spark interest and debate in scientific methods and breakthroughs from the larger non-scientific community.
- The Award Ceremony
Given the current times, this year’s competition will be held in a different format. Image entries will be exhibited prior to the awards ceremony through an online gallery, open from Friday October 23rd, to all contestants and the general public. The awards ceremony will be held from 4 till 5 pm on Thursday 29th October via a webinar. The links for both the online gallery and webinar, will soon be available. The ceremony will commence with a panel discussion featuring some experts from the University of Melbourne, including Jenny Wilkinson-Berka (Head of School of Biomedical Sciences), Rohan Long (Curator of Harry Brookes Allen Museum of Anatomy and Pathology) and Rose Hiscock (Director of Museums and Collections), after which the prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places along with Best Title, People's Choice and Best 3D video/model, will be announced.
- Competition Rules
- Entries are open to all Postgraduate, Masters and Honours students only
- All types of microscopy and scientifically generated images may be entered
- Maximum two entries per contestant
- Submissions may have been taken in previous years, though must not have been submitted to a previous competition
- No modifications to images allowed except for false colouring (e.g. turning green to red or blue to pink), cropping and adjusting gain
- No metadata (scale bars, text etc) on the image
- Creative titles are encouraged (we are trying to engage the public and scientists from different fields, and you can win a prize!). Include a brief layman’s description of the image, its importance and how the image was captured (~100 words)
Note:
1. Entries must be submitted via the online form. The deadline for submissions is October 23rd2. Under the Coverslip is a game of skill. Entries will be judged by a panel of judges to award prizes for Best video/3D image, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. People’s choice and Best Title are won by popular vote from people viewing the online event. Organiser’s Choice is judged by the SONA committee3. By submitting images to Under the Coverslip, you give permission for SONA to share, print and distribute them4. Winners’ names, winning microscopic images, and institution of study will be announced at the online event, shared on SONA’s social media channels, potentially published in Farrago and Cosmos magazine and shared in an email following the event to people in the Department of Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Melbourne5. The prizes for 2020 are as follows:
First Prize - Olympus Camera & $300
Second Prize - $400
Third Prize - $300
People's Choice - $100
Best Title - $100
Best video/3D image (*NEW CATEGORY) - $100 - Submit Your Entry
Please submit your entries here.
Submissions close Friday 16th October 2020.
Past prize-winning entries
-
2020 People's choice award: Portrait of a stem cell scientist by Jemima James, The Florey Institute -
2020 2nd prize: Goldilocks by Michael Dixon, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne -
2020 Best title: Pineapple fritter or golden gaytime? by Georga Bruechert, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne -
2020 People's choice award: A Sticky Situation by Anita Leembruggen, Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne -
2020 3rd prize: Molecular Dimple by Zakir Hussain, RMIT University -
2020 1st Prize: Seed of Origin by Sukanya Varape, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne