Anything but Mundane: The awards that capture the extraordinary side of science
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Harsh study explores: Bioluminescent frogs and frigid isolation - Uncovering the Extreme: Bioluminescent Frogs and Frostbitten Solitude
Who doesn't love a good science shenanigan? Well, the scientific magazine "Nature" has got you covered with their annual "Scientist At Work" photo contest. This year, six lucky shots won over the jury's hearts, each showcasing the researchers themselves amidst their peculiar and breathtaking subjects.
Winning Streak
Audun Rikardsen, a biologist, seals the deal with an immersive image capturing him installing whale transmitters in a chilly Norwegian fjord. Emma Vogel, hailing from the University of Tromsø, took the snap, and it's all about the details – the mouth-watering whale breath, the bone-chilling cold, and even a sneaky orca lurking in the background.
Holding tiny frogs that emit their signature glow when bathed in black light might sound like the beginning of a superhero film, but it's all part of the job for Kate Belleville, a researcher at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Her photograph paints a picture of the harsh reality faced by these amphibians worldwide – a sinister fungus that's been decimating them for years – and how we fight back with a touch of science magic.
Auroras Dance and Cleaning Duty
Aman Chokshi's winning image is a captivating dance of lights at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. He and his colleague would brave the frosty one-kilometer trek to clear snow from the giant telescope, all in the name of science.
Biologists James Bradley and Catherine Larose plunge into the icy waters of the Norwegian archipelago of Spitzbergen for their ice-drilling mission, somehow managing to seem calm among the frostbite-inducing cold. Meanwhile, a team lead by Lionel Favre etches out a detailed picture of clouds while enduring foggy conditions on Mount Helmos, Greece.
The Lonely Scientist
Hao-Cheng Yu's picture of himself entering a hut under the starry sky of eastern Siberia might depict the solitude often associated with science research. There's no network, just him and the rocks, his studies focusing on the geological profiles found in areas with gold deposits.
- Photo Contest
- Solitude
- London
- Whales
- Auroras
- Ice Drilling
- Frogs
- Siberia
- The "Scientist At Work" photo contest by Nature magazine is a celebration of the extraordinary aspects of science, showcasing researchers in unique and breathtaking settings like London, Siberia, and the icy waters of the Norwegian archipelago of Spitzbergen.
- In buildings submerged within the serene beauty of eastern Siberia, Hao-Cheng Yu, a scientist focusing on geological profiles found in areas with gold deposits, can often be found enduring solitude, just him and the rocks, as detailed in the "Scientist At Work" photo contest.
- Going beyond health-and-wellness, technological advancements in environmental-science and fitness-and-exercise have led to the development of vocational training programs, equipping individuals with the skills needed to contribute to the conservation efforts of endangered species like whales and amphibians, as exemplified by researchers such as Audun Rikardsen and Kate Belleville.
