Bristol University has been holding an Art of Science competition for several years and this year (2013) it managed to attract over 60 entries according to a Dec. 16, 2013 news item on Azonano announcing the winners,
From a heart-shaped cell nucleus to a 3D molecular syringe, creative scientists at the University of Bristol have revealed the beauty found in complex and technical research.
The University of Bristol’s annual Art of Science Competition challenged researchers to look for aesthetic beauty in their laboratories to help make their work more accessible to the public.
There were over 63 entries this year, capturing a range of intriguing and eye-catching subjects from slices of live brain tissue, a DNA helix made from DNA and a microscopic fluorescent image of a fruitfly’s circulatory system.
The University of Bristol Dec.13, 2013 press release, which originated the news item, goes on to describe plans for the winning entries and provides more detail about two of them,
The 12 winning shots will be on display in the At-Bristol cafe from the end of January and are currently being made into a 2014 calendar.
Among the winners was Rachel Curnock, from the School of Biochemistry, who captured a striking image of a HeLa cell – an immortal cell line used in scientific research – which had an unusual heart-shaped nucleus.
Another intriguing entry was from Martin Cheung, in the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, who used electron microscopy to reconstruct a molecular syringe that many pathogenic bacteria use to cause disease.
Here are the two highlighted entries. First this,
‘My Heart Will Go On’, by Rachel Curnock. Courtesy Bristol University
Then there’s this,
‘Staring Down the Barrel of a Gun’, by Martin Cheung. Courtesy Bristol University
The press release does not mention how one might order a 2014 calendar but the Art of Science Competition webpage (hosted by the university’s Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences) fills that gap,
Art of Science calendars are available at £7.50 each. Please e-mail either Becky Brooks (becky.brooks@bristol.ac.uk) or Dylan Burgen (djm.bergen@bristol.ac.uk) for more information.
For anyone who can attend the exhibition of the winning entries in Bristol, I’ve found a bit more information about the venue At-Bristol and about the café. First, there’s this from the At-Bristol homepage,
Bringing science to life!
With hundreds of hands-on exhibits to explore, live shows and a Planetarium, At-Bristol is one of the UK’s biggest and most exciting interactive science centres.
There’s more about the Café on this page,
We offer a wide range of Fairtrade products including teas, hot chocolate, smoothies and chocolate, and homemade cakes, for that special afternoon treat! All our eggs are free range and we only use organic flour, oats, pasta and West Country milk.
Our new and improved children’s soft play area is perfect for the little ones while you relax with a cup of tea or coffee. We have an extensive children’s’ menu with free bottle warming facilities and high chairs available.
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Opening times:
The café is open every day except 24, 25 and 26 December:
- 10am-6pm on weekends, bank holidays and daily during Bristol school holidays
- 10am-5pm on weekdays (Bristol schools term-time only)
Have a good time either viewing the exhibit or the calendar.