Person standing in front of sunrise with camera. Image: MinhHue/Shutterstock
The inaugural Wiki Science competition in Ireland has returned six of the country’s best sci-tech photographs for 2017.
Taking place across November this year, the Wiki Science photography competition has come to Ireland for the first time with help from Wikimedia Community Ireland, the national chapter of volunteers that supports and promotes Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.
In its inaugural year in Ireland, the aim of the Wiki Science competition was to raise awareness of science, scientists and their research by creating a store of quality images taken by members of the public, which are free to use in education and outreach.
Now, the results are in across the five main categories: people in science, microscopy images, non-photographic media, image sets and general. In addition, a final special category was created for photos to feature a woman working in science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM).
Speaking of the winning entries, Wikimedia Community Ireland’s Rebecca O’Neill said: “This is Ireland’s first time taking part in Wiki Science, and we have been overwhelmed by the interest and excitement around science and scientists in Ireland.
“In particular, we wanted to improve the representation of women in STEM, as we in Wikimedia Community Ireland believe in the importance of representation in the sciences.”
The winners are listed below.
General: Raining Red Blood Cells – Karen Slattery
The peculiar contrast between the red blood cells from a cancer patients (left) and a healthy donor (right). Image: Karen Slattery (CC BY 4.0)
Image sets: Warhol’s Neuron – Enricobagnoli
Montage of an image of neurons, captured using a confocal microscope. Neurons and nuclei shown. Image: Enricobagnoli (CC BY 4.0)
Microscopy images: Germanium Telluride Nanowires – Fionán
A scanning electron microscopy image showing the growth of a series of nanowires of germanium telluride from the side of a silicon wafer. These nanowires were grown using a chemical vapour deposition method. Image: Fionán (CC BY 4.0)
Non-photographic media: Lightning 1 – Dwmalone
This shows 10 seconds of long-wave radio spectrum as recorded in Dublin before, during and after a lightning strike. Image: Dwmalone (CC BY 4.0)
People in science: The fire within her – Scohen2017
A second-year student conducts an experiment in which they can hold a ball of fire in their hands due to methane bubbles. The student dips their hands in cold water, which acts as a barrier to the heat generated by the combustion of the methane bubbles. Image: Scohen2017 (CC BY 4.0)
Women in STEM: Every Day I’m Culturing – Zcsharp
PhD student Hajrah Khawaja is currently working in the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology in Belfast. Zcsharp (CC BY 4.0)
Person standing in front of sunrise with camera. Image: MinhHue/Shutterstock
