Johnian wins award in EPSRC Science Photography Competition 2015

St John’s student Katarzyna Sokol has been awarded second place in her group in the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Science Photography Competition 2015.

Katarzyna Sokol, in her second year of a PhD in Chemistry, won second place in the Equipment category in the EPSRC Science Photography Competition, an event for all EPSRC-supported researchers and EPSRC-supported doctoral students to share their research using images. The EPSRC has been hosting the photography competition for three years, and this year’s competition received over 200 entries. Prizes are awarded for images demonstrating research in action over five categories – Eureka, Equipment, People, Innovation, and Weird and Wonderful.

Katarzyna’s award-winning photograph is entitled Dark field light microscopy picture of a 40 nm thick electrodeposited TiO2 layer. “I wouldn’t have won this prize if it wasn’t for the help and support of my great colleagues from Dr Erwin Reisner’s research group,” said Katarzyna, a former Environmental Officer on St John’s SBR Committee. “We chose an image captured by dark field microscopy to emphasise the importance of our research, focused on developing functional materials and systems for the generation of sustainable fuels, such as hydrogen. Using nanostructured photoactive materials such as titanium dioxide may allow researchers to harness sunlight to drive the water splitting reactions to produce the desirable hydrogen, which can then be stored as fuel. This process is carbon-free and comes from an inexhaustible resource. Using dark field microscopy brings better insights into the functional materials and allows us to improve on the system.

“I am grateful to have won the second prize in the Equipment category. It came as a surprise taking into account how many great entries were submitted. The money and photography equipment won will be used for future outreach activities.”

The judges for the competition were Martin Keene, Group Picture Editor for the Press Association, Professor Robert Winston, Professor of Science and Society and Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College London, and Professor Philip Nelson, EPSRC’s Chief Executive.

“It is crucial to promote greater understanding of science and engineering research, the role it plays in making new discoveries, developing new technologies and in making the world a better place for us all,” Professor Winston said. “These are truly inspirational images and tell great stories. It was a real pleasure to take part as a judge and I hope people will want to find out more.”

Professor Nelson said, “Yet again, the standard of entries into this year’s competition shows the inquisitive, artistic and perceptive nature of the people EPSRC supports. I’d like to thank everyone who entered; you made judging a very hard but enjoyable task. This competition helps us engage with academics and these stunning images are a great way to connect the general public with research they fund, and inspire everyone to take an interest in science and engineering.”

First place in the competition was awarded to Mrs Diana Prado Lopes Aude Craik and Norbert Linke from the University of Oxford with the image Microwave ion-trap chip for quantum computation. 

For more information about the EPSRC Photography Competition, visit: https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2015photocomp/