Micrograph Contest

The fields of research covered by this conference are at the forefront of the drive to develop technology to make smaller and smaller structures. We have ventured into size regimes where we are often dependent on microscopes and the skill of microscopists to see the results of our work (and often what went wrong).

To highlight the importance of micrographs to the field, the conference holds a micrograph contest every year. Submissions are sought from our community, and can be generated in the course of doing research, but can be submitted purely for their beauty or ability to excite curiosity, and need not be related to any paper or topic presented at the conference.

The entries will be judged both from a technological and artistic point of view.

A panel of judges will disqualify any entry that it believes has not conformed to the rules and will select the winners. Awards will be announced at the Thursday Night Banquet. There are six categories:

  • Grand Prize
  • Most Bizarre
  • Best Electron Micrograph
  • Best Ion Micrograph
  • Best Photon Micrograph
  • Best Scanning Probe Micrograph
  • 3-Beamers Choice Award (voted on by EIPBN attendees)

The Micrograph Contest is sponsored by zyvex-small


Submission Criteria

The 26th EIPBN Bizarre/Beautiful Micrograph Contest is now open to entries.

The rules include the following:

  • Entries have to be of a single image taken with a microscope and should not be significantly altered.
  • There is no restriction with respect to the subject matter.
  • Electron and ion micrographs have to be black and white.

For submission procedures and rules, click here.


Download Templates

Entry Form: EIPBN-2021-ugraph-Form

PPT Template: uGraph-template-EIPBN-2021

PDF Example: uGraph-example-EIPBN-2021


2019 Micrograph Contest

  • Grand Prize
    Grand Prize - Maha Yusuf, Stanford University

2018 Micrograph Contest

  • Grand Prize - Greg Hollowa, Quantum NanoFab, University of Waterloo

2017 Micrograph Contest

  • Grand Prize - Dale Hensley, Oak Ridge National Lab

2016 Micrograph Contest

  • Grand Prize - Devin Brown, Georgia Tech

2015 Micrograph Contest

  • Grand Prize - Kyle Jacobs, University of Illinois

2014 Micrograph Contest

  • Grand Prize - Robert Kirchner

2013 Micrograph Contest

  • Best Electron Micrograph

Previous Winners

For more details on the Micrograph Contest, including a chance to see some of the beautiful works submitted in past years, click here.