Image capturing research on safer air travel wins pioneering competition

A striking microscope image of a salt grain, 2mm across, captured during research on making jet engines safer, has beaten over 100 entries to win Swansea University’s 2012 Research as Art competition.

Over 100 images inspired by research or that inspire research were submitted. The overall winner announced last month by University Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Noel Thompson, was entitled “Sal Cristallum” and submitted by Hollie Rosier, a postgraduate student in the materials engineering department.

“The grain is a mixture of sodium sulphate and sodium chloride. I just came across it when I was using the microscope. I took a couple of pictures and this was the most striking one, because of the contrast between black and white. I’m delighted and honoured to have won the competition.”

Dr Richard Johnston, a lecturer in the college of engineering and the competition organiser added that conditions of entry must place emphasis on the research story, in addition to the striking image.

“Hollie’s informative and engaging text conveys the challenging nature of the research, while the striking image brings out the beauty of what is an extreme and harsh environment for a material.
Images and stimulating abstracts are a great way of showing the public the wonder of research that goes on in our University. It’s an opportunity for researchers to engage, inform, and inspire people. Researchers have a responsibility to make their research accessible…and the thirst from the public is certainly there!”

The event was organised by Swansea University Research Forum, and supported by the Bridging the Gaps programme.

The winning entries can be seen on
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swanseauniversity/sets/72157630208213038/