NanoInFocus

NanoInFocus is a joint image contest held by the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), the NSF-funded UC San Diego Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (UCSD MRSEC), and the American Chemical Society (ACS) in celebration of National Nanotechnology Day and National Chemistry Week. The contest invites U.S.-based individuals and research teams to submit images representing structures or materials at the nanoscale created during their research activities.

Submissions must be micrographs (digital images captured through a microscope such as a scanning electron microscope or atomic force microscope) and must include a scale bar with tick marks representing 1 micron or smaller. Images can include false colors but no other manipulation is permitted. Images must be no more than 5 years old and include a short description (no more than 1000 characters) explaining the research and importance of working at fundamental length scales. A maximum of one entry per individual or team is permitted. Accepted file types are JPEG/JPG with file dimensions of 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side and file size under 5 MB. Participants under 18 years old must submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian.

A jury of experts will select images based on aesthetics, scientific motivation, and effectiveness at telling a compelling story about nanoscale research. The selected images will be made available on the NNI's website for public voting to determine winners. The top three winning images will receive prizes of up to $1,000. Winning images may be featured in the NNI Supplement to the President's Budget and in Chemical & Engineering News. The submission period runs from August 28, 2024 through September 25, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time. Jury down-selection occurs September 26 through October 4, public voting opens October 9, 2024, and winners are announced October 24, 2024.