14 October 2010
'Small World' acclaim for Dundee researcher
A microscopic images of cells dividing, captured by Dr Paul Andrews at the University of Dundee, has been named one of the 20 winners of the 2010 Nikon International Small World Photomicrography Competition.
Dr Andrews' image, HeLa Cells Dividing', won 11th prize in this international competition between the world's best photo-micrographers involved in critical scientific research into life sciences, bio-research and materials science. Small World is regarded as the leading forum for showcasing the beauty and complexity of life as seen through the light microscope.
Dr Andrews is Senior Scientist in the Drug Discovery Unit within the College of Life Sciences at Dundee. He has spent years producing aesthetically-refined scientific images that capture the imagination. He is also interested in promoting photo-micrography within life sciences and co-ordinated the 2009 Visions of Discovery image competition, showcasing medical research at the University of Dundee. He is the joint holder of the 2010 Brian Cox Award for Public Engagement.
The image featured in the Small World competition captures a stage of the cell division process called cytokinesis, where cells move apart and split to become two separate entities. In the image the cells’ internal components are revealed using dyes and fluorescent molecular tags. So, for example, the DNA has been detected using a blue fluorescence dye but using computer software it has been coloured white, so that the other three colours can be shown in this RGB image. Part of the mechanical skeleton of the cell (microtubules) is shown in red and other important signaling proteins Dr Andrews was studying are shown in green and blue.
'This image was taken in the course of a study on cells I had made in which a green fluorescent version of a critical signaling protein called Aurora B protein kinase was expressed," said Dr Andrews. "Understanding the dynamic localisation of this protein is important to understand its function, which is needed for accurate chromosome segregation and is closely linked to cancer. Drugs designed to inhibit this enzyme are in clinical trials.'
When asked if he considers himself an artist in addition to a scientist, Dr Andrews said, 'I would like to think I had a visual flare or inclination, but wouldn't dare to assume the title of artist! I have, however, collaborated with several artists who work in 3D visualisation and also old-fashioned print making, which was very interesting.'
The Nikon International Small World Competition first began in 1974 as a means to recognize and applaud the efforts of those involved with photography through the light microscope. Since then, Small World has become a leading showcase for photo-micrographers from the widest array of scientific disciplines.
The two main criteria for the competition are a photomicrograph that is both:
- a technical document that can be of great significance to science or industry, and
- an image whose structure, color, composition, and content is an object of beauty, open to several levels of comprehension and appreciation.
Truly international in scope, entries for the competition have been received from the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Latin America, Asia, and Africa across a broad range of subject matter from all types of light microscopy technique including: phase contrast, polarized light, fluorescence, interference contrast, darkfield, confocal, deconvolution, and mixed techniques.
Entries are judged by an independent panel of experts who are recognized authorities in the area of photomicrography and photography. The Judges for the 2010 contest were Jeremy Kaplan (Science & Technology Editor, FoxNews.com), Betsy Mason (Science Editor, Wired.com), Alison North (Director of the Bio-Imaging Resource Center and Assistant Professor, Rockefeller University) and Shirley Owens (Retired Confocal Lab Director at the Center for Advanced Microscopy, Michigan State University).
Paul’s prize-winning image and those of the other competition winners can be viewed at www.nikonsmallworld.com.
More information on Paul’s scientific images, photography and design work can be found at www.pdandrews.org.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
