On March 21st, INEM celebrated the inaugural Scientific Photo Contest awards ceremony, an event that showcased the researchers' skills in unveiling the intricate and beautiful layers of their work.

The contest, open to all members of the INEM research community, including Ph.D. students, postdocs, and engineers, featured microscopic images that were far more than mere snapshots. These were glimpses into the unknown, captured within the realm of their investigations. Displayed in INEM's entrance hall prior to the awards ceremony, these images provided a rare opportunity to appreciate the often unseen elegance of scientific exploration.

A distinguished jury comprising Nicolas Goudin, Damien Conrozier, and Meriem Garfa-Traoré reviewed the entries. Additionally, INEM and SFR Necker staff had the chance to vote, bringing together technical expertise and a collective voice to honor the standout submissions.

Winners of the Contest 

The judges awarded the following prizes:

1st Prize: Pablo Vargas received top spot for his "Leukocyte migration in three dimensions," a dynamic portrayal of immune cells in action.

2nd Prize: Maeva Eloudzeri for "Human renal graft biopsy," a detailed microscope view of a medical process.

3rd Prize: Mathilde Bernard for "Geode," noted for its crystal structure.

Public votes also favored Pablo Vargas, awarding him the top public prize for the same work.

2nd Prize: Emmanuelle Enée for "Stained mouse hippocampus," exploring brain structures.

3rd Prize (tie): Carla Alemany and Audrey Laurent for "Kidney epithelial cells under fluid flow" and "Membrane deformation of fixed cells", respectively, both illustrating the nuanced physical impacts on cellular structures.

The contest not only showcased INEM's scientific work but also underscored the critical role of imaging in understanding complex biological systems.

Kudos to all winners! We eagerly anticipate next year's 2nd edition of INEM's Scientific Photo Contest.