Images of specimens entered into the 2006 Small World contest included insects, recrystallized chemicals and biochemicals, fluorescently labeled tissue sections, insects, plants, various microorganisms, liquid crystals, and fibers. Judges for the 32nd annual contest were Sir Harold W. Kroto (Florida State University), Cristina Scalet (Time Magazine), Vladimir I. Gelfand (Northwestern University), and J. D. Talasek (National Academy of Sciences).

2006 Contest Prize Winners

  • First Prize

    1st Prize - Dr. Paul L. Appleton

    Division of Cell and Developmental Biology - University of Dundee - Dundee, UK
    Specimen: Mouse colon (740x)
    Technique: 2-Photon

  • Second Prize

    2nd Prize - Raul M. Gonzalez

    Raul Gonzalez Estudio - Mexico City, Mexico
    Specimen: Nostoc cyanobacteria and diploneis diatom (100x)
    Technique: Brightfield

  • Third Prize

    3rd Prize - Jens Rüchel

    Department of Zoology - University of Osnabrück - Osnabrück, Germany
    Specimen: Spirorbis sp. (aquatic worm) (10x)
    Technique: Confocal

  • Fourth Prize

    4th Prize - Charles J. Kazilek

    The Paper Project / W. M. Keck Bioimaging Laboratory - Arizona State University - Tempe, Arizona, USA
    Specimen: Lomandra longifolia (Spiny-head mat rush) (100x)
    Technique: Confocal (3-laser)

  • Fifth Prize

    5th Prize - Dr. Heiti Paves

    Tallinn University of Technology - Tallinn, Estonia
    Specimen: Transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana (tobacco) (10x)
    Technique: Fluorescence

  • Sixth Prize

    6th Prize - Thomas J. Deerinck

    National Center for Microscopy & Imaging Research - University of California - San Diego - La Jolla, California, USA
    Specimen: Rat retina astrocytes and blood vessels (160x)
    Technique: Fluorescence and Confocal

  • Seventh Prize

    7th Prize - Viktor Sykora

    Institute of Pathophysiology - Charles University - Prague, Czech Republic
    Specimen: Seed of a Clematis vitalba shrub (a.k.a. Traveller's Joy) (2x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy

  • Eighth Prize

    8th Prize - Dr. Carlos A. Munoz

    Department of Biology - University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus - Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
    Specimen: Green algae (60x
    Technique: Confocal

  • Ninth Prize

    9th Prize - Charles B. Krebs

    Charles Krebs Photography - Issaquah, Washington, USA
    Specimen: Wing scales of a Urania ripheus (Sunset Moth) (6.25x)
    Technique: Reflected light

  • Tenth Prize

    10th Prize - Melissa K. Santala

    Department of Materials Science and Engineering - University of California - Berkeley, California, USA
    Specimen: Two m-plane sapphire substrates (100x)
    Technique: Darkfield

  • Eleventh Prize

    11th Prize - Alex H. Griman

    Alex Kawazaki Photography - São Paulo, Brazil
    Specimen: Pupil of a Macrobrachium amazonicum (freshwater prawn) (20x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy

  • Twelfth Prize

    12th Prize - Annette Bergter

    Department of Zoology - University of Osnabrück - Osnabrück, Germany
    Specimen: 7 day old Enchytraeus coronatus (annelid worm) embryo (25x)
    Technique: Confocal

  • Thirteenth Prize

    13th Prize - Paul C. Blainey

    Harvard University - Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
    Specimen: Microchannel for flow-stretching DNA (10x)
    Technique: Darkfield

  • Fourteenth Prize

    14th Prize - Dr. John M. Huisman

    Murdoch University - Murdoch, Australia
    Specimen: Microdictyon umbilicatum(seaweed) (20x)
    Technique: Brightfield

  • Fifteenth Prize

    15th Prize - Albert Tousson and Tomek Szul

    High Resolution Imaging Facility, Department of Cell Biology - The University of Alabama at Birmingham - Birmingham, Alabama, USA
    Specimen: Anterior spiracles (respiratory openings) of a fruit fly larvae (1500x)
    Technique: Fluorescence

  • Sixteenth Prize

    16th Prize - Melissa K. Santala

    Department of Materials Science and Engineering - University of California - Berkeley, California, USA
    Specimen: Two m-plane sapphire substrates (200x)
    Technique: Brightfield

  • Seventeenth Prize

    17th Prize - Harold Taylor

    Kensworth, UK
    Specimen: Diatom (100x)
    Technique: Heine Phase Contrast

  • Eighteenth Prize

    18th Prize - Harold Taylor

    Kensworth, UK
    Specimen: Copepod lophoura (crustacean) (4x)
    Technique: Darkfield and top lighting

  • Nineteenth Prize

    19th Prize - Raul M. Gonzalez

    Raul Gonzalez Estudio - Mexico City, Mexico
    Specimen: Condylostoma sp. (protozoan) (100x)
    Technique: Brightfield

  • Twentieth Prize

    20th Prize - Dr. Oleg D. Lavrentovich

    Liquid Crystal Institute - Kent State University - Kent, Ohio, USA
    Specimen: Thin nematic film (liquid crystals) (200x)
    Technique: Polarized light

Honorable Mentions

  • Honorable Mention - Dr. Paul L. Appleton

    Division of Cell and Developmental Biology - University of Dundee - Dundee, UK
    Specimen: Villi in a mouse small intestine (1100x)
    Technique: 2-Photon

  • Honorable Mention - Andrew Childs

    Disperse Group - Guildford, UK
    Specimen: Oil/water/surfactant mixture (400x)
    Technique: Brightfield

  • Honorable Mention - M.R. Dadpour

    Department of Horticulture - Tabriz University - Tabriz, Iran
    Specimen: Plant materials (20x)
    Technique: Fluorescence

  • Honorable Mention - Thomas J. Deerinck

    National Center for Microscopy & Imaging Research - University of California – San Diego - La Jolla, California, USA
    Specimen: HeLa (cancer) cells (220x
    Technique: 2-Photon

  • Honorable Mention - Stephen M. Harvey

    Alcoa - Kwinana, Australia
    Specimen: Grey Flake cast iron, polished and etched (200x)
    Technique: Brightfield

  • Honorable Mention - Dr. John H. Henson

    Department of Biology - Dickinson College - Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA
    Specimen: Sea Urchin embryo in metaphase (1000x)
    Technique: Confocal

  • Honorable Mention - Dr. Peter Robin Hiesinger

    Howard Hughes Medical Institute - Baylor College of Medicine - Houston, Texas, USA
    Specimen: Photoreceptor neuron projection in the brain of a Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) (100x)
    Technique: Confocal

  • Honorable Mention - Jan C. Kros

    Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
    Specimen: Mahogany stem, transverse section (100x)
    Technique: Brightfield

  • Honorable Mention - Kevin Mackenzie

    EM and Imaging Facility, Institute of Medical Sciences - University of Aberdeen - Aberdeen, UK
    Specimen: Water on the lid of a Petri dish (20x)
    Technique: Transmitted light

  • Honorable Mention - Dr. Stephen S. Nagy

    Montana Diatoms - Clancy, Montana, USA
    Specimen: Floral bud of a Ranunculus acris (meadow buttercup) (23.625x)
    Technique: Brightfield

  • Honorable Mention - Dr. Michi Nakata

    Department of Physics - University of Colorado at Boulder - Boulder, Colorado, USA
    Specimen: Ferroelectric liquid crystal domains nucleating from isotropic liquid of P10PIMB (known as "bent-core" liquid crystal material) (120x)
    Technique: Polarized light

  • Honorable Mention - Dr. Alan Prescott

    CHIPs, School of Life Sciences - University of Dundee - Dundee, UK
    Specimen: Cells expressing localized heat shock protein (100x)
    Technique: Confocal

  • Honorable Mention - Dr. Gloria Romero

    Ciudad Universitaria - Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Botogá D.C., Colombia
    Specimen: Flower (0.5x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy

  • Honorable Mention - Viktor Sykora

    Institute of Pathophysiology - Charles University - Prague, Czech Republic
    Specimen: Daucus carota (carrot) seeds (2x)
    Technique: Darkfield

  • Honorable Mention - Katrin Volkmann

    GSF - National Research Center for Environment and Health - Neuherberg, Germany
    Specimen: Zebrafish scale (30x)
    Technique: Fluorescence

  • Honorable Mention - Dr. Bo Zheng

    University of Pittsburgh and Children's Hospitale - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
    Specimen: Section of human skeletal muscle (200x)
    Technique: Fluorescence

Images of Distinction

  • David Almquist

    Image of Distinction - David Almquist

    Tallahassee, Florida, USA
    Specimen: Polyester, rayon and metallic thread (100x
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy
  • Tracy Anderson

    Image of Distinction - Tracy Anderson

    College of Biological Sciences Imaging Center - University of Minnesota - Lauderdale, Minnesota, USA
    Specimen: Selaginella strobilus (130x)
    Technique: Fluorescence stereomicroscopy
  • Dr. Sondra Barrett

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Sondra Barrett

    Mystic Molecules - Forestville, California, USA
    Specimen: White wine drops (31x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy>
  • Steve Beats

    Image of Distinction - Steve Beats

    Steeple Claydon, UK
    Specimen: Pleurosigma angulatum from a diatom test slide (140x
    Technique: LRGB composite image
  • Dr. Howard Berg

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Howard Berg

    Danforth Plant Science Center - St Louis, Missouri, USA
    Specimen: Rose of Sharon pollen grain (100x)
    Technique: Confocal
  • Eric Bischoff

    Image of Distinction - Eric Bischoff

    X-Ceptor Therapeutics - San Diego, California, USA
    Specimen: Rat mammary gland artrey (40x)
    Technique: Phase contrast
  • Dylan Burnette

    Image of Distinction - Dylan Burnette

    Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering - University of Wisconsin-Madison - Madison, Wisconsin, USA
    Specimen: Neuronal growth cones of Aplysia californica (Sea hare) (1000x)
    Technique: Confocal
  • Katie Cadwell

    Image of Distinction - Katie Cadwell

    Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering - University of Wisconsin-Madison - Madison, Wisconsin, USA
    Specimen: Nematic liquid crystal (20x)
    Technique: Polarized light
  • Andrew Childs

    Image of Distinction - Andrew Childs

    Disperse Technologies - Guildford, UK
    Specimen: Oil and water with surfactant (400x)
    Technique: Intense light with small aperture
  • Susan DeVictor

    Image of Distinction - Susan DeVictor

    Southeastern Regional Taxonomic Center - Marine Resources Research Institute - Charleston, South Carolina, USA
    Specimen: Pelagic amphipod (18x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy, reflected light
  • Dr. Seth Donahue

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Seth Donahue

    Michigan Technological University - Houghton, Michigan, USA
    Specimen: Trabecular bone (16x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Lars Engstrom

    Image of Distinction - Lars Engstrom

    Pfizer - Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
    Specimen: Convallaria (20x)
    Technique: Fluorescence
  • Jedidiah Gaetz

    Image of Distinction - Jedidiah Gaetz

    The Rockefeller University - New York, New York, USA
    Specimen: Fluorescent microtubules (63x)
    Technique: Widefield epi-fluorescence
  • Christian Gautier

    Image of Distinction - Christian Gautier

    Bios/Phone Photographic Agency - Avignon, France
    Specimen: Caterpillar's hairs (Argya antiqua) (40x)
    Technique: Brighfield
  • Dr. Jacinthe Gingras

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Jacinthe Gingras

    Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology - Harvard University - Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
    Specimen: Donkey serum (60x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Dr. Hieronim Golczyk

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Hieronim Golczyk

    Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology - Jagiellonian University - Krakow, Poland
    Specimen: Collenchyma from stem of Petasites (2500x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • David Harris

    Image of Distinction - David Harris

    Syracuse University - Manlius, New York, USA
    Specimen: Hibiscus flower (10x)
    Technique: Binocular inspection
  • Dr. Patrick Hickey

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Patrick Hickey

    LUX Biotechnology Ltd. - Edinburgh, UK
    Specimen: Hydroid medusa (4x)
    Technique: Transmitted light
  • Charles Kazilek

    Image of Distinction - Charles Kazilek

    W. M. Keck Bioimaging Laboratory - Arizona State University - Mesa, Arizona, USA
    Specimen: Silk fibers from mold-made paper (100x)
    Technique: Confocal (2-laser
  • Dr. Stephen Kempf

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Stephen Kempf

    Department of Biological Sciences - Auburn University - Auburn, Alabama, USA
    Specimen: Veliger larva (40x))
    Technique: Confocal
  • Dr. Peter Kitin

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Peter Kitin

    Institute of Wood Technology - Akita Prefectural University - Akita-ken, Japan
    Specimen: Wood of Kalopanax pictus (Araliaceae) (200x)
    Technique: Confocal Laser Scanning
  • Dr. Michael Klein

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Michael Klein

    University of Alabama School of Medicine - Birmingham, Alabama, USA
    Specimen: Lumbar vertebral body macerated (Marrow removed) (16x)
    Technique: Polarized light
  • Charles Krebs

    Image of Distinction - Charles Krebs

    Charles Krebs Photography - Issaquah, Washington, USA
    Specimen: Feather of a Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) (31.25x)
    Technique: Differential interference contrast
  • Robert Lavigne

    Image of Distinction - Robert Lavigne

    vignebert.com - Montreal, Canada
    Specimen: Bamboo Stem (200x)
    Technique: Brightfield and reflected light
  • Karine Leblanc

    Image of Distinction - Karine Leblanc

    Laboratoire d'Océanographie et de Biogéochimie - Marseille, France
    Specimen: Marine diatom (Asterionellopsis) (400x)
    Technique: Multiphoton confocal
  • Kevin Mackenzie

    Image of Distinction - Kevin Mackenzie

    EM and Imaging Facility - University of Aberdeen
    Specimen: Saturated solution of Vitamin C (15x)
    Technique: Polarized light
  • Shannon McCook

    Image of Distinction - Shannon McCook

    Rochester Institute of Technology - Holmdel, New Jersey, USA
    Specimen: 48 hour chick embryo (20x)
    Technique: Darkfield
  • Shannon McCook

    Image of Distinction - Shannon McCook

    Rochester Institute of Technology - Holmdel, New Jersey, USA
    Specimen: Cracked mounting medium (40x)
    Technique: Darkfield
  • Claire Medine

    Image of Distinction - Claire Medine

    Centre of Integrative Physiology - Edinburgh University - Edinburgh, UK
    Specimen: Rat pancreatic islet (63x)
    Technique: 2 photon microscopy
  • Shaun Merrigan

    Image of Distinction - Shaun Merrigan

    IRISNDT - Edmonton, Canada
    Specimen: Tantalum metal (300x)
    Technique: Differentital interference contrast
  • Rodrigo Méxas

    Image of Distinction - Rodrigo Méxas

    Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    Specimen: Megabalanus azoricus(40x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Dr. Marian Miller

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Marian Miller

    University of Cincinnati - Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
    Specimen: Mouse glandular gastric mucosa (100x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Dr. Bradley Molyneaux

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Bradley Molyneaux

    Harvard University - Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
    Specimen: Neonatal mouse brain (10x)
    Technique: Immunofluorescence
  • Dr. Kuruganti Murti

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Kuruganti Murti

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Memphis, Tennessee, USA
    Specimen: Fluorescent antibody precipitate (1000x)
    Technique: Confocal
  • Kathleen Newell

    Image of Distinction - Kathleen Newell

    School of Oceanography - University of Washington - Seattle, Washington, USA
    Specimen: Diatom (Chaetoceros debilis) (100x)
    Technique: Phase contrast
  • Dr. Gregor Overney

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Gregor Overney

    Agilent Technologies, Inc. - San Jose, California, USA
    Specimen: Lilac leaf (Syringa paradermal) (400x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Dr. Gurkan Ozturk

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Gurkan Ozturk

    YYU Medical School - Van, Turkey
    Specimen: Dried poly D-lysin crystals (200x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Krystian Polak

    Image of Distinction - Krystian Polak

    Crows Nest, Australia
    Specimen: Water (4x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Dr. Evelyn Ralston

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Evelyn Ralston

    National Institutes of Health - Bethesda, Maryland, USA
    Specimen: Human skeletal muscle biopsy (10x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Jose Almodovar Rivera

    Image of Distinction - Jose Almodovar Rivera

    University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus - Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
    Specimen: Parafine cuts of a plant (20x)
    Technique: Darkfield
  • Jose Almodovar Rivera

    Image of Distinction - Jose Almodovar Rivera

    University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus - Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
    Specimen: Parafine cuts of a plant (20x)
    Technique: Darkfield
  • Jens Rüchel

    Image of Distinction - Jens Rüchel

    Department of Zoology - University of Osnabrück - Osnabrück, Germany
    Specimen: Spirorbis sp. (Annelida, Polychaeta) (10x)
    Technique: Confocal laser-scanning microscopy
  • Dr. Carlo Sala

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Carlo Sala

    CNR Institute of Neuroscience - Milano, Italy
    Specimen: Hippocampal neuron (63x)
    Technique: Confocal light microscopy
  • Neal Scruggs

    Image of Distinction - Neal Scruggs

    California Institute of Technology - Pasadena, California, USA
    Specimen: Ferroelectric liquid crystal (10x)
    Technique: Polarized light
  • Samuel Silberman

    Image of Distinction - Samuel Silberman

    Ramat-Gan, Israel
    Specimen: Wild flower stamen (20x)
    Technique: Fiber optics illumination
  • Pavel Škaloud

    Image of Distinction - Pavel Škaloud

    Department of Botany - Charles University - Praha 4, Czech Republic
    Specimen: Marine diatom (Thalassiosira) (100x)
    Technique: Phase contrast
  • Marriner Skelly

    Image of Distinction - Marriner Skelly

    Houston Vitreoretinal Consultants - Houston, Texas, USA
    Specimen: Pteridium rhizome cross section (4x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Marriner Skelly

    Image of Distinction - Marriner Skelly

    Houston Vitreoretinal Consultants - Houston, Texas, USA
    Specimen: Amphioxus pharynx and gonad cross section (1x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Viktor Sykora

    Image of Distinction - Viktor Sykora

    Institute of Pathophysiology - Charles University - Hyskov, Czech Republic
    Specimen: Asclepias syriaca (seeds) (2x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy, darkfield
  • David Van Der Beek

    Image of Distinction - David Van Der Beek

    Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée - Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris, France
    Specimen: Colloidal gibbsite platelets (50x)
    Technique: Polarized light
  • Wim van Egmond

    Image of Distinction - Wim van Egmond

    The Micropolitan Museum - Rotterdam, Netherlands
    Specimen: Leaf stomata, nailvarnish cast (160x)
    Technique: Rheinberg illumination
  • Dr. Julio Vazquez

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Julio Vazquez

    Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center - Seattle, Washington, USA
    Specimen: Sea urchin embryo (40x)
    Technique: Spinning disk confocal microscopy
  • Dr. Julio Vazquez

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Julio Vazquez

    Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center - Seattle, Washington, USA
    Specimen: Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) (20x)
    Technique: Laser scanning confocal microscopy
  • Chiedozie Ukachukwu

    Image of Distinction - Chiedozie Ukachukwu

    Rochester Institute of Technology - New York, New York, USA
    Specimen: Gills of a flame scallop (20x)
    Technique: Darkfield
  • Spike Walker

    Image of Distinction - Spike Walker

    Microword Services - Penkridge, UK
    Specimen: Head and mouthparts of female flea (50x)
    Technique: Rheinberg illumination
  • Spike Walker

    Image of Distinction - Spike Walker

    Microword Services - Penkridge, UK
    Specimen: Shells of a foraminiferan (Elphidium crispum) (20x)
    Technique: Epi-darkfield
  • Dr. Ben Whittle

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Ben Whittle

    Bristol, UK
    Specimen: Air bubbles in a gelatine-set (10x)
    Technique: Transmitted light
  • Dr. Caroline Wilson

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Caroline Wilson

    Pacific Biosciences Research Center - University of Hawaii - Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
    Specimen: Planktonic copepod (Labidocera sp.) (20x)
    Technique: Confocal fluorescence
  • Daphne Zbaeren-Colbourn

    Image of Distinction - Daphne Zbaeren-Colbourn

    Bern, Switzerland
    Specimen: Strand of grass (Spinifex littoreus) (400x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Dr. Petr Znachor

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Petr Znachor

    Hydrobiological Institute - Laboratory of Phytoplankton Ecology - Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
    Specimen: Freshwater planktonic dinoflagellate (Ceratium hirundinella) (100x)
    Technique: Brightfield

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