Images of specimens entered into the 2007 Small World contest included insects, recrystallized chemicals and biochemicals, fluorescently labeled tissue sections, insects, plants, various microorganisms, liquid crystals, and fibers. Judges for the 33rd annual contest were Thomas Deerinck (University of California, San Diego), Nicole Dyer (Popular Science), John Hart (University of Colorado, Boulder), Malcolm Ritter (Associated Press), and Daniel Sieberg (CBS News).

2007 Contest Prize Winners

  • First Prize

    1st Prize - Gloria Kwon

    Memorial Sloan-Kettering Insititute - New York, New York, USA
    Specimen: Double transgenic mouse embryo, 18.5 days (17x)
    Technique: Brightfield, Darkfield, Fluorescence (GFP and RFP)

  • Second Prize

    2nd Prize - Michael Hendricks

    Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory - National University of Singapore - Kent Ridge, Singapore
    Specimen: Zebrafish embryo midbrain and diencephalon (20x)
    Technique: Confocal

  • Third Prize

    3rd Prize - Wim van Egmond

    Micropolitan Museum - Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    Specimen: Testudinella patina (a rotifer) (400x)
    Technique: Differential Interference Contrast

  • Fourth Prize

    4th Prize - Charles Krebs

    Charles Krebs Photography - Issaquah, Washington, USA
    Specimen: Marine diatoms attached to Polysiphonia (red algae) (100x)
    Technique: Differential Interference Contrast

  • Fifth Prize

    5th Prize - Peter Parks

    Imagequestmarine.com - Witney, Oxon, United Kingdom
    Specimen: Sea water with mixed zooplankton and needle eye (20x)
    Technique: Reflected light

  • Sixth Prize

    6th Prize - Charles Krebs

    Charles Krebs Photography - Issaquah, Washington, USA
    Specimen: Hydrophilidae sp. (water scavenger beetle) larva (100x)
    Technique: Brightfield with crossed polarization

  • Seventh Prize

    7th Prize - Michael Klymkowsky

    MCD Biology - University of Colorado at Boulder - Boulder, Colorado, USA
    Specimen: Xenopus embryos (20x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy

  • Eighth Prize

    8th Prize - Vera Hunnekuhl

    Department of Zoology - University of Osnabrück - Osnabrück, Germany
    Specimen: Erpobdella octoculata (freshwater leech) (25x)
    Technique: Confocal

  • Ninth Prize

    9th Prize - Shamuel Silberman

    Ramat Gan, Israel
    Specimen: Papaver subpiriforme (corn poppies) flower bud (20x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy

  • Tenth Prize

    10th Prize - Dr. Stephen Nagy

    Montana Diatoms - Helena, Montana, USA
    Specimen: Section of diseased ivory (15x)
    Technique: Polarized light

  • Eleventh Prize

    11th Prize - Dr. Robert Markus

    Institute of Genetics - Biological Research Center of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences - Szeged, Hungary
    Specimen: Mirabilis jalapa stamen and pollen (125x)
    Technique: Confocal

  • Twelfth Prize

    12th Prize - Annette Bergter

    Department of Zoology - University of Osnabrück - Osnabrück, Germany
    Specimen: Ophryotrocha diadema (polychaete) embryo (25x)
    Technique: Confocal

  • Thirteenth Prize

    13th Prize - Dr. Stephen Lowry

    School of Biomedical Sciences - University of Ulster - Londonderry, UK
    Specimen: Patella vulgaris (limpet) rasping tongue (20x)
    Technique: Polarized light

  • Fourteenth Prize

    14th Prize - Christian Gautier

    BIOS/PHONE Photo Agency - Le Mans, France
    Specimen: Cedrus atlantica (cedar leaf) crosscut (200x)
    Technique: Polarized light

  • Fifteenth Prize

    15th Prize - Rodrigo Mexas

    Oswaldo Cruz Foundantion - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    Specimen: Trematode sp. (400x)
    Technique: Differential interference contrast

  • Sixteenth Prize

    16th Prize - Steven Valley

    Oregon Department of Agriculture, Plant Division - Albany, Oregon, USA
    Specimen: Mimetidae sp. (spider) egg case (30x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy

  • Seventeenth Prize

    17th Prize - Dr. Jeffery Bowen

    Department of Biological Sciences - Bridgewater State College - East Taunton, Massachusetts, USA
    Specimen: Celethemis eponina (Halloween Pennant dragonfly) (1x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy

  • Eighteenth Prize

    18th Prize - Klaus Bolte

    Natural Resources Canada - Stittsville, Canada
    Specimen: Amisega floridensis (parasitic wasp) (90x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy

  • Nineteenth Prize

    19th Prize - Viktor Sykora

    Institute of Pathophysiology - Charles University - Hyskov, Czech Republic
    Specimen: Epilobium parviflorum (small-flowered willowherb) seeds (10x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy, darkfield

  • Twentieth Prize

    20th Prize - Dr. Matthew Hooge

    The University of Maine - Portland, Maine, USA
    Specimen: Clione sp. (planktonic mollusc) larva (40x)
    Technique: Differential interference contrast

Honorable Mentions

  • Honorable Mention - Jesper Gronne

    Silkeborg, Denmark
    Specimen: Cluster of snow crystals (10x)
    Technique: Polarized light

  • Honorable Mention - Vera Hunnekuhl

    Department of Zoology - University of Osnabrück - Osnabrück, Germany
    Specimen: Erpobdella octoculata (freshwater leech) (10x)
    Technique: Confocal

  • Honorable Mention - Dr. Daniel Kalman

    Emory University - Atlanta, Georgia, USA
    Specimen: Cell infected with poxvirus (630x)
    Technique: Deconvolution

  • Honorable Mention - Rafal Klajn

    Department of Chemical Engineering - Northwestern University - Evanston, Illinois, USA
    Specimen: Liesegang rings obtained by reacting dichromate anions and silver cations (40x)
    Technique: Reflected Light

  • Honorable Mention - Milan Kosanovic

    Belgrade, Serbia/Montenegro
    Specimen: Evaporated copper-sulphate solution on paper figure (1x)
    Technique: Polarized Light

  • Honorable Mention - Dr. Pascale Lacor

    Northwestern University - Evanston, Illinois, USA
    Specimen: Mature rat hippocampal neurons attacked by Alzheimer’s toxins (100x)
    Technique: Confocal

  • Honorable Mention - Carmen Laethem

    Aerie Pharmaceuticals - Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
    Specimen: Primary porcine trabecular meshwork cells (20x)
    Technique: Fluorescence

  • Honorable Mention - Rudolf Oldenbourg

    Marine Biological Laboratory - Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
    Specimen: Nephrotoma suturalis (crane fly) spermatocytes (100x)
    Technique: Polarized Light

  • Honorable Mention - Dr. Shirley Owens

    Center for Advanced Microscopy - Michigan State University - East Lansing, Michigan, USA
    Specimen: Cichorium intybus (Chickory) pollen (1250x)
    Technique: Confocal, fluorescence

  • Honorable Mention - Peter Parks

    Image Quest 3-D - Whitney, UK
    Specimen: Atlanta Peronii (heteropod) (170x)
    Technique: Darkfield

  • Honorable Mention - Daniel Pregibon

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
    Specimen: Particles used to detect multiple DNA oligomers (100x)
    Technique: Fluorescence

  • Honorable Mention - Dr. Havi Sarfaty

    Ramat Gan, Israel
    Specimen: Desiccated garden flower (20x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy

  • Honorable Mention - Dr. Jan Schmoranzer

    Columbia University - New York City, New York, USA
    Specimen: Fibroblast microlayer microwound (400x)
    Technique: Fluorescence

  • Honorable Mention - Viktor Sykora

    Institute of Pathophysiology - Charles University - Prague, Czech Republic
    Specimen: Infested leaf (5x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy, darkfield

  • Honorable Mention - Sven Terclavers

    VIB Center for Transgene Technology & Gene Therapy - Campus Gasthuisberg O & N - Leuven, Belgium
    Specimen: Zebrafish (400x)
    Technique: Confocal (2-photon)

  • Honorable Mention - Dr. Bob Turner

    The Scripps Research Institute - La Jolla , California, USA
    Specimen: Quartz (20x)
    Technique: Interference cross-polarization

Images of Distinction

  • Dr. Juan Alberto Morales

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Juan Alberto Morales

    Departament of Pathology - School of Veterinary Medicine - Heredia, Costa Rica
    Specimen: Acanthocephalan sp. (parasite) eggs (400x)
    Technique: Normarski differential interference contrast
  • Jose Almodovar

    Image of Distinction - Jose Almodovar

    Univercity of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus - Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
    Specimen: Cyanobacteria (20x)
    Technique: Confocal
  • Jose Almodovar

    Image of Distinction - Jose Almodovar

    University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus - Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
    Specimen: Flower reproductive organs (11x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy
  • David Almquist

    Image of Distinction - David Almquist

    Microimaginings - Tallahassee, Florida, USA
    Specimen: Tiger beetle (30x)
    Technique: Brightfield, Darkfield, Fluorescence (GFP and RFP)
  • Dr. Paul Andrews

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Paul Andrews

    University of Dundee - Dundee, UK
    Specimen: Xenopus (frog) XLK2 (100x)
    Technique: Fluorescence, deconvolution
  • Tora Bardal

    Image of Distinction - Tora Bardal

    NTNU Center of Fisheries and Aquaculture - Department of Biology - Trondheim, Norway
    Specimen: Brachionus plicatilis (16x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Dr. Pedro Barrios-Perez

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Pedro Barrios-Perez

    National Research Council of Ottawa - Ottawa, Canada
    Specimen: Hard-baked photoresist exposed to solvent (200x)
    Technique: Reflected Light
  • Dr. Pedro Barrios-Perez

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Pedro Barrios-Perez

    National Research Council of Ottawa - Ottawa, Canada
    Specimen: GaAs/AlGaAs oxidized mesas (200x)
    Technique: Reflected Light
  • Dr. Robert Berdan

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Robert Berdan

    Science & Art Multimedia - Calgary, Canada
    Specimen: Diatoms (400x)
    Technique: Darkfield
  • Annette Bergter

    Image of Distinction - Annette Bergter

    Department of Zoology - University of Osnabrück - Osnabrück, Germany
    Specimen: Erpobdella octoculata (Hirudinea) (leech) epidermis and muscle (25x)
    Technique: Confocal
  • Dr. Jorge Bernardino

    Image of Distinction -Dr. Jorge Bernardino de la Serna

    MEMPHYS-Center for Biomembrane Physics - University of Southern Denmark - Odense, Denmark
    Specimen: Giant unilamellar and multillamelar vesicles (40x)
    Technique: Confocal
  • Dr. Kylie Boyce

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Kylie Boyce

    University of Melbourne - Parkville, Australia
    Specimen: Zea mays (maize) leaf infected with Ustilago maydis (1000x)
    Technique: Fluorescence
  • Matthias Burba

    Image of Distinction - Matthias Burba

    Hamburg, Germany
    Specimen: Diatoms (65x)
    Technique: Darkfield
  • Dr. Karla Daniels

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Karla Daniels

    Department of Biological Sciences - University of Iowa - Iowa City, Iowa, USA
    Specimen: Primary human dendritic cell (63x)
    Technique: Fluorescence
  • Karl Deckart

    Image of Distinction - Karl Deckart

    Eckental, Germany
    Specimen: Christmas candle, self lit up by low voltage (5x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy
  • Dr. Andreas Fath

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Andreas Fath

    Hansgrohe AG company - Haslach, Germany
    Specimen: Sol-gel coating based on BTSE and perflourinated Silane (50x)
    Technique: Transmitted Light
  • Dr. Daniel Gibbs

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Daniel Gibbs

    San Diego School of Medicine - University of California - La Jolla, California, USA
    Specimen: Primary mouse retinal pigmented epithelial cells (400x)
    Technique: Fluorescence
  • Raul Gonzalez

    Image of Distinction - Raul Gonzalez

    Mexico City, Mexico
    Specimen: Spirogyra algae (25x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Ralph Grimm

    Image of Distinction - Ralph Grimm

    Jimboomba, Australia
    Specimen: Rhytidoponera metallica (Australian green-head ant) (30x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy
  • Ralph Grimm

    Image of Distinction - Ralph Grimm

    Jimboomba, Australia
    Specimen: Weevil head (50x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy
  • Dr. Eric Hwang

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Eric Hwang

    The Scripps Research Institute - La Jolla, California, USA
    Specimen: Retinoic acid-induced P19 neuronal aggregate (40x)
    Technique: Fluorescence
  • Joseph Johnson

    Image of Distinction - Joseph Johnson

    H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center - Tampa, Florida, USA
    Specimen: Metaphase spread of HeLa (cancer) cells (1000x)
    Technique: Confocal
  • Charles Kazilek

    Image of Distinction - Charles Kazilek

    ASU School of Life Sciences - Paper Project / Arizona State University - Tempe, Arizona, USA
    Specimen: Japanese specialty paper fibers (Kozo/Mulberry) (100x)
    Technique: Confocal
  • Edy Kieser

    Image of Distinction - Edy Kieser

    Ennenda, Switzerland
    Specimen: Crystallized acrylic acid amide (50x)
    Technique: Polarized Light
  • Edy Kieser

    Image of Distinction - Edy Kieser

    Ennenda, Switzerland
    Specimen: Crystallized potassium chlorate (50x)
    Technique: Polarized Light
  • Dr. Dennis Kunkel

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Dennis Kunkel

    Dennis Kunkel Microscopy, Inc. - Kailua, Hawaii, USA
    Specimen: Anabaena sp. (cyanobacterium) and Netrium and Zygnema sp. (green algae) (100x)
    Technique: Differential Interference Contrast
  • Dr. Ingo Lieberwirth

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Ingo Lieberwirth

    Max-Planck Institute for Polymer Research - Mainz, Germany
    Specimen: Poly-para phenylene vinylene (PPV) drop-cast from CHCl3 solution (100x)
    Technique: Polarized Light
  • Kathleen Llorens

    Image of Distinction - Kathleen Llorens

    LSU Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
    Specimen: Soap bubbles in water (10x)
    Technique: Differential Interference Contrast
  • Dr. Stephen Lowry

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Stephen Lowry

    School of Biomedical Sciences - University of Ulster - Londonderry, UK
    Specimen: Dytiscus marginalis (great diving beetle) foreleg suckers (20x)
    Technique: Polarized light
  • Dr. Stephen Lowry

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Stephen Lowry

    School of Biomedical Sciences - University of Ulster - Londonderry, UK
    Specimen: Serpentine rock (40x)
    Technique: Polarized light
  • Dr. Robert Markus

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Robert Markus

    Institute of Genetics - Biological Research Center of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences - Szeged, Hungary
    Specimen: Aphis outer skin (65x)
    Technique: Confocal
  • Dr. George McNamara

    Image of Distinction - Dr. George McNamara

    Childrens Hospital Los Angeles - Image Core - Los Angeles, California, USA
    Specimen: Mouse cross-section (1x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Jan Michels

    Image of Distinction - Jan Michels

    Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research - Bremerhaven, Germany
    Specimen: Alteutha potter (10x)
    Technique: Confocal, fluorescence
  • Jan Michels

    Image of Distinction - Jan Michels

    Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research - Bremerhaven, Germany
    Specimen: Heterorhabdus sp. pair of fifth swimming legs (20x)
    Technique: Confocal, fluorescence
  • Dr. Carlos Muñoz

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Carlos Muñoz

    Microscopy Center, Department of Biology - University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus - Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
    Specimen: Pennate diatoms (60x)
    Technique: Nomarski differential interference contrast
  • Dr. Carlos Muñoz

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Carlos Muñoz

    Microscopy Center, Department of Biology - University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus - Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
    Specimen: Moss infected with fungus (10x)
    Technique: Nomarski differential interference contrast
  • Dr. Stephen Nagy

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Stephen Nagy

    Montana Diatoms - Helena, Montana, USA
    Specimen: Navicula clavata var indica (Greville) Cleve (375x)
    Technique: Differential Interference Contrast
  • Dr. Shirley Owens

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Shirley Owens

    Center for Advanced Microscopy - Michigan State University - East Lansing, Michigan, USA
    Specimen: Bauhinia grandidieri (600x)
    Technique: Fluorescence
  • Dr. Heiti Paves

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Heiti Paves

    Tallinn University of Technology - Tallinn, Estonia
    Specimen: Arabidopsis thaliana (63x)
    Technique: Confocal
  • Dr. Meike Piepenbring

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Meike Piepenbring

    Institute of Mycology - Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University - Frankfurt, Germany
    Specimen: Phragmidium sp. (rust fungus) teleutospores (2000x)
    Technique: Differential interference contrast
  • James Resau

    Image of Distinction - James Resau

    Van Andel Institute - Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
    Specimen: Human breast carcinoma (40x)
    Technique: Confocal
  • Dr. Colin Rickman

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Colin Rickman

    Center for Integrative Physiology - University of Edinburgh - Edinburgh, UK
    Specimen: Transfected neuroblastoma 2A cells (63x)
    Technique: Confocal
  • Piotr Rotkiewicz

    Image of Distinction - Piotr Rotkiewicz

    Droplet Microscopy - San Diego, California, USA
    Specimen: Polycystine radiolaria fossil skeleton (250x)
    Technique: Darkfield
  • Dr. Greg Rouse

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Greg Rouse

    Scripps Institution of Oceanography - La Jolla, California, USA
    Specimen: Hypomyzostoma on a crinoid echinoderm (50x)
    Technique: Darkfield
  • Ales Ryska

    Image of Distinction - Ales Ryska

    Department of Pathology - Charles University Faculty Hospital - Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
    Specimen: Intestinal mucosa (200x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Henk Schulp

    Image of Distinction - Henk Schulp

    Rotterdam, Netherlands
    Specimen: Micrasterias fimbriata (a desmid) (100x)
    Technique: Differential Interference Contrast
  • Dr. Tsutomu Seimiya

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Tsutomu Seimiya

    Tokyo Metropolitan University - Tokyo, Japan
    Specimen: Interference image of draining soap film (15x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • James Solliday

    Image of Distinction - James Solliday

    Educational Photo Lab - Santa Ana, California, USA
    Specimen: Cat embryo (4x)
    Technique: Brightfield
  • Dr. Josef Spacek

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Josef Spacek

    Department of Pathology - Charles University Faculty Hospital - Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
    Specimen: Decomposed leaf vessels (60x)
    Technique: Reflected, transmitted light
  • Martin Spitaler & Schnitger

    Image of Distinction - Martin Spitaler & Anna Schnitger

    Imperial College London - London, UK
    Specimen: Anopheles sp. (mosquito) (2.5x)
    Technique: Transmitted light
  • Sergio Stampar

    Image of Distinction - Sergio Stampar

    Institute of Biosciences - University of São Paulo - São Paulo, Brazil
    Specimen: Hydractinia uniformis (66x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy
  • Viktor Sykora

    Image of Distinction - Viktor Sykora

    Institute of Pathophysiology - Charles University - Prague, Czech Republic
    Specimen: Pieris japonic (5x)
    Technique: Stereomicroscopy, darkfield
  • Tomasz Szul

    Image of Distinction - Tomasz Szul

    High Resolution Imaging Facility - Department of Cell Biology - University of Alabama at Birmingham - Birmingham, Alabama, USA
    Specimen: Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) (150x)
    Technique: Fluorescence
  • Tomasz Szul

    Image of Distinction - Tomasz Szul

    High Resolution Imaging Facility - Department of Cell Biology - University of Alabama at Birmingham - Birmingham, Alabama, USA
    Specimen: Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) compound eye (150x)
    Technique: Fluorescence
  • Tomasz Szul

    Image of Distinction - Tomasz Szul

    High Resolution Imaging Facility - Department of Cell Biology - University of Alabama at Birmingham - Birmingham, Alabama, USA
    Specimen: HeLa (cancer) cells (1500x)
    Technique: Fluorescence
  • P. Taulman & A. Tousson

    Image of Distinction - Patrick Taulman and Albert Tousson

    High Resolution Imaging Facility - Department of Cell Biology - University of Alabama at Birmingham - Birmingham, Alabama, USA
    Specimen: Mouse testes (400x)
    Technique: Fluorescence
  • Raniska Tente

    Image of Distinction - Raniska Tente

    Division of Biomedical Science - University of Edinburgh Medical School - Edinburgh, UK
    Specimen: Lipid-encapsulated contrast microbubble (40x)
    Technique: Confocal
  • Sarah Teren

    Image of Distinction - Sarah Teren

    University of Wisconsin - Madison, Wisconsin, USA
    Specimen: 5CB liquid crystal confined to a gold TEM grid (10x)
    Technique: Polarized light
  • Ustun Tulu

    Image of Distinction - Ustun Tulu

    University of Massachusetts Amherst - Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
    Specimen: LCPK1-alpha cells (63x)
    Technique: Confocal
  • Dr. Jan Valenta

    Image of Distinction - Dr. Jan Valenta

    Department of Chemical Physics & Optics - Charles University - Prague, Czech Republic
    Specimen: Integrated circuit with contacts (20x)
    Technique: Reflected polarized light
  • Wim van Egmond

    Image of Distinction - Wim van Egmond

    Micropolitan Museum - Rotterdam, Netherlands
    Specimen: Paramecium feeding (250x)
    Technique: Differential interference contrast
  • Marc Van Hove

    Image of Distinction - Marc Van Hove

    Centexbel - Merelbeke, Belgium
    Specimen: Crystalized solgel chemical (50x)
    Technique: Polarized Light, differential interference contrast

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