The invention of some simple but fascinating tools commonly referred to as Scanning Probe Microscopes (SPM) has led to the visualization and manipulation of matter at the atomic scale. Scanning Probe Microscopy is an outstanding development that has brought Nanoscience and Nanotechnology to the forefront of our research today. These tools have represented a revolution in the working methods of hundreds of research labs around the world in a large variety of fields such as Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Biology, and Engineering.
Two decades after the invention of Scanning Probe Microscopes, we are pleased to announce a second Nanoworld image prize - SPMage09 - to recognize the important and innovative contributions of scanning probe research.
Submission Deadline: February 15, 2009
Winners Announcement: June 2009
Nowadays, we are bombarded with such an amount of images that their importance disappears. This is meaningless (a mistake) if we realise that the first images already appeared in the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc cave paintings, dating to the Paleolithic era. “Beautiful” rhinoceroses, felines, bears, owls and mammoths were painted with great perfection. They draw a 30000 years old world, unknown and different from our own world. We can consider images as a bridge connecting the past –Chauvet cave– and the present –in today’s world–, the inside world –nano-objects (SPMage Gallery)– and the outside world –perceptible to our senses. But in addition the images that contribute to increase our knowledge are also aesthetically beautiful, were they abstract or figurative.
We hope that the collection of images submitted to the SPMage09 competition will have an impact beyond the realm of scientific research. In summary, the SPMage09 competition has the aim to recognize the important contributions to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology that have been made by the many nano initiatives underway around the world. An international jury of prominent researchers in the field of SPM will judge the images submitted to the Image Prize competition. The jury shall take into account both scientific and artistic merits.
The five images selected will receive the following monetary prizes:
5000 € (First Prize)
2500 € (Second Prize)
1250 € (Third Prize)
2 x 600€ (Fourth and Fifth prizes)
The International SPM Image Prize is organised by
Dr. Agustina Asenjo Barahona (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain)
Dr. Arturo M. Baró (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain)
Dr. Julio Gómez Herrero (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain)
Dr. Jose María Gómez Rodriguez (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain)
Dr. Pedro A. Serena (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain)
and funded from the generous support of the following institutions and private companies:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Nanotec Electrónica SL
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
CIC Nanogune
International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory
Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Nanociencia de Aragón
Centro de Investigaciones en Nanociencia y Nantoecnología - CIN2
Centro de Investigaciones en Nanomateriales y Nanotecnología
The competition is through the following spanish research projects:
Nanoobjects-cm (S0505/MAT-0303) Madrid Regional Government, Spain.
Atomic Force Microscopy and Nanosystems (NAN2004-09183-C10) Spanish Government
Submission Deadline: February 15, 2009
Winners Announcement: June 2009
