We’re getting ready for the third edition of the Oncode Science Art Prize this year – scroll to the bottom for details on how to participate – because we know that the work and magic that happens in the lab stays mostly hidden in the lab, and it shouldn’t be so. If anything, the first two editions of the Art Prize have shown that art, storytelling, and science are connected. It also shows the beauty and the magic that happens when they meet.

The fact that the outside world can get a glimpse into the work inside a lab through art and stories, is one thing. But for the scientists, this connection brings a new level of appreciation that can have an impact on their well-being. Recent research highlighted in an article published in Nature, shows scientist’s ability to experience wonder, awe, and beauty in their work is linked to higher levels of job satisfaction and better mental health. And what better way to experience these and to express them than through storytelling and art?

Last year’s winning stories turned illustrations

Last year, Oncode’s Art Prize was focused on storytelling. From the submissions we received, we selected two winners – Maria Alieva Krashennikova’s Diary of a Lonely Cell and Mario Roman Barerra’s Revenge (both from Princess Maxima Center) - for their ability to capture voice, narrative, and emotion in flash fiction pieces that engaged and moved us. Both winners were invited to contact artist and illustrator Jessica Johnson who in turn transformed these stories into compelling comics.

Diary of a lonely cell (Maria Alieva Krashennikova)

An intense light blinded me again and then it happened. I detached, lost the last contact I had with my sister and moved forward through the path that I found. It was not a pleasant route, I had to squeeze between big cells that would hardly leave me space. I was all twisted by the effort, but luckily my family taught me since I was small how to change my shape, one would say that it was almost imprinted in our genes. You just had to extend your long arms, seize onto something very hard and then drag yourself. It could take long to find a good anchor point, and I would wiggle like an octopus in all directions before I would find my way out.

Read the full story here.

Revenge (Mario Roman Barerra)

It has been 5 long years since the massacre. I can still remember the stench, the bodies —wrecked
and mangled— piling up, clumping, filling up the space. The horrific scene has not left my mind
ever since. My people were decimated, but some of us survived. We were defeated, but not
destroyed. And we have been lurking in the shadows, patiently waiting for the day of our revenge.

Read the full story here.

Submit your best microscopy images and videos before the 20^th of May

This year’s edition of Oncode Science Art Prize is focused on microscopy images and videos. It is open to all Oncode and CGC researchers. We’re looking for aesthetics and for the poetry that can be found in science - a chance for you to look at your work with new eyes and a chance for the world to see all the magic that resides in it.

We are honoured that Monica Bello who is Curator and Head of Arts at CERN, Switzerland and Ellyn Ruddick, Editor of the US based photography blog Feature Shoot will be the Jury of this years’ edition. And to organize this, we teamed up with Frank Bos again. Together with Arnout Schepers, he founded pArt of Science, a platform for scientists to showcase their scientific Art, but also organizes institutional Art competitions and prints scientific photos professionally.

All Oncode and CGC researchers are eligible to send up to 3 submissions.

We understand how proud you are of your images - and we realize how little time you have - therefore:

• Images do not have to be high resolution at this point, but once you enter the competition, they will need to be sent in by the 10 of June so we can prepare for the award ceremony. We will remind you.
• You retain all the rights and copyrights to the work submitted. We will need your consent for us to be able to use them for our purposes, so after we receive your submission(s) we will send you an agreement on this, for you to sign.
• Include two sentences on the description of your image.

• The jury will decide on the 1^st (1.000 euro) and 2^nd (500 euro) prize, which will be awarded during the Annual Scientific Meeting. The winners will also receive a beautiful big print of their image.
• To participate, please submit your image before May 20^th to [email protected].