Captivating image of snowmobiles crossing the ice and capturing the fragility of nature and the potential risks of the research.
USask Images of Research 2023 Grand prize winner, Treading on Thin Ice, submitted by alumna Dr. Kayla Buhler (PhD).

Researchers snap, share the beauty of USask research

From ecosystems in peril, to the intense gaze of an Arctic fox, to the illuminated neurons of a fruit fly, winners in the 2023 University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Images of Research competition celebrated the art and artistry of research, scholarly, and artistic work at USask.

The ninth edition of the annual competition concluded on April 6, with the winners being announced at an in-person reception, the first since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In total, faculty, staff, students, and alumni submitted 143 images from to the competition—more than in any previous year.

More than 2,250 voters from 23 countries around the world cast ballots for the Viewers’ Choice award, and a total of 21 faculty, staff, and student judges decided the winning entries in each category.

While each category was adjudicated separately and the submissions anonymized, photos focused on the fragility of Earth’s ecosystems and animals dominated the roster of winning images.

The 2023 Images of Research will be on public display on campus from April 24 to 28 in the North Concourse of Place Riel. These are the winners:

Grand Prize:

  • “Treading on Thin Ice,” this captivating image of snowmobiles crossing the ice and capturing the fragility of nature and the potential risks of the research was submitted by Dr. Kayla Buhler, (PhD) recent alumna in veterinary microbiology.

Arts-in-Focus: Images which represent the researcher’s artistic work with a focus on music, drama, art and art history, and the humanities.

  • Winner, “Developing Drama,” submitted by Prof. Carla Orosz in drama, College of Arts and Science.
  • Runner-up, “Chorus,” submitted by Master of Fine Arts student Demilade Otayemi.

Community Impact: Images which represent research done with partners that benefits communities.

  • Winner, “In her reflection,” submitted by Dr. Kayla Buhler (PhD), recent alumna in veterinary microbiology.
  • Runner-up, “Managing River Monsters in the Amazon Jungle,” submitted by Alex Pelletier, toxicology doctoral student.

Research in Action: Images which demonstrate what the researcher’s work is all about.

  • Winner, “Adelie penguins of the Antarctic Peninsula,” submitted by Dr. William Patterson (PhD), in geological sciences, College of Arts and Science.
  • Runner-up, “What does the Fox say?” also submitted by Dr. Kayla Buhler (PhD).

From the Field: Images which demonstrate the researcher’s experience doing field work anywhere in the world.

  • Winner, “Togetherness,” submitted by Anastasiia Nykonenko, biology doctoral student.
  • Runner-up, “Cautiously Curious Caribou,” submitted by Cody Malone, veterinary microbiology doctoral student.

More than Meets the Eye: Images which reveal the subject in greater detail than is possible with the human eye.

  • Winner, “Hunger Games: May the Neurons be Ever in Your ‘Flavour,’” submitted by Narsimha Pujari, veterinary biomedical sciences doctoral student.
  • Runner-up, “Meet Your Local Backyard Buddy,” submitted by Georgiana Antochi-Crihan, plant sciences master’s student.

Best Description:

  • Winner, “So you say you want to be a vet?”, submitted by veterinary medicine student Ruth MacLean.
  • Runner-up, “Hunger Games: May the Neurons be Ever in Your ‘Flavour,’” submitted by Narsimha Pujari, veterinary biomedical sciences doctoral student.

Viewers’ Choice: The images which garnered the most votes, online.

  • Winner, “Happy Birth Little Chicky-You are GIFT-ED!” submitted by doctoral student in anatomic pathology, Mihiprabha Rathnayake.
  • Runner-up, “Hunger Games: May the Neurons be Ever in Your ‘Flavour,’” submitted by veterinary biomedical sciences doctoral student Narsimha Pujari.