NanoArtography Contest

Eligibility

• This online international contest is open to all students and researchers worldwide, creating artistic scientific images.

• Entries can be produced by individuals or by teams.

• Entries are welcome from anyone, including both amateurs and professionals (e.g., students, illustrators, scientists, engineers, research groups, institutions, the public, etc.).

• Entries must not have any text or names on them and must not advertise or promote a commercial product. 

 

categories

There are two categories:

1) Human-generated art (regular nanoart entries as in the past years)

2) Human-AI art (a new category for 2025).

You can submit to both categories, up to three submissions to the regular category AND one submission for the human-AI.

 

 

Regular Nanoart Rules(Human art)

• Use of AI: Artificial intelligence (AI) tools cannot be used to create or even modify images in the human-generated (regular) category. This contest seeks original submissions created by individuals and teams and not generated by AI. For those who are interested in the use of AI, we have introduced a new category, Human-AI (see below). 

• Only regular entries (human-generated art) are eligible for the Best of Show and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and People's Choice. 

• Any kind of B&W or colorized microscopy images, materials computational simulations, or a combination of both, etc., is accepted.

• No more than three entries are allowed per individual or team.

• The submitting individual should also fill out and sign the image permission file and submit it with each entry.

• Entries and image information must be submitted in English. 

• Any entrant or entry found to be in violation of any rule will be disqualified.

• NanoArtography will not be responsible for any claims or complaints from third parties should these visualizations be published or exhibited.

• Maximum size of the file: 15MB.

• File extensions accepted: jpg, jpeg, png, gif, tif, tiff.

 

Suggestions from the judges and the chair

Here are some guidelines to further improve your chances of recognition:

• Image Quality: The quality and resolution of the image must be high. Avoid submitting pixelated or low-resolution images.

• Image Modification: We highly advise against adding any external objects, such as a picture of a person, a doll, or an animation of an animal, among others. Instead, focus on enhancing the natural appearance of the image by colorizing different areas to bring out its artistic qualities. Small, subtle modifications (a few pixels) may be acceptable but should not dominate the image. Our artist judges tend to vote against images that feature added external objects.

• Image Title: Titles should reflect the artistic perspective of the piece rather than the technical details. This is not a microscopy competition. NanoArtography is a fusion of science and art, and the expectation is for the scientist/artist to craft a creative and engaging title for their submission. Avoid using technical terms or overly scientific language in the title.

• Image Descriptions: In 2025, both technical and artistic descriptions are required. Each serves a unique purpose:

  • Technical Description: Provide details on the tools used, how the material was prepared, and its potential applications. Focus on the "what," "how," and "why" of your work.

  • Artistic Description: Explain the artistic perspective of your image. Describe the visual story of your work, including what makes it artistically compelling.

​

 

Human-AI (A new category for 2025)

This category celebrates the creative synergy between human imagination and artificial intelligence (AI). It is designed for images created through a thoughtful and collaborative process in which the human artist guides and refines the use of AI tools.

Unlike fully AI-generated visuals, entries in this category must highlight the human role in concept development, scientific input, image direction, and/or post-processing. Participants are encouraged to explore how AI tools, such as DALL·E, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, GPT, and others, can enhance science-inspired visuals without compromising authenticity, originality, or scientific value.

 

human-AI rules

• Accepted forms: 

  • Microscopy images enhanced or modified with AI

  • AI-generated visuals based on real scientific data

  • Composites that merge real scientific images with AI-generated artistic elements

• AI tool(s) used:

  • Clearly state the name(s) and version(s) of the AI tools used in image generation or enhancement.

• Human contribution:

  • Describe the human creator’s role: How did you conceptualize, direct, or refine the image? What scientific idea does it represent?

• Workflow summary:

  • Briefly outline the steps taken to produce the final image, including image capture, AI interaction (including prompt examples if applicable), and any editing or post-processing tools used (e.g., Photoshop).

• Materials and scale:

  • State the real or imagined material composition of the image (e.g., titanium carbide, copper oxide, PVA).

  • Include the image width or indicate if it's multiscale (e.g., combining micrograph with AI-generated background).

• Human-AI has a separate award​ and will not be considered for the People's Choice. 

For more information, please refer to the Human-AI submission form.

​

Important Dates

Deadline: 11:59 pm EST, September 30, 2025

People’s Choice Selection: Top finalists will be posted on the NanoArtography Instagram page for public voting from October 30th, 2025, to November 14th, 2025, at 4 PM EST. Instagram likes for the People’s Choice will be monitored for authenticity by the NanoArtography Committee.

Winners Announcement: November 25, 2025.

​

Contest winners will be featured on the following year's calendars of:

A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute 

NanoArtography Calendar

 

Ready to submit? Click here.