PHILADELPHIA – (February 7, 2012) – The Wistar Institute on February 3rd launched the 2011 Nikon Small World exhibit of award-winning photographs taken through the microscope. Since 2003, Wistar has been the only local host of this exhibit of 20 winning images in Nikon’s international photomicrography competition.
Each year, the Nikon Small World photo microscopy competition celebrates the complexity and beauty of the world as captured in photographs taken through the microscope. The winning images combine originality, informational content, technical proficiency, and visual impact, giving us a glimpse into a world that most have never seen—the intersection of art and science as viewed through the lens of a microscope. Specimens in this year’s exhibit reflect a range of subjects including solar cell films, blades of grass, microchip surfaces and HeLa cells (used often by Wistar researcher Jan Erikson, Ph.D., in her efforts to develop a universal influenza vaccine).
“The Nikon Small World photographs are extraordinary,” said Russel E. Kaufman, M.D., president and CEO of The Wistar Institute. “They are striking and beautiful, but these images also contain real data for scientists, they answer questions and help visualize research results.”
The Nikon Small World contest was founded in 1974 to recognize excellence in photography through the microscope. Each year, Nikon makes the winning images accessible to the public through the Nikon Small World calendar, a national museum tour, and an electronic gallery featured at www.nikonsmallworld.com.
Wistar launched the exhibit with an evening reception co-chaired by Wistar Leadership Council members Max Berger and Donna F. Weinraub. Made possible by the generous support Max Berger, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Ken Davis, Keith Gaspard, Kevin McDermott, Pea Vine Properties, James Troyer & Kathy Callan, Donna Weinraub, and James Wistar.
The exhibit is free and open to the public through March 2, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, West Philadelphia.
