skill and art are often seen as opposing ways of looking at the man . However , as Einstein like to say , they are just “ branches of the same tree . ” The neophyte for this year ’s American Society for Microbiology ’s Agar Art contention have neatly showcased this overlap concord between artistic creation and skill .
TheAmerican Society for Microbiology ( ASM ) ’s first - ever agar-agar contest determine 85 submissions from an assortment of scientists and creative person . The art pieces use petri dishes as their canvas and bacterium , yeast and protein as their paint . entryway were judged on their creativeness and aesthetic appearing , as well as their scientific interestingness . The submissions roam from portrait , cityscape , selfies , geometrical Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe to trippy psychedelic patterns .
paradigm credit : Mehmet Berkmen and MariaPenil / American Society for Microbiology
The winner was Mehmet Berkmen of New England Biolabs and creative person Maria Penil , who created a man call “ Neurons ” that used yellowNesterenkonia , orangeDeinococcusandSphingomonasbacteria to illustrate the born beauty of neurons . They placed the microbes at 30 degrees Anders Celsius ( 80oF ) and let them do their thing for two Clarence Day .
Image credit : ChristineMarizzi / American Society for Microbiology
Second place was awarded to Christine Marizzi , who came up with a cagey court to New York City . The piece draw upon New York City ’s vibrant diversity of cultures , both human and microbic . They invited 50 members of the world to enter in make the map using harmlessEscherichia coliK12 bacterium colored with fluorescent proteins .
The “ multitude ’s choice ” was Mehmet Berkmen and creative person Maria Penil , who got the most likes in aFacebook album of entries . Their art was call “ Cell to Cell ” and usedDeinococcusandSphingomonasbacteria .
mental image credit : Melanie Sullivan / American Society for Microbiology
Another one of the stand - out entrance was Melanie Sullivan ’s reinterpretation of Van Gogh ’s iconic oil painting “ The Starry Night . ”
This is n’t the first meter bug have been used to make works of art . The molecular biologistSimon Parkeshas used it as a technique to express and communicate the complexness of microbial life , while Brazilian artistVik Munizhas used bacterium as a medium to make an esthetic statement on engineering and animation .
It ’s the first class for the competition , although the ASM skip to host another competition next year . you may ascertain out many of the best entries on theASM Facebook Sir Frederick Handley Page .
