Enter the Broad Stem Cell Research Center's 2026 light microscopy image and video contest
The UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center invites the UCLA community to participate in its 2026 light microscopy image and video contest, celebrating the best in scientific imaging at UCLA.
Prizes will be awarded to submissions that demonstrate exceptional structure, color, composition, scientific content, visual impact and microscopy technique.
Eligibility
The contest is open to anyone at UCLA. Images and videos must have been captured using light microscopes (confocal, wide-field, light sheet, etc.) located at UCLA.
Videos must be under 20 seconds and can be any digital time-lapse microscopy imaging. Images and videos that have been heavily manipulated beyond the standard cropping and color channel adjustments may be disqualified at the discretion of the judging panel.
Image authenticity and AI use
All entries must originate from actual microscopy imaging. AI-generated images and videos, including synthetic depictions of biological specimens, structures or processes, are not eligible.
Standard image processing, such as cropping and color-channel adjustments, is permitted. Limited AI-assisted processing, such as color assignment or adjustment, is also allowed, provided it preserves the underlying image content and accurately represents the original microscopy data.
AI tools may not be used to add, remove, replace or fabricate structures, details, movements or events, or to generate additional video frames.
Entrants must disclose any AI-assisted processing, including the tools used and adjustments made. Original, unprocessed images or video footage must be available upon request. Entries that misrepresent the original data, have been excessively manipulated or fail to disclose AI use may be disqualified at the discretion of the judging panel.
Contest dates
Nov. 2 – Dec. 7, 2026
Award categories
- First-place image
- Second-place image
- Third-place image
- Viewer's Choice image (selected by a vote at the BSCRC Annual Symposium on Feb. 5, 2027)
- Best undergraduate submission (image or video)
- First-place video
- Honorable mentions
Prizes
Prizes include Nikon Z30 mirrorless cameras, high-quality compact Nikon binoculars, a custom Nikon LEGO set and Amazon gift cards. All Nikon-branded prizes are generously provided by Nikon.
Submission requirements
To be eligible, each submission must include:
- Your UCLA email address
- Names of all individuals who contributed to producing the image or video
- Name of your principal investigator
- Brief title (maximum 7 words)
- The cell/tissue species type and/or material depicted
- Technique, instrument, and magnification used to capture the image or video
- AI-use disclosure (if applicable): Identify any AI-assisted processing tools used and describe the adjustments made.
- Lay-friendly caption (maximum three sentences): A jargon-free description explaining what the image or video shows, including the types of cells or tissues pictured, what the colors represent (if applicable) and why the subject is being studied or what makes it scientifically significant.
- Example of a lay-friendly description: Microscopic image of a mini brain organoid, showing layered neural tissue and different groups of neural stem cells (in blue, red and magenta) giving rise to neurons (green). This mini brain organoid was created to help our lab study how the Zika virus destroys neural stem cells.
Only complete submissions will be considered. Each individual may submit up to three entries.
How to enter
Submit your images and videos using the entry submission form.
Submission deadline: Dec. 7, 2026
Questions? Contact BSCRC-MCDB Microscopy Core Director Ken Yamauchi at keny@ucla.edu.
Please note: By submitting to this contest, you give the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center non-exclusive permission to use your submissions for communications and development purposes.
Prize Conditions: No substitution will be made except at the Sponsor’s sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a Prize for one of equal or greater value if the designated Prize should become unavailable for any reason. All Prizes are provided “as-is” without any warranties or guarantees whatsoever of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Additionally, those that win prizes valued over $600 will be required to submit W9 documentation for tax purposes before the prize is provided.
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