Winners announced for 17th annual Materials Visualization Competition
The winners of the 17th annual Materials Visualization Competition (MVC), a scientific visual and artistic competition sponsored by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Materials Research Institute at Penn State, have been announced. MVC celebrates the quality of research in materials at Penn State and promotes awareness of materials science through visualization.
This year, 51 images were judged by a panel of professionals in materials and the arts. Participants chose which imaging category their image would be judged in — scientific imaging or computer rendering. The judges selected winners in the following categories: best of show, visual appeal and scientific imaging or computation rendering. Cash prizes for the competition totaled $1,800, with the best in show receiving $500. In all other categories winners received: $250 for first place, $100 for second place and $50 for third place.
The best of show award went to Jinsol Choi, postdoctoral scholar in mechanical engineering, for the entry, “Nano soccer balls from nature.”
Visual Appeal award winners:
- First place: “Life of a Droplet: A Non-Equilibrium Drama” by Sanjana Krishna Mani, graduate student in chemistry
- Second place: “Stars on Earth — Taare zameen par” by Arshiya Bhadu, graduate student in materials science and engineering
- Third place: “Campfire of Bi2Se3 at the silicon cliff's edge” by Ryan Trice, graduate student in materials science and engineering
Imaging: Scientific Imaging award winners:
- First place: “Fine-edged clusters of 2D Gallium Selenide” by Shehan Madusankha, graduate student in chemistry, and Seung Hoon Lee, graduate student in materials science and engineering
- Second place: “The Scientist’s Eye” by JuHyeon Lee, postdoctoral scholar in the Materials Research Institute
- Third place: “A Single Photon CRT” by Edgar Dimitrov, graduate student in physics
The People’s Choice Award judging took place online by the public, and over 4,000 votes were cast. The winner of the 2025 People's Choice Award and $100 was the image “Snow Mountain” by Haodong Wu, graduate student in materials science and engineering.
All MVC winning entries may be viewed online at sites.psu.edu/mvcs. Call for submissions for the MVC18 will be posted in early 2026. Entry will be open to all current Penn State undergraduates, graduates, postdocs and faculty working on materials-related topics.
