The Department of Materials Science and Engineering is excited to host its annual Scientific Art Competition! This event celebrates the intersection of science and creativity by showcasing the beauty of research images and computational renderings. From microscopy to modeling, participants are invited to transform their work into captivating art that highlights the innovation and discovery within materials science.

General Rules

  • Eligibility: The competition is open to current UNT MTSE undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral researchers. Entries may be submitted individually or as part of a team.
  • Content Requirements: Eligible submissions include images from microscopy (e.g., TEM, SEM, atom probe, AFM, optical microscopy) or computational methods (e.g., first principles, atomistic, FEM, or other scales) related to current research or coursework. Coloring and rendering are allowed, but external objects should not be added.
  • Image Description: Each entry must include a short description of the artwork, the materials studied, and the experimental or computational method used. Please also include the author’s name, academic level (undergraduate or graduate), and course or research affiliation.
  • Judging Criteria: Entries will be evaluated on design, visual impact, relevance to MSE research areas, and artistic rendering. A panel of 3–5 faculty members and/or external judges will review submissions.
  • Recognition: Top winners will receive a certificate and a small gift. Winning images will also be featured on the department website and social media, displayed in the department front office, and showcased on walls throughout the department.
  • Format: Accepted file types include TIFF, PNG, BMP, and RAW. Images should be at least 300 pixels per inch.
  • Deadline: All submissions are due by October 27, 2025.
  • Submission: Click the button below to submit a digital version of your artwork.

Registration

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your research in a creative way - submit your work and let your science inspire through art!

Registration will open in September 2026.

2025–2026 MTSE Student Art Competition Awardees

Winners

Flow

First Place: Jason Summers (Flow)

Flower of Life

Second Place: Wenqing Xie (Flower of Life)

Fingerprint Pattern of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal

Third Place: Yuheng Wang (Fingerprint Pattern of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal)

Honorable Mentions

Desert Camo in Nanocrystalline Titanium Alloy

Yao Li (Desert Camo in Nanocrystalline Titanium Alloy)

Meteor Shower in the Night Sky

Jason Summers (Meteor Shower in the Night Sky)

Capturing Atoms Is No Lesser Than an Art — Where Science Paints with the Brushstrokes of Precision

Deepak V. Pillai (Capturing Atoms Is No Lesser Than an Art — Where Science Paints with the Brushstrokes of Precision)

Dendrites of a Dry Earth: A Metallurgical Mirror of Climate Change

Hasan Imam (Dendrites of a Dry Earth: A Metallurgical Mirror of Climate Change)

For more information on the 2025 winners, visit MSE LinkedIn post.