The Montshire Museum of Science forges and empowers lifelong learners through engagement with science.
The Montshire Museum of Science is an interactive science center in Norwich, Vermont, with more than 150 hands-on exhibits relating to the natural and physical sciences, ecology, and technology. Outdoors, visitors can explore nature trails and exhibits on wind, water, and sound in David Goudy Science Park. Visiting exhibitions, educational programs, and special events are offered throughout the year.
The Montshire Museum of Science is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is supported by admission, membership, grants, and charitable contributions.
{image1}Awaken the sense of discovery and see into another world that exists beyond perceptible vision. The 2011 Nikon Small World exhibition merges science and art with award winning photomicrographs opens in December 3, 2010 at the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, Vermont, and runs through January 16, 2012
This year's winning entries display a number of outstanding images covering a wide range of biological, chemical, and material substances. More than 1,900 images from around the world were submitted during the competition, which were evaluated by an independent five-person judging panel on their originality, informational content, technical proficiency, and visual impact. These 20 award-winning photomicrographs on tour during 2011 will connect visitors to the world around them—both seen and unseen.
“What was once a science specimen under a microscope has become curated art for public appreciation,” says Lee Shuett, Executive Vice President of Nikon Instruments, Inc. “We are proud to be able to educate people about the importance of photomicrography in scientific research while integrating science into mainstream art.”
Recognizing Excellence in Photography through the Microscope
The Nikon International Small World Competition first began in 1974 as a means to recognize and applaud the efforts of those involved with photography through the light microscope. Since then, Small World has become a leading showcase for photomicrographers from the widest array of scientific disciplines.
A photomicrograph is a technical document that can be of great significance to science or industry. But a good photomicrograph is also an image whose structure, color, composition, and content is an object of beauty, open to several levels of comprehension and appreciation.
The Nikon Small World Competition is open to anyone with an interest in photography through the microscope. Truly international in scope, entries have been received from the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Winners have included both professionals and hobbyists.
The subject matter is unrestricted and any type of light microscopy technique is acceptable, including phase contrast, polarized light, fluorescence, interference contrast, darkfield, confocal, deconvolution, and mixed techniques. Entries submitted to Nikon are then judged by an independent panel of experts who are recognized authorities in the area of photomicrography and photography. These entries are judged on the basis of originality, informational content, technical proficiency and visual impact.
About the Montshire Museum of Science
The Montshire Museum of Science is a hands-on museum located in Norwich, Vermont, offering more than 100 exhibits relating to the natural and physical sciences, the environment, and technology. The building is located on 110 acres bordering the Connecticut River. The Museum’s outdoor environment is a large part of the visitor experience. Science Park is a two-acre outdoor exhibit area in a beautiful, park-like setting and connects to a network of easy to moderate nature trails for visitors of all ages. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.