The 2005 winners were an exciting and diverse set of images.

Captured using a wide range of techniques, from state-of-the art scientific microscopes to standard and digital cameras, the images covered many different areas of science.

For example, amongst the winning images we see a hatching mosquito, a close-up of salt and pepper, an artist’s impression of a migraine attack and care of a premature baby. And, behind the bold images lie some intriguing science stories – be sure to read the caption to find out what you’re really looking at!

The professions of the entrants was also varied and winners included professors, doctors, researchers, scanning electron microscopists, artists, photographers and students.

With the number of entries exceeding 2,200, judging was lively as ever, with fierce debate about some images.

In 2005, Visions of Science reached more artists, with the very popular Art meets Science Award, looking for photographs of artists’ work that is inspired by science – whether a painting, sculpture or installation. The judges were in agreement that the painting of a barn as seen during a migraine attack was a clear winner, produced by artist and migraine sufferer Debbie Ayles

There were many new winning entrants, including Karen Neill, an artist in residence who produced a stunning image of “Liquid crystals” from her work on mapping behavioural characteristics of fluid. Dr Stephanie Schüller, a post-doctoral research fellow was highly commended in the Close-up category for her arresting “Starfish on a leaf” image which she captured whilst teaching an A-level student about scanning electron microscopy.

New entrant Spike Walker, a photomicrographer, was praised for his winning image in the Science as Art category, showing the beauty of the growth of crystals in paracetamol solution.

Past winners who received awards again in 2005 included David McCarthy (also the 2005 Overall Winner) for his fun image of everyday “Salt and pepper”, which Adam Hart-Davis described as “delightfully simple – the sort of image that seems obvious when you’ve seen it, but none of us had.” Stephen Gschmeissner continues to produce true visions of science and this year revealed the life of a “pea weevil” to come second in the Close-up category.

As Subhanu Saxena, President & CEO of Novartis Pharmaceutical and 2005 lead sponsor said,

“Visions of Science is one of the only public competitions to encourage links between science and the arts with the specific aim of stimulating public interest in science. We are delighted with the continuing interest in the awards, and the growing numbers and standard of entries each year.”

To see all of the 2005 winners, click here