Hosted by the Daegu National Science Museum on the theme of ‘Science Technology Around Us’
‘Competition for Insemination,’ microscopic photo observing the sperm-ovum insemination and development process
Byun Do-gyeong (25, photo), a senior at the YU Department of Biotechnology, won the grand prize at the ‘2nd Science & Technology Photography Competition hosted by the Daegu National Science Museum.
This contest that was held under the theme ‘Science Technology Around Us’ is a photo contest related to science technologies melted into our everyday lives and natural phenomena in fields such as ▲observation of nature ▲utilization of science technology, and ▲importance of science technology. Pieces were received until October 16 and on December 4, one grand prize, three second place awards, four third place awards, and 11 runners-up were awarded.
In particular, Mr. Byun is a student of biotechnology who did not major in photography, nor enjoy it as a hobby. He won the grand prize by submitting a blow-up photo of what he saw regularly using a microscope while observing biotechnology phenomena.
He titled his piece, ‘Competition for Insemination.’ Mr. Byun submitted a four-cut photo of his observations of in vitro fertilization of sperm and ovum using a microscope, which ended up winning the grand prize. He captured the insemination and development process by collecting sperm and ovum from test rats with photos.
<Byun Do-gyeong’s grand prize-winning piece, ‘Competition for Insemination’>
(Clockwise from top left: insemination, 2nd cell period, 4th cell period, morular and blastocyst)
Mr. Byun said, “I submitted a biotechnological phenomenon that I studied at the school lab and that I observe regularly, so I was surprised to win the grand prize. I think this received good evaluations because the scientific phenomenon, which occurs around us but people cannot see with the naked eye, was captured with the microscope without adding to it at all.”
Meanwhile, the Daegu National Science Museum plans to put on display the winning pieces during the month of December.
