The competition celebrates the work of our fantastic staff and students through imagery and stories that invite us into the world of natural sciences.

Call for Submissions

We invite PhD students and research staff to submit an image and an accompanying narrative that effectively engages and communicates their research project to a non-specialist audience. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, 9 June 2026, at 17:00. 

The shortlisted candidates will be announced during the week commencing 15 June. The shortlisted images will be displayed at an event held in the Summer, with attendees invited to vote on their favourite image. The participant with most votes will be presented with the 'People's Choice Award'. More information on this event will be shared in the coming weeks. 

Eligibility criteria

Applicant requirements

To apply, you must be a PhD student or research staff currently registered in the Faculty of Natural Sciences (Departments of Chemistry, Physics, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Centre for Environmental Policy). Entrants are limited to one submission.

Image requirements

The submitted image may be portrait or landscape (shortlisted images will be printed in A2). You may also submit a second version of the same image with labels and/or annotations. This may allow the audience to better understand the structure or components of your image. 

Submit your entries as JPEG/JPG files, maximum 100Mb in size. The shortlisted entries will be print in A2 (4961 x 7016 pixels) at 300dpi.

Please include your name in the title of the file.

Images may be black and white or in colour, taken with any kind of camera. Minor adjustments are allowed, such as minor changes in cropping, sharpening, contrast, etc. Significantly altered or artistically enhanced photos are not accepted. AI-generated or computer-rendered photos are not allowed. The organisers may request the original file/RAW/negative of your photo to verify this.

Images taken by someone other than the applicant are not allowed.

Image caption requirements
  • Your image title should ideally be two to five words with a strict maximum of 10 words.
  • Your accompanying narrative/caption should ideally be 80-100 words with a strict maximum of 110 words.
  • Your image narrative must give a description of your image and place it in the context of your research.
  • Your narrative must be accessible to a non-specialist audience. Do not use acronyms.
Ethics requirements
  • You must not do anything to injure or distress an animal or damage its habitat in an attempt to secure an image.
  • You must ensure that the personal safety of everyone involved is appropriately handled. Avoid taking unnecessary risks that can result in dangerous situations.
  • You are responsible for ensuring full compliance with any applicable national or international legislation.
  • Respect the work of other photographers and do not plagiarize.
  • If the panel suspects that an entry has been achieved through cruel or unethical practices, the entry will be disqualified.
Privacy Notice

This Privacy Notice (Notice) explains how the Faculty of Natural Sciences (FoNS, we, our, us) processes your personal data when you apply for our Research Image Competition (formerly known as the PhD Student Photo Competition), and your rights in relation to the personal data we hold.

Our Privacy Notice is available here to download: Privacy Notice for Students and Prospective Students (PDF)

People's Choice Award

Images will be shortlisted based on the eligibility criteria and the following themes: 

  • Technical skill: What are the technical qualities of the image, including clarity, lighting and framing? 
  • Impact: Does the image capture the imagination of the viewer? Is it likely to inspire? 
  • Communication: Is the narrative accessible to the layperson and does it describe the image and its message accurately? Does it complement the image and enhance its impact? 

The shortlisted images will be displayed at an event held in the Summer, with attendees invited to vote on their favourite image. The participant with most votes will be presented with the 'People's Choice Award'. More information on this event will be shared in the coming weeks. 

How to apply

  • Applicants should complete the online form. 
  • Deadline to submit your image via the online form is Tuesday, 9 June 2026, at 17:00. Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered. 
  • Please read the competition’s terms and conditions of the competition. You must agree to these terms when completing the online form. 

Terms and conditions

It is the responsibility of participants to ensure that the images they are submitting are their own work, that they own the copyright for them and that they do not infringe on the copyright or other rights of any third party. 

It is the responsibility of participants to ensure that the images do not infringe any laws. 

Copyright for the submitted images remains with their authors. However, by entering the competition, participants are granting the Faculty of Natural Sciences irrevocable, perpetual permission for non-commercial use of the images online and in print, in any promotional materials related to the competition, and in an exhibition on campus.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr Ester Buchaca-Domingo (e.buchaca-domingo@imperial.ac.uk).