Around 600 pupils from 18 schools across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Bedford participated in the 2024 Microscopes4Schools Competition with some brilliant entries. The aim of the competition is to stimulate the scientific curiosity of children by connecting the microscopic world to everyday life and to introduce children to the world of research. Priority is given to schools from areas where fewer children may have exposure to scientific careers or consider going on to pursue higher education.
Each school borrows a hand-held digital microscope for two weeks and children try their hands at taking images of biological samples (e.g. leaves, flowers, insects, feathers, etc.). Their best images are then entered into the competition for judging. They also take part in a ‘Meet the Scientists’ online session in which researchers from the LMB give a short talk to share how microscopes work, explain the incredible work that takes place in our labs as well as answer questions about any aspect of science. This year, 32 LMB scientists took part and enjoyed the opportunity to answer the pupils’ far-reaching, and sometimes surprising, questions.
The competition is run by Group Leader Simon Bullock and the LMB Light Microscopy Facility and is facilitated by the LMB Public Engagement Team. This year’s judges were Brad Amos, Emeritus Scientist at the MRC LMB and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Photography, Shraddha Nayak, Head of Visual Communications at the LMB, and Madeline Lancaster, Group Leader in the Cell Biology Division at the LMB.
The First Prize went to Eyrescroft Primary School (Peterborough), for their image of a lavender flower. The school has won a digital microscope kindly donated by the competition sponsors, Brunel Microscopes Ltd. The judges described the winning photo as, “A clean composition and the focus is just right to draw the viewer into the details. An amazing though subtle range of colour, well-lit and well chosen.”
Baliol Primary School (Bedford) took Second Prize for their image of a feather. For this, the school received two stereo microscopes. The judges stated, “This is technically very good because the entire surface is in sharp focus. The choice of a feather with a fine spotted pattern makes it a striking image.”
Putnoe Primary School (Bedford) won Third Prize for their image of a dragonfly wing and received a stereo microscope. The judging panel commented, “The light reflections are nice to give an idea about the texture.”
The programme has been well-received by students and teachers alike. Teachers from schools that took part this year commented:
“The children couldn’t believe the other world that existed under the microscope!”
“This competition was an amazing opportunity for the children to use resources that are rarely available to them. It inspired their creativity and encouraged them to look deeper into their own surroundings.”
For more information on the competition
Previous winners
Connecting the microscopic world to children’s everyday lives
Reaching further with our 2023 Microscopes4Schools Competition