Best Scientific Image Contest 2026: Call for Submissions

The call for the Helmholtz Imaging Best Scientific Image Contest 2026 is now open!

We invite you to submit your most captivating scientific images and compete for prestigious awards, amazing prizes – including €4500 in total prize money – and wide visibility within and beyond the Helmholtz community. Building on the success of previous editions, with winning images traveling across Germany and reaching broad public audiences, the contest continues to highlight the power of imaging science to make research visible and tangible.

The submission deadline has been extended to Wednesday, May 13, 2026 (11:59 PM CEST).

Access the submission platform here. The registration process is quick and straightforward: After signing up, you will receive an email with a link to activate your account.

We welcome images created using any imaging technique developed or applied at Helmholtz Centers, as well as artistic compositions combining several scientific images.

Previously submitted images are welcome.

Each submission should include a concise and engaging description explaining the scientific background, relevance, and origin of the image.

Who can participate?

The contest is open to everyone working at a Helmholtz Center. Collaborations with external partners are welcome; submissions must be made by a Helmholtz employee.

Evaluation criteria

An international jury will evaluate submissions based on:

• scientific merit
• originality
• artistic or visual impact

The Jury Award will be presented to the image that best combines these qualities.

Why participate?

Winning images will receive broad visibility and be showcased across multiple formats:

• Exhibition at the Helmholtz Imaging Conference 2026 in the week of November 10-12 in Leipzig
• Feature in a traveling exhibition across Helmholtz Centers and partner venues
• 12 images will be selected for the Helmholtz Imaging Calendar 2027
• €4,500 in total prize money

Additional awards

• Public Choice Award, voted by the community
• Participants’ Choice Award, selected by the Helmholtz Imaging Conference 2026 participants

Good luck to everyone! We look forward to seeing your science through images.

Need a little inspiration? Visit our virtual gallery.

Images (top row, from left to right; bottom row, from left to right): Alina Shevchenko, GFZ, Jenny Hein, Thomas van de Kamp, KIT, Rafael Deliz-Aguirre, MDC; Rupsa Chakraborty, HZDR, Aldino Rizaldy, Sam Thiele, Sharad Kumar Gupta, HZDR, Jana Kroll, MDC, Daniela Tirsch, DLR, Björn Schreiner, FU Berlin, Athanasios Balomenos, Wenhan Luo, Gary R. Lewin, MDC, Anika Steffen, HZI

We thank our donors Siemens Healthineers and DECTRIS for their generous support in providing prizes for our image contest.