A platform has opened where scientists can share with the public the wondrous moments they once knew.


The Institute for Basic Science (IBS, President Do-Young Noh) is holding the 7th IBS Art in Science Contest and will be accepting submissions starting on the 7th.

IBS Art in Science is IBS's flagship science-art convergence project, designed to share the beauty of science with the public. Since 2015, the project has been accepting submissions for images and videos capturing the beautiful moments scientists encounter during their research, and has been presented to the public annually. To date, five exhibitions have been held, attracting over 20,000 visitors, achieving unprecedented success for a science exhibition.

Since the 6th Art in Science event last year, the competition has been open to anyone residing in South Korea as an artist. Over 200 works were submitted, and over 1,200 people participated in an online public vote to select the winners, garnering significant public interest.

The 7th IBS Art in Science, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the IBS, will significantly expand its prize pool and host a contest in collaboration with Seoul Institute of the Arts. A total of 20 winners will be selected, including the Grand Prize (KRW 2 million, 1 winner), Gold Prize (KRW 1.5 million, 2 winners), and Silver Prize (KRW 1 million, 2 winners). The IBS President's Award will be presented to one winner. In addition, one winner will receive the Seoul Institute of the Arts Special Prize (KRW 1 million). The 21 final winning works will also have the opportunity to be exhibited by Seoul Institute of the Arts artists by recreating their works in the form of videos, paintings, sculptures, and performances.

Any resident of South Korea is eligible to submit a work. Submissions should be in the form of images (photos, graphics, drawings) or videos that capture aesthetic moments from scientific experiments or research processes. Submissions should be submitted along with a description, imaginatively reinterpreting the scientist's perspective through experimental tools like microscopes and telescopes, adding meaning to the work.

IBS President Noh Do-young said, “IBS Art in Science is a ‘scientists’ SNS’ that captures scientific moments and shares them with the public,” and added, “All moments of scientific research, including unexpected beauty observed through a microscope, new discoveries, and moments of failed research, become works of art at IBS Art in Science.”

He also said, “This project can only be successfully held if the collective intelligence of scientists is gathered, so I ask for many ‘uploads’ from fellow scientists and students.”

Applications will be accepted from June 7th to July 23rd, 5:00 PM, via the contest submission page (www.ibscontest.com). Each individual (or team) may submit up to three works. The final winners will be announced in September.

Detailed information can be found on the IBS website (www.ibs.re.kr), and past Art in Science works can be viewed on the website (www.ibs.re.kr/artinscience) or in the exhibition catalog uploaded to the website.