Neuron Pod image competition

OPEN ONLY FOR QMUL STAFF AND STUDENTS

As you may know, Centre of the Cell is QMUL’s flagship, award-winning informal science learning centre, the first science centre in the world to be located within working biomedical research laboratories.

Nestled within the Blizard Institute mews in Whitechapel is Neuron Pod, one of our education spaces which receives tens of thousands of visitors per year. Hanging around the walls of Neuron Pod are 24 microscopy images that have been there since we opened the space in 2019 (see picture below) – now it is time for a refresh.

We invite you to submit new images of cells to line the walls of the Neuron Pod. These will be seen by and stimulate the imagination and conversation of every group of visitors that pass through the Neuron Pod for years to come. The images can be of single cells or multiple cells, cells in culture, cells of a tissue or organ at a range of magnifications. They can feature any microscopy technique and do not have to be human cells. We want stunning images that reflect the range of Queen Mary’s biomedical research.

If your work has produced images featuring cells we would welcome their entry. The winning images will be printed and mounted for display.

To submit, please send us a high-resolution image file of the image, fill out the attached release form, giving us permission to display the images in our Neuron Pod and website, a title and caption for the image, up to 85 words describing the image to a general audience. If you wish please also send a separate longer (up to 250 words) description that will be put on the Centre of the Cell website alongside the image. This will allow visitors to learn more about your image by following a QR code on the printed image. If you are a student, please have your supervisor fill in the release form.

The layout of each image is shown in the (spoof) image below. The final size will be of the pictures, not including text, will be 54cm by 57cm, the whole poster (including text and border) being a truncated A1 in portrait style.

If you do submit a longer description for the website, please try to include a brief explanation of how the image relates to your research and what you were looking for.

We are open to receiving submissions from across FMD INSTITUTES and SEMS closing date Friday 19^th January 2026.

Please send submissions and enquiries to freddy.green@qmul.ac.uk