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"Placental Pop-Art" image wins prize in the EPSRC Photography Competition's Weird and Wonderful category

19 February 2018

We are pleased to announce that a placental image submitted by

Placental_Pop_Art gift-surg.ac.uk/" target="_self">GIFT-Surg researchers from WEISS has come second in the Weird and Wonderful category of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Council (EPSRC) Photography Competition 2017. The competition is a chance for EPSRC-funded researchers to share another side of their work.

The image entitled "Placental Pop-Art" uses different colour iterations of six segmented high resolution placental photographs, to demonstrate the diversity of placental shapes and appearances that resulted in a successful pregnancy. 

Placental Pop-Art by Dr Rosalind Aughwane, UCL "Placentas are fantastically diverse in shape and appearance, but each one of these examples in this montage successfully supported a new life. These images show automatically segmented chorionic vascular trees obtained from high resolution photography. The research investigates how these tree structures relate to successful placental function. The simple colour palette reflects how diversity can arise whilst providing this vitally important life-creating role."

These photographs were captured by Dr Rosalind Aughwane and Dr Andrew Melbourne as part of a wider collaborative project led by Professor Sebastien Ourselin in the UCL Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering and Professor Anna David at the UCL Institute for Women's Health, alongside colleagues Dr Owen Arthurs and Professor Neil Sebire from Great Ormond Street Hospital Institute of Child Health. The project is developing novel methods to image placental blood flow and perfusion.

One of the judges Professor Dame Ann Dowling, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: "What I think is remarkable about the photographs submitted is that they are linked to projects supported by EPSRC and demonstrate the sheer breadth of the technical areas being funded and the opportunities for real change for people, businesses and society through the innovations that are coming from this work.

"Not only do we have really strong, attractive photographs, the stories behind them about the research and why it is being done are inspiring.

"Much of this work will lead to innovations that transform lives and, in this Year of Engineering, it's marvellous to see these great examples of transformational research."

Congratulating the winners and entrants, Professor Tom Rodden, EPSRC's Deputy Chief Executive, said: "Every year we are stunned by the quality and creativity of the entries into our competition and this year has been no exception. They show that our researchers want to tell the world about the beauty of science and engineering. I'd like to thank everyone who entered; judging was really difficult.

"The images help the public engage with the research they fund, and I hope they will spark interest in science and engineering among people, young or older."

Dr Rosalind Aughwane and Dr Andrew Melbourne's placental image has already attracted media coverage, including a feature as the headline banner in this Guardian article.