What is the contest about?
If you are passionate about photography and science, Poliphotonics (UPV) challenges you to unite them. The 2026 Scientific Photography Contest is your opportunity to show how light, optics, and photonics can become art and pure outreach.
We are looking for original images that capture experiments, reflections, materials, patterns, instruments, or any situation where light is the protagonist. You don’t need professional equipment to participate! The important thing is your creativity and your scientific perspective.
What do you need to participate?
- Be a UPV student: The contest is open to all Undergraduate, Master’s, or Doctoral students enrolled at the Universitat Politècnica de València during the 2025-2026 academic year.
- An original photo: Upload a single photograph (in digital JPEG or PNG format) taken by you. Minimal color or brightness correction is allowed, but photomontages or Artificial Intelligence-generated images will not be accepted.
- Your outreach side: The photograph must be accompanied by a title and a clear scientific explanation, accessible to everyone, with a maximum length of 120 words.
Contest dates
- April 28 to May 15: Photograph submission period.
- May 19: Selection of the 12 best photographs by the jury and publication on our social networks.
- May 20 to June 2: Popular voting period.
- June 3: Communication of results and announcement of the winning photograph.
Selection process and prize
The 12 selected photographs, once the submission period ends, will proceed to a popular vote. The images will be physically exhibited at the Higher Technical School of Telecommunications Engineering (ETSIT) and, at the same time, will be published on our Instagram account (@poliphotonics) through a poll. The votes will decide the winning image!
The Prize: The most voted photograph will be printed in high quality on foam board in large format (70×100 cm) and delivered to its author as recognition.