Two researchers from the Colloidal Systems Study Center (Nuesc), affiliated with the Institute of Technology and Research (ITP), were featured in a national scientific photography contest organized by the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at the Polytechnic School (PMT/Poli), linked to the University of São Paulo (USP). Fábio Cleisto Alda Dossi and Fabiane Santos Serpa, who work in research within the Graduate Program in Process Engineering (PEP) at Universidade Tiradentes (Unit), took first place in MetMat 2024, which gathers and awards the best photomicrography images, a technique that allows the recording of structures and substances seen only with the help of microscopes.
Fábio and Fabiane's work, titled "Crystals Explosion," took first place in the Electron Microscopy category, a technique that uses electron beams on a specific material, providing characteristic images and information. The image portrays two crystalline species of calcium carbonate, aragonite (long) and calcite (cubes). "The scanning electron microscopy image, originally in grayscale, was colorized using image editing software to highlight the crystalline types. In addition to making the image more beautiful, it also becomes more intuitive and attractive to the viewer," explains Dossi.
The "Crystals Explosion" is related to a research project developed by Nuesc and PEP/Unit in partnership with Petrobras, coordinated by Professor Elton Franceschi. Besides the Nuesc researchers, it involves the participation of professors Cláudio Dariva and Gustavo Rodrigues Borges. The study aims to evaluate the efficiency of saline incrustation inhibitors in synthetic waters with a composition similar to that of oil wells.
Dossi and Fabiane emphasize that originally, images obtained by electron microscopy are in grayscale, that is, without color, but they can be artistically colorized to highlight the beauty of the crystalline structures of the salts researched in the laboratory as part of a scientific research project. "In analytical routine, we come across a multitude of structures of different materials, and some are very striking, not only due to scientific interest but also due to the artistic bias of the observer. I realized that this image could be artistically explored by inserting colors to easily show the beauty of the structures present there," says the researcher.
For the members of Nuesc/ITP, the PMT/Poli award is the result of many hours of research, experimentation, and analysis, proving that perseverance, scientific curiosity, and teamwork are the true drivers of progress. "We must not forget that investment in quality infrastructure is very important for the development of cutting-edge work in scientific research. This award represents recognition of the work and creativity required in problem-solving," celebrates Fabiane.
The Award
This was the 22nd edition of Metmat, supported by Gerdau, and received dozens of scientific images sent by researchers and laboratories from all over Brazil. A jury made up of PMT/Poli professors divided the works into two categories (Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy) and chose the top three in each, highlighting the beauty and complexity of the materials analyzed. Another three works from each category were awarded honorable mention.
According to Dossi, the combination of art, science, and technology also serves the purpose of further disseminating scientific work to the general public. "Science communication is very important for society, and this event allows images of scientific interest to be creatively disseminated," she emphasizes, adding that it acts as a driving force for the discovery of new science professionals at all levels of education.
The award ceremony for Metmat 2024 took place on March 27th in São Paulo (SP). Also awarded were works by researchers from USP, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), Instituto Tecnológico Vale (ITV), and Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM).
Source: Unit News Portal with information from Poli/USP https://portal.unit.br/blog/noticias/imagem-obtida-por-pesquisadores-do-itp-recebe-premio-nacional/
