Belfast, Northern Ireland, 5th November 2015 – Andor Technology (Andor) and Bitplane, Oxford Instruments companies and world leaders in scientific imaging and spectroscopy solutions, today announce the three visually stunning and scientifically captivating entries to win first place in the 2015 Insight Awards Scientific Imaging Competition. The winning entry in the Physical Sciences category was submitted by Bill Snyder, the Life Sciences category by Gopi Shah of MPI-CBG Dresden and the Imaris category by Mátyás Molnár of Uppsala University.
Bill Snyder’s entry is entitled ‘The Cygnus Wall’ which is in the southern area of NGC7000 also known as the North America Nebula. Acquired using an Apogee U16 CCD camera, it is approximately 1800 light years from Earth, and is in the constellation Cygnus. The Wall is an energized shock front and contains the most concentrated star formations in the nebula.
Gopi Shah’s video entitled ‘Zebrafish Gastrulation’ captures a developing zebrafish embryo from 4 to 18 hours post fertilization where each cell nucleus is labelled with GFP. Cells are colour coded for depth to visualize how dynamic cell reorganization gives rise to the body axis of zebrafish. It was captured using a home-built light sheet microscope setup with two Andor Zyla sCMOS cameras used to acquire two opposite views of the sample, which were fused, post acquisition, to reconstruct the entire embryo in 3D.
Mátyás Molnár’s entry entitled ‘Spider Autofluorescence’ was captured with a lightsheet microscope in three channels with 405nm, 488nm and 561nm laser excitation. The 3D dataset was converted into a maximum intensity projection image using Bitplane’s Imaris 3D/4D Visualization and Analysis software.
The winners were selected from a panel of expert judges from both life and physical science that included: Jamie Kasuboski Ph.D. (Pfizer Neuroscience Unit, Massachusetts), Fernando Amat (HHMI Janelia Farm Research Campus, Virginia) and Stephen DeCamp (Brandeis University, Massachusetts).
The Insight Awards focus on recognizing the cutting edge research carried out by researchers using Andor Technology equipment and Bitplane software in the fields of both Physical and Life Sciences Imaging. This year’s entries utilised the full spectrum of Andor and Bitplane products including spectrographs, EMCCD and sCMOS cameras, Confocal Microscopy Systems and Imaris software.
“I was very impressed with both the quality and quantity of this year’s entries, which clearly highlight the cutting edge work being carried out by researchers using our products” said Dr. Andrew Dennis, Andor’s Director of Product Management. “The judge’s selection of winners provides an interesting insight into the significance and detail of the researcher’s work across multiple scientific disciplines.”
For further information on the Insight Awards winners or to view more scientifically captivating and visually stunning scientific images, graphics and movies please visit http://www.theinsightawards.com
About Andor
Andor is a global leader in the pioneering and manufacturing of high performance scientific imaging cameras, spectroscopy solutions and microscopy systems for research and OEM markets. Andor has been innovating the photonics industry for over 20 years and continues to set the standard for high performance light measuring solutions, enabling its customers to break new ground by performing light measurements previously considered impossible. Andor’s digital cameras, are allowing scientists around the world to measure light down to a single photon and capture events occurring within 1 billionth of a second.
Andor now has over 400 staff across 16 offices worldwide, distributing products to over 10,000 customers in 55 countries. Andor’s products are used in a wide range of applications including medical research to further the understanding of heart disease, cancer and neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Andor also has applications for forensic science and astronomy. Through continuous dialogue with customers and strong teamwork, Andor continues to innovate ground-breaking products that improve the world in which we live.
About Bitplane
Bitplane is the world’s leading Interactive Microscopy Image analysis software company. Bitplane was founded in 1992 and serves customers in 29 countries with direct representation and through partner organizations. Worldwide there are over 2000 research sites with more than 10,000 active users using Imaris routinely, resulting in a large number of peer-reviewed scientific publications primarily in the field of Neurosciences, Cell Biology, Immunology and Developmental Biology. Through constant innovation and a clear focus on 3D and 4D image visualisation, analysis and interpretation, Bitplane actively shapes the way scientists process microscopy images. In 2009, Bitplane joined Andor Technology, a world leader in scientific imaging, spectroscopy solutions and microscopy systems.
About Oxford Instruments plc
Oxford Instruments designs, supplies and supports high-technology tools and systems with a focus on research and industrial applications. Innovation has been the driving force behind Oxford Instruments’ growth and success for over 50 years, and its strategy is to effect the successful commercialisation of these ideas by bringing them to market in a timely and customer-focused fashion.
The first technology business to be spun out from Oxford University, Oxford Instruments is now a global company with over 2000 staff worldwide. Its objective is to be the leading provider of new generation tools and systems for the research and industrial sectors with a focus on nanotechnology. Its key market sectors include nano-fabrication and nano-materials. The company’s strategy is to expand the business into the life sciences arena, where nanotechnology and biotechnology intersect.
This involves the combination of core technologies in areas such as low temperature, high magnetic field and ultra high vacuum environments; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; x-ray, electron, laser and optical based metrology; atomic force microscopy; optical imaging; advanced growth, deposition and etching.
Oxford Instruments aims to pursue responsible development and deeper understanding of our world through science and technology. Its products, expertise, and ideas address global issues such as energy, environment, security and health.
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