J. Willard Marriott Library Blog | Capturing the Spark of Discovery: The Image of Research at the U

A collage of images includes layered dancers creating a dynamic effect, an aerial view of ocean waves meeting a forest, a magnified seed, and scientific textures. Text: "Image of Research." Mood: Creative and exploratory.

Oct 28, 2025 Capturing the Spark of Discovery: The Image of Research at the U

Posted at 12:13h in Announcement, Awards by Marriott Library 0 Comments

0 Likes

By Abbeylin Farnsworth, Administrative Manager and Assistant to the Dean, J. Willard Marriott Library

Faculty, researchers, and graduate students are invited to reveal the beauty and impact of their work through a single, striking image or video this spring.

Your research tells a story; show us what it looks like.

Behind every data set, field note, and experiment, lies a story of curiosity, creativity and persistence. This spring, the University of Utah community will celebrate those stories in a new and visually captivating way through the Image of Research, a campus-wide competition and exhibition inviting faculty, research staff, and graduate students to showcase the distinct and aesthetic dimensions of their scholarly work.

Co-sponsored by the J. Willard Marriott Library and the Office of the Vice President for Research, the Image of Research initiative is inspired by the University of Illinois’ Image of Research at both Urbana-Champaign and Chicago. Participants are invited to capture the essence of their research, scholarly, or creative work through a single, striking image or short video. The idea is to showcase the breadth and depth of research – across all disciplines – at the University of Utah in new and different ways. Cash prizes will be awarded to winners, with a first place award of $600.

A dynamic, artistic photo of a dancer with repeated, semi-transparent overlay of movements, creating a blurred, flowing effect against a soft peach background.

Lost in Translation (Jaylen De’Angelo Clay – Dance)

Aerial view of a rocky coastline with frothy dark waves meeting a lush green forest. The contrast creates a dynamic, natural border.

Shoreline (Kelly Chang – Materials Science)

Close-up of a textured, round object resembling a root or nutmeg placed on a blurred digital map background with green and purple hues.

History of the World in a Nutmeg (Tracy Anne Travis – English)

Close-up grayscale image of a complex spiderweb-like structure with intricate threads and holes, resembling a microscopic organic form.

What makes a house a home (Zunaira Shoaib – Pathobiology)

A Space Where Art and Inquiry Meet

They say an image is worth a thousand words. Whether your research explores the use of fungi in biomedical materials, neurorobotics to support stroke patients, the shaping of domestic violence policy, or the legacy of Black cowboys in the American West, the Image of Research provides a platform to express scholarship in imaginative and unexpected ways.

“Research goes beyond outcomes; it’s fueled by curiosity, exploration and our natural desire to understand,” says Sarah Shreeves, the Alice Sheets Marriott Dean of Libraries and event organizer. “Condensing research into a single image can feel impossible, but it can also reveal beauty and meaning in ways that traditional presentations cannot.”

“When people can see research—literally see it—it changes how they connect to it. The Image of Research makes science, creativity, and discovery feel more human, more understandable and more within reach for everyone, “ says Erin Rothwell, Vice President for Research.

Celebrating Originality and Impact

Individuals can submit work through January 24, inviting participants from all disciplines across the university. Entries will be evaluated on three criteria:

Originality
Visual Impact
Connection between Image or Video, Text, and Research

Selected works, including the winning entries, will be displayed at the Celebrate U: Image of Research event on March 31 in the Marriott Library and highlighted across campus communications this spring. Prizes will be awarded for top submissions, along with special recognition for entries demonstrating exceptional interdisciplinary reach or community engagement.

More Than a Competition

Beyond the awards, the Image of Research serves as a platform for reflection and connection—between disciplines, between researchers and the public and between art and science. It invites participants to consider what drives their work and why it matters, while offering viewers a vivid glimpse into the depth and diversity of research happening at the U.

For over a decade, the University of Illinois has inspired participants to capture the beauty of discovery; the U’s event builds on that legacy, providing a dynamic new avenue to express the visual and emotional dimensions of scholarship.

The spring exhibition will be open to the campus community and the public, with works displayed both in person and online.

Whether you’re conducting laboratory experiments, curating historical archives, composing music or analyzing social systems, your research tells a story—and The Image of Research invites you to share it.