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Van Leeuwenhoek Awards - Photocompetition 2026

Rules

The Van Leeuwenhoek Awards celebrate the power of microscopy to reveal the unseen. Named after Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, the “father of microbiology” and one of the first microscopist, the competition highlights the unique ability of imaging technologies to uncover hidden structures, patterns and processes that are fundamental to life and health.

Organized by the Leiden Bio Science Park, Leiden University Medical Center and Leiden University, the competition brings together researchers, innovators and organizations connected to the park to showcase outstanding images and visualizations derived from microscopy data. From classical light and electron microscopy to advanced data-driven renderings, the awards aim to recognize work that combines scientific insight with visual impact.

Beyond celebrating excellence, the competition also aims to engage a broader audience by making science visible and accessible, demonstrating how cutting-edge research translates into images that inspire curiosity and understanding.

The following rules outline the submission criteria, selection process and evaluation principles for the Van Leeuwenhoek Awards.

Who can participate

Anyone with a demonstrable connection to the Leiden Bio Science Park may participate. This includes employees of companies located on the park, researchers from universities and knowledge institutions, and residents of the region. Members of the jury and the competition organizers are not eligible to participate.

What can be submitted

Submissions must be based on microscopy or visualizations derived from microscopy data.

Accepted examples include:

  • Light microscopy
  • Electron microscopy
  • Visualizations of microscopy datasets (such as segmentation or 3D renderings)
    • Visualizations must remain scientifically meaningful and responsible representations of the data.

Not permitted:

  • Macro photography
  • AI-generated images
  • Images for which the submitter is not the original creator

The submitter must be the original author of the data. In case of doubt, the jury may request access to the raw data. The jury reserves the right to reject submissions that do not meet these requirements.

Submission requirements

Each submission must:

  • Be of sufficient technical and visual quality
  • Include:
    1. A title
    2. A short description
    3. Information about the microscope or technique used

Each participant may submit a maximum of three entries.

Image processing or visualization techniques (such as contrast adjustment, false coloring, segmentation or 3D rendering) are allowed, provided they do not misrepresent the scientific content. Submissions must not contain identifiable patient information.

How to submit

Entries must be submitted via an online submission form Form.

Submission deadline: 22 May.

By submitting an entry, participants grant Leiden Bio Science Park, Leiden University and Leiden University Medical Center permission to use the image for exhibitions, communication and promotional purposes, with appropriate credit to the creator. Participants may also be contacted to provide additional scientific background information about their submission for use in science communication and outreach activities.

Selection procedure

  1. Pre-selection Submissions that do not comply with the rules will be excluded.
  2. Anonymization Valid submissions will be numbered and forwarded to the jury without the author’s name.
  3. Longlist A first jury, consisting of the facility managers of LUMC Light Microscopy Facility and the Cell Observatory, will compile a longlist of up to 40 images.
  4. External jury An external jury will review the longlist and create a ranked top 10.
  5. Finalists The top 5 finalists will be informed under embargo and invited to attend the award ceremony. The longlist will not be made public.

Judging criteria

Entries will be evaluated based on:

  • Visual impact
  • Originality
  • Technical quality
  • Scientific relevance

In the event of equal evaluation, the jury’s decision will be final. No correspondence about the results will be entered into.

Award ceremony

The award ceremony will take place on 1st of July during the Dutch BioScience Week and will be open to the public.

Winners will receive prizes (to be announced).