About the Visualization Challenge

Some of science's most powerful statements are not made in words. From DaVinci's Vitruvian Man to Rosalind Franklin's X-rays, science visualization has a long and literally illustrious history. To illustrate is to enlighten! Illustrations provide the most immediate and influential connection between scientists and other citizens, and the best hope for nurturing popular interest. They are a necessity for public understanding of research developments.

The National Science Foundation and Popular Science are cosponsors of the long-running Visualization Challenge, now called The Vizzies. The competition, which runs through Sept. 30, 2014, aims to recognize some of the most beautiful visualizations from the worlds of science and engineering.

Visualization Challenge participants can submit their entries in one or more of five categories: Photography, Video, Illustration, Posters & Graphics and Games & Apps. The Experts' Choice winner in each category will be awarded $2,500, and a People's Choice prize of $1,000 goes to the best overall entry.

Expert judges appointed by NSF and Popular Science will select a winner in each of the five categories.

Contest results will be publicly announced in PopularScience and on popsci.com in February 2015, and Popular Photography will recognize the winning photo. NSF will also publish the names of the winners on its website.