See the first place winner of the Art of Science competition “Selfie … Cephie” at the gallery opening reception March 31. (Chelsea Bennice, Ph.D.)

March 26, 2026 – Florida Atlantic University’s Division of Research will open the seventh annual Art of Science gallery with a reception and awards presentation on March 31 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Ritter Art Gallery, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus.

The Art of Science photography and video competition is a flagship event for the Division of Research, celebrating the convergence of scientific inquiry, research excellence and artistic expression. Winners are chosen from submissions by FAU faculty, students, staff and postdoctoral fellows that capture moments of beauty found only through conducting research.

“Art of Science shines a light on hidden gems researchers encounter every day,” said Cammi Clark, Ph.D., associate vice president, FAU University Communications, who initiated the contest in 2018 and has overseen it ever since. “Every year, we are awed by the submissions and the new perspectives they offer of the world around us and beyond.”

In addition to the remarkable images and videos on display, the opening night event will feature a special address from FAU President Adam Hasner. Attendees can also experience the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute’s new augmented reality platform, Anatomy X, and explore an interactive, 3D model of the entire human anatomy system. New this year is a self-guided audio tour of the gallery, which will offer even deeper insights into the science behind the art. The reception includes light refreshments and opportunities to engage with this year’s winners, FAU leadership and leading research faculty.

This year’s contest drew more than 200 entries – one of the highest participation rates in the program’s history. On display at the Ritter will be 33 honorees, including the overall top three winners, top submissions for field work and laboratory research, top video, top postdoc, top staff, People’s Choice, 10 research excellence awards and 12 honorable mentions. Each stunning image and video is a unique window into a different research discipline, including marine science, aerospace engineering, neuroscience, biology, aquaculture and drug discovery.

The first place photo, submitted by Chelsea Bennice, Ph.D., postdoctoral researcher in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, captured the moment when an octopus seemingly tried to take a “selfie” with a diver’s camera. Octopus are notoriously elusive animals. Bennice’s photo offers a rare, up-close encounter with a curious cephalopod and celebrates its complex arm flexibility and control.

A panel of judges from across the university selects the top winners. But the public is also able to weigh in through the People’s Choice Award. This year’s winner is Aleksandra Nedovic, a doctoral student in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. An abstract swirl of purple, blue and aqua, her image “Developing New Drugs” shows the colorful side of a model for studying opioid receptor function and screening new therapeutic compounds.

Attendance to the opening night reception is free, but registration is requested. The gallery will be on display and open to the public through April 20. To learn more about the Art of Science contest, the winners and to register, visit www.fau.edu/research.

About Florida Atlantic University:

Florida Atlantic University serves more than 32,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses along Florida’s Southeast coast. Recognized as one of only 13 institutions nationwide to achieve three Carnegie Foundation designations – R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production,” “Opportunity College and University,” and Carnegie Community Engagement Classification – FAU stands at the intersection of academic excellence and social mobility. Ranked among the Top 100 Public Universities by U.S. News & World Report, FAU is also nationally recognized as a Top 25 Best-In-Class College and cited by Washington Monthly as “one of the country’s most effective engines of upward mobility.” To learn more, visit www.fau.edu.