The NNCI Image Contest 2025

In honor of National Nanotechnology Day, October 9th, the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) is hosting our annual Plenty of Beauty at the Bottom image contest. Referencing Richard Feynman’s 1959 lecture, "There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom," this image contest celebrates the beauty of the micro and nanoscale. Images featured in this contest are produced at one of the 16 NNCI sites during the past two years. Submissions from the 16 sites are due by September 17, 2025. Once the submissions are completed, click on the categories below to see all of the images and learn about the research. Voting will open on  September 22, 2025, and close on October 3, 2025. 

Most Stunning

Most Unique Capability

Most Whimsical

Sites from across the NNCI will be able to contribute stunning, unique, and whimsical images of the micro and nanoscale for the 2025 image contest. First place winning artists will receive a hoodie with their printed image and their sites receive a framed print of their winning image. Honorable mentions will have their sites receive a framed print of their image.