Plenty of Beauty at the Bottom
The NNCI Image Contest 2022 - Winning and Honorable Mention Images
In honor of National Nanotechnology Day, October 9th, the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) hosted 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 were produced at one of the 16 NNCI sites during the past two years.
Sites from across the NNCI contributed stunning, unique, and whimsical images of the micro and nanoscale for the 2022 image contest. The public cast more than 2,800 votes to determine these winners. In addition to first place, honorable mentions are also selected. First place winning artists will receive up to $1,000 in travel support to a professional conference of their choice and their NNCI site will receive a framed print of their winning image. Sites who received honorable mentions will also receive a framed print of their image.

Most Stunning - Winner
Morning Mist in the Lithium Pine Forest
Artists: Pu Riley Zhang (Graduate Student), Stanford University - Johanna Nelson Weker and Yi Cui Research Groups
NNCI Site: nano@stanford

Most Stunning - Honorable Mention
Lava Dew Drops on Obsidian Grass Blades
Artists: Mohammad Bakhtiar Uddin (PhD candidate) and Dr. Ram V. Mohan, North Carolina A&T State University/Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering
NNCI Site: Southeastern Nanotechnology Infrastructure Corridor (SENIC)

Most Unique Capability - Winner
Plenty of Waves at the Bottom
Artist: Mohammad Sayem Bin Abdullah, Graduate Student, University of Washington
NNCI Site: Northwest Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NNI)

Most Unique Capability - Honorable Mention
Below the Surface
Artists: Lukas Michalek, Post Doc and Kelly Lui, Graduate student, Stanford University-Zhenan Bao Group
NNCI Site: nano@stanford

Most Whimsical - Winner
Disco in Nano
Artists: Kelly Liu (Graduate Student) and Lukas Michalek (Post Doc), Stanford University-Zhenan Bao Group
NNCI Site: nano@stanford

Most Whimsical - Honorable Mention
A Beautiful Failure: Learning from Experimental Imperfections
Artist: Anjali Kumari, Graduate Student, The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering
NNCI Site: Southeastern Nanotechnology Infrastructure Corridor (SENIC)
Plenty of Beauty at the Bottom 2022 (All Entries)
Most Stunning
Most Unique Capability
Most Whimsical
Plenty of Beauty at the Bottom 2021 images and winners
Plenty of Beauty at the Bottom 2020 images and winners
Plenty of Beauty at the Bottom 2019 images and winners
Want to learn more about nanotechnology? Check out the links below:
Micro Nano Technology Education Center
Remotely Accessible Instruments for Nanotechnology
Nanoeducational Resources Database
Resources for Educators (K-16)
National Nanotechnology Initiative