University of Saskatchewan’s 2025 Images of Research contest winners

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The 2025 U of S Images of Research photo and imaging competition celebrates the beauty and artistry in the work of University of Saskatchewan researchers. The following images are some of the winners of the 11th annual competition, which featured submissions from research students, staff and alumni.

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“From honeybee yards to the hidden universe inside ourselves, the winners of this year’s contest captured the essence of their research in these eight photographs,” U of S officials said.

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GRAND PRIZE

A Busy Day in a BC Bee Yard; by Maria Janser, undergraduate student, Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine

THEY SAID IT: An early day of field work in a honeybee yard that is pollinating a nearby cranberry field. This farmland is nestled in a valley surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks. The sun glistens on the mountains and the bees fly frantically across the image. The foreground of the picture gives a window into an open colony, highlighting the bees on an individual frame. In the distance, a pair of researchers are analyzing frames for disease, strength and health. This image captures the frenzy and the beauty of honeybee field research.

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ARTS IN FOCUS

Silent Inheritance: The Multigenerational Effects of Arsenic; by Mahesh Rachamalla, PhD student, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Science

THEY SAID IT: This mandala art vividly illustrates the transgenerational impact of arsenic toxicity, revealing how chronic exposure in zebrafish induces cognitive impairments that persist for up to three generations. The color scheme represents varying arsenic doses: green for control, while gray and red indicate increasing exposure levels. At the core, the maze-like pattern reflects the behavioral test used to assess learning and memory, while the interwoven DNA strands symbolize how these effects are inherited through epigenetic modifications, particularly altered DNA methylation patterns. This artwork serves as a compelling reminder that environmental toxins do not merely affect individuals, they shape the neurological and cognitive health of future generations, underscoring the long-term and often unseen consequences of pollution.

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COMMUNITY IMPACT

Wînipekw on the Rising; by Lindsay Carlson, PhD student, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Science

THEY SAID IT: Nearly half a century after work began on the James Bay hydroelectric project, the Eeyou (Crees of Northern Quebec) are working to understand how hydroelectric development and the region’s rapid isostatic rebound are affecting the plants and animals of their traditional territory. Spring goose break is perhaps the most important Eeyou cultural activity, and hunters have noticed a decline in waterfowl passing through each season. We partnered with land users, tallymen, and regional agencies to understand how goose habitat quality and habitat use has shifted following drastic changes to the bay. Cree land user, Dwayne Wistchee, keeps his boat in deeper water while I sample intertidal vegetation used by staging waterfowl on a rising tide.

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MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

The Hidden Universe Inside Us; by Asmaa Fadl, PhD student, College of Dentistry

THEY SAID IT: “You think you are a small entity, but within you is enfolded the entire universe.” – Rumi … What we see under a microscope can be just as vast and complex as the universe itself. This fluorescence microscopy image captures human gingival fibroblasts, the main cells that build connective tissue in the gums. β-Tubulin (orange), a structural protein, forms the cellular framework, stretching like distant galaxies, while the nuclei (blue) resemble scattered stars. This microscopic landscape mirrors the infinite patterns of the cosmos within the fundamental building blocks of our bodies. Beyond its striking resemblance, this image reveals key insights into the structure and behavior of fibroblasts in diseases like fibrosis and cancer, deepening our knowledge and ultimately guiding new treatment approaches.

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RESEARCH IN ACTION

The Invisible Bond: Research and Empathy; by Angie Magana, PhD student, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine

THEY SAID IT: This image captures a moment of deep connection between a researcher who faces the challenge of obtaining answers to scientific questions while providing the best care to an animal.. Animal welfare and ethics are the foundation of our entire process, from the planning and execution of the experiment to the results interpretation. Our priority as a researcher is to always provide a safe and enriched environment that keeps our animals in the best possible mood and health. This research aims to understand how maternal derived antibodies protect piglets against the swine influenza virus.

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FROM THE FIELD

Subarctic Secrets: What Water Samples Reveal About Changing Carbon Flow; by Aram Jalali Bouraban, PhD student, School of Environment and Sustainability

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THEY SAID IT: These water samples are more than just different shades; they tell the story of how Arctic and subarctic landscapes release carbon as water flows into streams. As rainwater flows through rocky slopes, peatlands, and forests in the Taiga Shield ecoregion of NWT, it gathers dissolved carbon and carries it into rivers and lakes. Darker samples come from carbon-rich peatlands, while clearer ones suggest water from forest soil, lakes, or precipitation. But as the region warms, shifting water pathways are changing how much carbon landscapes send to streams and lakes—potentially increasing carbon release into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change, and posing a threat to regional and global sustainability.

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BEST DESCRIPTION

Frozen in Time: Teeth that Never Came to Bite; by Amalya Babayan, Master’s student, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Medicine

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THEY SAID IT: Two million years ago, a child was growing—until time stopped. This CT scan captures the arrested development of a young Paranthropus robustus, revealing the hidden world inside its fossilized jaw. The red pockets trace the spaces carved in jawbone, with eruption paths stretching and tunneling towards the surface. The cyan, yellow, and violet shapes—adult incisors and a canine—never emerged. As soft tissue deteriorated, teeth shifted. The tilted teeth sat patiently for two million years, waiting to be discovered. Found in the Cradle of Humankind, this jaw fragment offers a rare glimpse into how our ancestors grew, just as dentists today track kids’ growth based on their tooth development.

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VIEWERS’ CHOICE

A Breath of Protection!; by Mihiprabha Rathnayake, PhD student, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine

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THEY SAID IT: A delicate cloud of mist swirls inside the transparent chamber as a group of fluffy chicks curiously huddled together, receiving their first shield of protection. The soft golden down of the chicks glows under the light as the nebulizer gently disperses a synthetic DNA molecule called CpG-ODN, ensuring each tiny breath caries a promise of immunity. These young lives embark on their journey with a breath of protection, laying the foundation for a healthier life in a world with challenging pathogenic bacteria like E. coli and C. perfringens.

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