Art and Science: spotlight on plants through images

Throughout the year, photo competitions, exhibitions and scientific workshops showcased scientific imaging, and in particular microscopy images, at both scientific and public outreach events.

Presented below, in chronological order, are the four events held during the year:

An internal photo competition was organised for the first time at the IJPB by the “Cytology/Imaging” platform PO-Cyto of the Plant Observatory -OV. The 28 photographs submitted were put to a vote by all members of the IJPB, and two prizes were awarded:
> Best microscopy image: Pierre-François Perroud – young moss capsule between two leaves
> Best “other” image: Wenjia Xu – amaranth flower
The PO-Cyto platform also awarded a special prize to Sophie Bigot for a microscopy image of a thale cress leaf.
The winners received a print of their photograph, and a second print of each of the three winning images is now permanently displayed at the platform.

A scientific workshop entitled the King' Kitchen Garden under the microscope” was held during the National Agriculture Days on 7 and 8 June 2025.
This workshop was based on a selection of images produced mainly at the IJPB PO-Cyto “Cytology/Imaging” platform, using various microscopy techniques applied to around twenty plant species collected from the King' Kitchen Garden -ENSH Versailles. It also included the observation of fresh plant material under the microscope. Led by IJPB scientists, the workshop was open to all audiences, with a particular focus on children (IJPB news, 04/06/25).

A photo exhibition – Plants Revealed, held from 26 September to 15 October 2025 at the Médiathèque du canal Murmed in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, as part of the “Fête de la Science”.
The exhibition presented primarily microscopy images obtained using different techniques, selected jointly by the “Cytology/Imaging” platform PO-Cyto and the IJPB outreach group. Nearly forty images were printed in large formats (A1 or A2), either as labels or mounted on foam board. The exhibition was arranged as a guided visual trail throughout the library spaces. In addition, a collection of microscopy images designed to stimulate the imagination was made available in booklet form. The library retained some of the photographs from the exhibition, while the others have since found a second life, being displayed at the PO-Cyto platform and within IJPB laboratories (IJPB news, 17/09/25).

A photo competition was organised during the 14th Scientific and Technical Days of the INRAE Microscopists’ Network RmuI, hosted by the IJPB from 5 to 7 November 2025 (IJPB news, 10/07/25).
The 23 photographs submitted were exhibited and put to a vote by participants, and displayed in the network’s photo gallery on the RmuI website.
A selection of images from the “Plants Revealed” exhibition was also featured, with some photographs displayed outdoors near the platform where visits and scientific workshops took place. Several prizes were awarded to IJPB scientists:
> Colour photographs – joint 3rd prize: Aurélie Hurel - 3D reconstruction of a nucleus and Grégory Mouille - tomato floral bud trichome
> Black and white photographs – 3rd prize: Matteo Caroulle - pomegranate ovules within the ovary

New life for photos of the exhibition "Plants Revealed"


At the “Cytology/Imaging” platform PO-Cyto of the Plant Observatory -OV


including the photo for the poster of the workshop at the King' Kitchen Garden -ENSH in Versailles


and in the IJPB laboratories


Exhibition for the 14th Scientific and Technical Days of the INRAE Microscopists’ Network RmuI


including at the upper place photo of the "Plants revealed" exhibition



In connection with the research developed at the Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences.