U of G research in focus photo contest

Thanks to everyone who entered our 6th annual Research in Focus photo contest!

Judging is complete and the winning photos are posted below. To learn more about the research projects, click on the images for more detailed descriptions.

View All 2024 Entries

First Place

In the image, a farmer is seated on a wooden cart above his oxen. The animals' faces are in the foreground, holding the wooden structure from their heads. The photo is taken in a rural area, with trees and the sky in the background.

Tobacco in motion, frozen in time – Natalia Ruiz Cuartas 

The tobacco farmer works alongside his oxen to transport the tobacco leaves, which are ready to begin the stringing and drying process. Tobacco is a key part of Cuban culture, identity, and economy.

Research: The photo was taken at the Benigno Acosta Santana Farm in Pinar del Río, Cuba, during the fieldwork of my research about Gender Equity in Agricultural Innovation in Cuba. During the tobacco harvest season, women are mainly in charge of weaving the leaves, while men are primarily responsible for what they call "hard work."

Second Place

A long-shafted metallic surgical instrument, grasping a suturing needle, is close and in focus. The instrument’s orientation showcases the flexibility of the joint connecting the jaws to the shaft. The interior of the laparoscopic simulator is out of focus.Bending Boundaries – Spencer McMillan

Third Place

Close-up of honey bees marked with colored dots on their thoraxesJelly Bees – Wissarut Sukhaket

Honourable Mention

A vulnerable common brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus) grasping the trunk of a tree in a dense dry forest, its hazel eyes intently focused on something in the distance to the left.Primate Conservation and One Health in Madagascar – Stephanie Pedlar

University of Guelph students engaging in the collection of sea ice cores in Alert, Nunavut, located just 800 kilometers from the North Pole.Sea Ice Coring in the High Canadian Arctic – Molly Farquhar

The WEB lab bat field team measuring morphometrics and fitting an identification band on a little brown bat.The Night Shift – Alexandria Cosby

A black, white and grey microstructure of an oyster mushroomChannels to Food Sustainability: The Insight of Edible Mushrooms – Angie Homez

Special prize Agri-Food in Focus Winner

Three young brown-feathered chickens perching on a wooden perch with a metal ramp in the background. The pullet in the foreground is in focus,

Perch Party – Madeleine McAuley

These three-week-old pullets are being used in a behaviour and welfare trial studying the development of perching behaviour. The aim of this research is to inform decisions about the provision of perches for layers in commercial systems.

Special prize Agri-Food in Focus - Honourable Mention

Sunset at the Ontario Beef Research Station Sunset at the Ontario Beef Research Station - Elora ON – Emily Knapper

Four researchers walking in single file from left to right down a gravel road carrying equipment for data collection. The sky is foggy, and a corn field is in the background.Come Together – Madeleine McAuley

A spider perched on a wheat spikeA Natural Ally in the Wheat Field – Zhanghan Zhang

A greenhouse at night with lights lighting it up.Sustainable Agriculture Under Glass – Debarshi Nath

Community Choice Winner

A researcher seated in front of samples

Master Chef: Bacteria Edition – Serving Up Today's Special Petri Plate - Farah Al Qudsi

Research on Bifidobacteria and prebiotic xylooligosaccharides (XOS) is essential for advancing gut health solutions. Bifidobacteria support immunity and digestion, but their levels can decline due to aging or diet changes. Unlike well-known prebiotics, XOS may selectively boost Bifidobacteria growth at lower doses, making it a promising dietary intervention. This work fills a gap in identifying natural compounds that support beneficial gut bacteria without promoting harmful ones, potentially enhancing gut health naturally and reducing reliance on medications.

Photo Galleries

Four images of a woman standing with a net, bees, bee pollinating, and a bird

Photo Gallery - 2024

Four images of a woman standing with a net, bees, bee pollinating, and a bird

Photo Gallery - 2023

Four images of a woman standing with a net, bees, bee pollinating, and a bird

Photo Gallery - 2022

Three images of a bee, a bee, and two pray mantis'

Photo Gallery - 2021

Four images of cells, chemistry test tube, chemistry watch glass, a polar bear

Photo Gallery - 2018

Four images of a bee, eagle, deer and sunset

Photo Gallery - 2017