03.10.07
Prestigious national award for University College Falmouth photography lecturer

Susan Boafo, senior lecturer on University College Falmouth's BA(Hons) Photography course, has outclassed competition from 833 other entries to land a top prize in the Visions of Science & Technology Photography Awards, backed by The Daily Telegraph.

The competition aims to encourage ongoing discussion about science and technology and invites entries in five categories: concepts, art, close-up, action and people.

The panel of judges, including scientists, photographers and picture editors, chose strong images that provide new insight into the world of science and technology or the workings of nature. Adam Hart-Davis, photographer, author, TV science presenter and one of the judges on the competition's panel said: "The entries for the Visions of Science & Technology Awards were of a much higher quality than in previous years. The judges had considerable difficulty choosing the winners, but they certainly enjoyed the challenge."

Susan's stunning image, entitled Speaking with the Sun, combines art and science to 'spell out' the scientific formula for photosynthesis, with letters formed by thousands of microscopic, single celled, Euglena gracilis algae. It was ingeniously created by placing stencils in front of a jar containing the aquatic algae, which moved towards the funnelled light in a process called phototaxis. A new letter appeared every fifteen minutes. Susan, who also lectures on University College Falmouth's new degree course in BA(Hons) Marine & Natural History Photography added: "My art practice reflects an evolving exploration of my relationship with nature. Receiving recognition for my work through this prestigious competition has been extremely encouraging."

The photograph forms part of an ongoing project supported by University College Falmouth's Research Cluster, RANE (Research in Art, Nature and Environment) with the support of Arts Council England. Research Cluster Leader, Dr Daro Montag, added: "The research has developed original methods of working through which these organisms harness the sun's energy to 'speak' or create text within artworks that discuss their role in supplying oxygen to the planet."

Winners of the Visions of Science & Technology Photographic Awards received their awards last week, at a presentation ceremony at the Royal Society, the UK's national academy of science, in Central London. Susan was awarded the first prize of £1000 in the Concepts category.

University College Falmouth is a founding partner in the Combined Universities in Cornwall, a unique initiative to promote regional economic regeneration through higher education. The CUC is funded mainly by the European Union (Objective One), the South West Regional Development Agency, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall County Council.

For further information about BA(Hons) Photography or BA(Hons) Marine & Natural History Photography at University College Falmouth, please visit: www.falmouth.ac.uk, email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 213730.

For further information please contact Jilly Easterby, Head of Public Affairs, University College Falmouth on 01326 213792 or email jilly.easterby@falmouth.ac.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) project, both Phase 1 and Phase 2, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). UniversityCollegeFalmouth is a partner of the CUC.

Editor's notes:

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
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Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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