Washington, D.C.-The American Society for Microbiology is excited to announce a new partnership with MilliporeSigma*. MilliporeSigma, a leader in innovative life science products and services, will sponsor ASM's annual Agar Art Contest, supporting prizes awarded to the contest winners.
ASM's Agar Art Contest gives scientists and artists a platform to showcase their creativity by using live microbes to "paint" images on agar, the gelatin-like substance that serves as food for microorganisms. Highlighting the beauty and diversity of microbes, the contest draws hundreds of entries each year from scientists and creators around the globe. The theme of 2023's contest is "Microbiology in Space."
MilliporeSigma will also support travel for the winner of the "Professional" category (artwork created in a formal laboratory setting) to the company's world class agar plate production site in Molsheim, France to take part in a live Agar Art exhibit event hosted by MilliporeSigma. This event is scheduled for the first half of 2024.
"The uniquely beautiful stories our sci-art creators tell with microbes highlight how science and art are intertwined and how the smallest organisms can have a big impact," said Catherine Ort-Mabry, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, ASM. "Working with MilliporeSigma to bring the beauty of microbes to the world is an exciting way for ASM to promote and advance microbial science, and we are looking forward to our partnership."
Agar art entries are due by Oct. 27, 2023. The public may vote for the "People's Choice" winners on ASM's Facebook page from Nov. 13-24, and all winners will be announced in early December. Learn more on the Agar Art Contest webpage.
*MilliporeSigma is the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
