Image credit: Paul Kirkland, International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems, winner of the 2024 Research Image Competition Open Category. Photo title: Satellites Significance: We Gaze Up, They Watch Over
The annual Research Image Competition has again brought to life Western Sydney University's research through images. 59 staff and students entered the 2025 competition with photographs that told stories of the impact of Western's research and the people that make it happen.
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research, Enterprise and Global) Professor Deborah Sweeney congratulated all entrants.
"The quality of images submitted this year was outstanding. Not only did these photographs showcase Western's research excellence, but they did so in creative, innovative and inspiring ways. The introduction of an AI category this year was also an excellent showcase of the possibilities of this ever-changing technology for both staff and researchers at Western," said Professor Deborah Sweeney.
Winners were announced at Western's Research Celebration and presented their prizes by head judge, University Photographer, Sally Tsoutas.
- Winner of the 2024 Open Category was Paul Kirkland from the International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems with his photograph, Satellites Significance: We Gaze Up, They Watch Over. The judges noted this image was fascinating, a sound illustration of the topic, and commented that the position of the camera, and the way in which the terrain was illuminated, was both technically good and creative.
- Runner up was Timon Ax, a student with the School of Medicine, with his photograph, Falling in Love with Science. The judge's commented that this image captures real determination for research and the viewer gets a real feeling for the extreme environment experienced by the scientists during their work.
- Winner of the AI Category was Rocco Cavaleri from the School of Health Sciences with his photograph, Brainsight: Shocking the System. The judges commented that this was a fantastic example of the value of using an authentic image as a base, and then utilising AI effectively in photography. They also noted that the image shows how AI can enable illustrators to access appropriate imagery that is fit for purpose without the use of stock imagery.
- Winner of the People's Choiceaward was Emma Rich from the Division of Research, Enterprise and Global with her image, Resilience in Flames (an AI Category image).
