1. HOW TO ENTER/SUBMISSION OF PHOTOS: The MBL Photomicrography Contest is a life science digital imaging competition. All images must depict subjects that are, or at one time were, living. A microscope must be used as part of the photographic process. Images may be captured using any brand of light microscope, camera, or imaging software. Pseudo-colored and other computer-enhanced images are acceptable, as long as image manipulation is done to bring out specific information in the image. LIMIT: Each entrant may submit no more than three (3) images. To enter the contest, you must submit a completed entry form (for each image) along with your image(s) via email to bready@mbl.edu or by dropping off or mailing a CD to Beth Ready Liles in the MBL Communications Office. An 8 x 10” printout (for judging), labeled on the back with your name and title of image, is also required for each image entered, and must be dropped off or mailed to:

Beth Ready Liles (Candle House 203)
MBL Communication Office,
7 MBL Street,
Woods Hole, MA 02543.

2. ELIGIBILITY: The contest is open to anyone who is at least 18 years of age as of the date of entry. Employees, officers, and directors of imaging companies and their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion, fulfillment, and marketing agencies, companies engaged in the manufacture, marketing, or sale of equipment used in photomicrography are NOT eligible to participate.

Images that have been previously published or have earned any award, honorable mention, or prize in any other competition are NOT eligible.

3. CONTEST JUDGING: All eligible images will be judged by an independent panel of experts based on the following criteria:

• Science - Uniqueness of the specimen or processes shown, importance of work, new information revealed, “story” told, relevance to MBL research
• Visual Impact/Aesthetics - Beauty or impact of the image, balance, composition.
• Technical Merit - Challenge of specimen itself - difficulty of capturing structures or data shown, photographic excellence.

All judges' decisions are final.

4. PRIZES. Prize winners will be notified by October 15, 2008. Winners will be sent their prize-winning notification via e-mail, and notification will be confirmed by mail. If a selected potential winner cannot be contacted for any reason, is ineligible or does not comply with these official rules, fails to claim a prize, or if the prize notification or prize is returned as undeliverable, an alternate winner will be selected.

PRIZES: Four prizes, donated by leading microscope companies, will be awarded:

First Prize
Second Prize
Third Prize
Honorable Mention

5. All reasonable care will be taken in handling photos and digital files, but the MBL will not assume any responsibility for their loss or damage. Entries will not be returned and will instead become the property of the MBL to be used in MBL publications, advertisements, promotional materials, and on the MBL website.

6. Failure to comply with and accept all of the preceding rules will disqualify any entry.

7. MISCELLANEOUS: The MBL is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, services, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail or entry to be received by MBL on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site, any combination thereof, or otherwise, including any injury or damage to entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in the contest. By entering the contest or participating in any contest or prize-related activity, participants agree to release, discharge and hold harmless the MBL, its respective affiliates, subsidiaries, retailers, agencies and their respective officers, directors, employees, retail dealers and agents, from any injury, claim, loss or damages of any kind that may arise out of participation in the contest or out of the acceptance, use, misuse or possession of prizes.

By participating, you agree to these Official Rules and to the decisions of the MBL Photomicrography Contest and the judges, which are final and binding in all respects.

Each winner consents to the use by the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) of the winner's name and images for publicity purposes, without additional compensation.