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TAGS 2019 Research Image Contest Winners Revealed

Hannah Eberenz photo submition

Written by Nicholas Wommack, Marketing, Poole College of Management

Nine winners. Nine images. Nine displays. This is the beginning of what may be a new annual competition for the Wilson College of Textiles. To demonstrate the research of our students, the Textile Association of Graduate Students (TAGS) developed a contest that will share submitted images with hundreds of individuals. 

From images not visible to the human eye to breathtaking sights, there is much to offer in the presentation of the Textiles Research Image Contest. To get a better understanding of the innovation behind this, we’ve reached out to TAGS president, Mostakima Lubna, who also happens to be one of the winners of the image contest.

Who came up with the idea?  
TAGS. Inspired by the NC State Research Image Contest Envisioning Research, TAGS plans to promote the beauty and significance of multidisciplinary research of Wilson College through images; this is the first Textiles Research Image Contest.

Who was involved in the planning?
This Textiles Research Image Contest is a part of the Textiles Research Open House. With the prior permission of the Research Open House committee and Associate Dean for Research Dr. Xiangwu Zhang, TAGS announced the contest. This was open to all undergraduate, graduate and postdocs of the Wilson College. TAGS also showcased the winning images at the reception for Techtextil North America 2019. All nine winners (three per category) received free admission to the conference. Cash prizes for the winners were given during the Textiles Research Open House 2019 on April 5.

…to promote the beauty and significance of multidisciplinary research of Wilson College through images…

How did the competition work?
Images were submitted in three categories:

  • Photography (including photos of field work, designed dress, fabric and yarn, etc.)
  • Microscopy (Optical, SEM* and TEM**)
  • Graphics and Illustration (colored simulation image and colored SEM/TEM)

Total submission = 36.  Students were allowed to submit three images maximum (one per category).

*Scanning Electron Microscopy
**Transmission Electron Microscopy

How were the images judged?  
Images were judged anonymously (the name of the student or supervisor was not revealed to the judges) by six Wilson College professors who had no student participating in the image contest to avoid conflict of interest. Three winners in each category were chosen based on the average highest marks given by the judges.

Winners

Expand categories to see the winners.

Hannah Eberenz – What Remains

1st – Hannah Eberenz – What Remains ; Advisor – Dr. Sonja Salmon

Microscopic image of cotton at 100x with red plate; cotton naturally contains highly crystalline cellulose as shown by the vivid birefringence of fiber fragments produced during enzymatic digestion. Enzymatic treatment of cotton for bio-cycling research – an alternative approach using less hazardous conditions

Ryan Dwyer – A Song of Fiber and Ice

2nd – Ryan Dwyer – A Song of Fiber and Ice ; Advisor – Dr. Ericka Ford

The natural state of bagasse fiber or sugar cane stalk, twisted and compact situation. Research on developing a sustainable “regenerated cellulose” fiber material from sugar cane fiber

Zahra Ashrafi – Extraordinary Bacterial Bioengineering

3rd – Zahra Ashrafi – Extraordinary Bacterial Bioengineering ; Advisors –
Dr. Lucian Lucia and Dr. Wendy Krause

The Scanning Electron Microscopic image of the cross-section of a composite membrane. Nanofibers visible in this image are produced by bacteria in a bulk nonwoven mat for advanced biomedical application.

1st – Mostakima Lubna – Thermal Solar Eclipse ; Advisor – Dr. Philip Bradford

Mostakima Lubna – Thermal Solar Eclipse

This photo was taken in complete darkness to show the superb heat resistance and thermal stability of carbon nanotube (CNT) / silicon carbide (SiC) nano hybrid structure (glowing) at 1980 °C, exposure to a propane torch burning. Research on producing ultrahigh temperature stable materials for aerospace applications

Karim Aly – Nanotubes Fire Hammer

2nd – Karim Aly – Nanotubes Fire Hammer ; Advisor – Dr. Philip Bradford

Photo was taken while a circumferentially wrapped carbon nanotube (CNT) / silicon carbide (SiC) hybrid structure was suspended over a butane torch burning at temperature of 750 °C. Efficient thermal insulation behavior of ultralight, aligned CNT / SiC nanocomposite, outstanding thermal insulation application

Kelli L. Smith – Uplifting Strategy

3rd – Kelli L. Smith – Uplifting Strategy ; Advisor – Dr. Cassandra Kwon

This photo was taken during helicopter rescue hoist training exercises in Salisbury, NC (June 2018). Helicopter rescue hoist operators have a specialized need for protective hand wear; with one hand they manipulate a pendant for the hoist controls and manage the hoist cable with the other. Advanced protective hand wear gloves research for rescue hoist operators

Mostakima Lubna – Nano-Corn

1st – Mostakima Lubna – Nano-Corn ; Advisor – Dr. Philip Bradford

Colored Scanning Electron Microscopic image of nano-platinum (Pt) particles coating (colored-yellow) on the surface of carbon nanotube (CNT) (colored-pink). Research focus on nano-catalytic reaction applications including fuel cells.

Yu Song – 3D Micro X-ray Computed Tomography

2nd – Yu Song – 3D Micro X-ray Computed Tomography ; Advisor – Dr. Eunkyoung Shim

The micro X-ray computed tomography (MicroXCT) is currently the only technique to visualize and analyze the 3D structure of nonwoven filter media loaded with solid silicon dust particles. Fiber components are red and particle components are green; dynamic filter structure-filtration property relationship analysis

Md Milon Hossain – CNT Jellyfish

3rd – Md Milon Hossain – CNT Jellyfish ; Advisor – Dr. Philip Bradford

Modified polarized image of Carbon Nanotube (CNT) wrapped Dynema yarn. An advanced approach to make super strong and conductive yarn for E- textile applications

How were the images showcased?    
With the help of Techtextil organizer Melissa Sharp, TAGS showcased the nine winning images as individually printed posters in the Techtextil Reception where industry people from all around the United States came. TAGS will also display the winning images on the electronic billboards in Wilson College.