PanEuCOPT is glad to announce the launch of its Scientific Contest “PanEuCOPT Shining Through”, an event organized in the framework of the International Day of Light, where we invite YOU to show the world what is PanEuCOPT. Its main aim is to introduce the wide public into the objectives of the Action!
Submit your publication (scientific photograph, video, reel, or anything you feel like!) illustrating:
- The challenges of the Action;
- The objectives of the Action;
- The logo of the action;
- Or how you use light to fight microorganisms!
For inspiration, you can look at IPA 2021 Photogenic Science Contest Winners — International Photodynamic Association (IPA) and at an example of agar art https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXwxU-nIcDY&t=394s. But we encourage our audience to let your creativity wild!
Submission conditions
Submissions are open, starting on May 16th 2026 00:00 UTC + 1 and until June 16th 2026 00:00 UTC + 1! If you wish to participate, we expect the submission on our social networks (Linkedin, Bluesky, Instagram and Threads). For your submission to count, follow the PanEuCOPT Social networks, tag PanEuCOPT in your publication and include the tags #ShiningThrough #PanEuCOPT #COSTActions #ScienceWithoutBorders #NetorkingWorks #HorizonEU #lightday2026 on the text of your submission.
Submissions are encouraged to be in English but it is not mandatory, except for the hashtags!
Please submit by midnight of June 16th 2026! Social media content submitted later will not be considered!
The contest is open to everybody! But a single submission per account will be accepted, with the latest by June 16th being considered for the contest. Additionally, if a social media imagery is uploaded in different social network platforms or accounts, only the latest by June 16th will be considered for the contest.
Social media imagery evaluation
Submissions will be evaluated by a jury composed by the organising committee of the contest. The evaluation will take in account:
- Number of interactions in social networks (10 %)
- Creativity (30 %)
- Science behind the submission (30 %)
- Promotion of PanEuCOPT (30 %)
The decision of the jury is final and definitive.
AI and editing rules
Social media imagery can be retouched and filters can be used. The use of AI to modify an original image is acceptable if it does not alter the scientific message, but the use of AI to produce a new image will not be accepted and content to be suspected of being AI generated will not be considered at the evaluation. The decision of the jury is final and definitive.
Prizes
3 publications will be short listed, based on the evaluation of the jury. Prizes will be distributed as follows:
- 1st place – 200 euros as a gift certificate
- 2nd place – 100 euros as a gift certificate
- 3rd place – 50 euros as a gift certificate
The best 12 publications will be promoted on the social networks across the whole year.
Copyright
All submitters warrant that they own the work submitted and that they have the exclusive copyright. PanEuCOPT recognizes that the photographer retains full ownership of the image copyright.
Usage
Submitters warrant that their content may be reproduced for the purpose of marketing and promoting the PanEuCOPT including catalogues, posters, postcards, publications, and on the Internet. Such use is granted for no more than two years after the announcement of the works selected in this competition. Such use is granted without any payment to the original owner or featured models. Submitters will receive credit with each use, and allow the PanEuCOPT to sublicense their photographs to the press for reproduction in connection with the PanEuCOPT competitions and awards. The PanEuCOPT reserves the right to reject and remove any entry that contains defamatory, racist, obscene or pornographic content, or that may be considered a criminal offence or violate any law.
