Scientific photography presents an attitude and a perspective that come from observing the world. In 2013, the National Museum of Natural Science invited submissions for the Amazing New Visions: Science Images Competition from the Chinese-speaking world. To date, a total of 4,686 entries have been received, with 456 having won awards and been displayed during five special exhibitions, 31 traveling exhibitions, and 35 popular science educational activities, as well as in four special publications and on 20 websites. They have been viewed by more than 1.35 million people. 

For the 8th Science Images Competition, held in 2022, 515 entries were received. Among them, 513 were from Taiwan and two were from Malaysia. Of the 256 contributors, except for one living in Malaysia, all reside in Taiwan. In terms of occupation, most (36.7%) are students, followed by manufacturing, commercial, and services industry professionals (33%); soldiers, law enforcement personnel, civil servants, and educators (14.7%); freelancers (7.4%); unemployed (homemakers, retirees, or between jobs, 4.7%), or working in agriculture (1%). In addition, most (69.3%) have finished their education and are aged between 23 and 75, followed by university and college students (21.4%), high school students (6.6%), and junior high and elementary school students (2.7%).

Following a three-stage review process by experts and scholars from various fields, three first prize winners, two Quanta Culture and Education Foundation Special Youth Award winners, two Scientific Koshien High School Student Special Award winners, two Scientific Koshien High School Student Encouragement Award winners, and 57 honorable mentions were selected. Among those who contributed award-winning works, 65 were from Taiwan and one was from Malaysia. In terms of subjects, most (19) were in the insect category, followed by the underwater and marine life (17), amphibians and reptiles (5), fungi (5), astronomy and meteorology (4), birds (4), plants (3), arthropods (3), geology and minerals (2), microscopic world (2), and physics and chemistry (2) categories. There were 32 submissions comprised of one image and 32 submissions comprised of three images (each 48%), as well as two submissions comprised of two images (3%).

Psychologist Carl Jung once said that through our senses, we experience what is known, but intuition points to those things that are hidden and unknown, which are essentially mysterious. The science images that have been submitted to this competition over the years have recorded the beauty and mysteries of science and captured the mysterious changes taking place in the environment.

Many thanks are owed to those who have contributed to and participated in the Particle Compositions with Magical Power ≋ Online Preview of the 8th Science Images Exhibition, for their hard work and enthusiasm. Each press of the shutter button is an exploration of the natural world and a testament to the interdependent relationship between humans and nature. The physical exhibition of these works will be launched in summer 2024. Since the first exhibition, the curatorial team has worked to incorporate an art/literature/music approach, introduce green circular design concepts, and integrate friendly and equal access facilities. Please check back for more information about this upcoming event.