​Prof Lydia-Marie Joubert, manager of the Electron Microscopy unit at the Central Analytical Facilities, received the first prize for her photo 'Microscopic Escher' in a competition of the NRF South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement in the category 'Science as Art 2017'.

 'Microscopic Escher'

The photo shows the cellular patterns of rose petals. Floral petals were imaged live, and treated with Ionic Liquid to make them conductive for electron microscopic imaging. The photograph was taken with a scanning electron microscope. Closer inspection reveals an abundance of microscopic life on the rose petal.