Nature Announces Winners of 2026 Scientist at Work Photo Competition
Nature magazine has announced the winners of its 2026 #ScientistAtWork photo competition, which received over 220 submissions from around the world. The overall winner, captured by student Gunnar Hartmann, shows Helena Wehner guiding northern bald ibises from an ultralight aircraft during a 2,800-kilometer migration project in Europe. The competition highlights diverse scientific work ranging from bird conservation to marine research, with winners receiving £500 and publication in Nature.
Nature magazine has released the winning images from its 2026 #ScientistAtWork photo competition, which attracted more than 220 entries globally. The overall winner, photographed by University of Koblenz student Gunnar Hartmann, depicts Helena Wehner leading a flock of northern bald ibises (Geronticus eremita) from an ultralight aircraft across Spain and Germany as part of the Waldrappteam's annual 50-day, 2,800-kilometer migration project. The ibises, which disappeared from the Alpine region approximately 400 years ago due to poaching and climate change, are hand-raised by human carers to whom they form bonds, allowing them to follow the aircraft. Additional winning images showcase marine research, including a coral reef study in the Red Sea investigating how corals adapt to rising water temperatures, and marine biologist Michael Doane collecting microorganism samples from a whale shark off Western Australia. Winners receive £500 (US$670) and have their images featured in Nature magazine.
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Five winning images of scientists at work
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