Historic Victory for Ukrainian Antarctic Photos in International Science Contest
Five photographs taken by Ukrainian polar explorers in Antarctica have won top honors at the 2024 Wiki Science Competition — marking a record-breaking achievement for Ukraine in the history of the contest, The Gaze reports, citing National Antarctic Science Centre.
The Wiki Science Competition (WSC) is a global initiative aimed at enriching Wikimedia Commons with freely licensed, high-quality scientific images. It welcomes entries from students, researchers, and science enthusiasts around the world.
Two photographs taken by geophysicist Oleksandr Bohomaz during the 29th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition (UAE) were awarded first place in the “People in Science” category. The images depict biologist Serhii Yermolenko collecting water samples from freshwater lakes near the Vernadsky Research Base, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into polar fieldwork.
Bohomaz also received fifth place in the “Living Organisms” category for a candid image of a gentoo penguin. The guano of sub-Antarctic penguins plays a crucial role in shaping local ecosystems, sometimes supporting and other times suppressing flora growth.
In the same category, fourth place went to polar biologist Andrey Utevsky, who photographed the predatory Labiaster annulatus (ringed Antarctic starfish) at a depth of 40 meters near Vernadsky Station.
Another remarkable photo, taken by geophysicist Anna Soina, won second place in the General Category. Her image captured a rare Antarctic phenomenon — a rainbow appearing amidst snowfall — a moment that required both liquid water droplets and ice crystals to coexist in the air.
This year marks a milestone for Ukraine’s scientific and visual contributions to the competition. The National Antarctic Science Centre proudly emphasized:
“Ukrainian polar explorers not only conduct world-class research — they also know how to capture unique scientific moments.”
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