Illinois ECE graduate student named as 2020 Image of Research Semi-Finalist

Illinois ECE graduate student Jianqiao Xiao was recently named as one of the 25 semi-finalists for the 2020 Image of Research competition. The Image of Research competition is a multidisciplinary competition that celebrates the diversity and breadth of graduate student research at the University of Illinois.

Graduate and professional students are invited to submit entries consisting of an image and a brief description of how that image relates to their research. These entries were judged by a multidisciplinary panel for their originality, visual impact, and relevant connection amongst their image, text, and research.

Xiao submitted a picture of a one mega-watt motor and reflected on how his work had risen to life from his computer screen to tangible reality.

As Xiao stated in his description, "I gazed at the motor, taking this picture of its interior magnet arrays, understanding that the parameters of the machine may be accurately simulated using a mathematical model, but its hidden elegance is only truly revealed when it lies around in our life."

All images submitted for the competition will be included in an online exhibit hosted by the University Library and will be archived for long term preservation in IDEALS. Viewers can vote for their top three favorite images on the Illinois Graduate College site to determine the People's Choice winner up until April 30th. Awards will be announced on May 1, 2020. 

The Image of Research competition is organized by the Scholarly Commons of the University Library and the Graduate College. 

Read more from Xiao's description here and view the semi-finalists' submissions here.