Research story
Researchers are increasingly being asked to share their work with the public, and images are a powerful way to communicate scientific knowledge. They can convey emotion, show beauty and elicit surprise while fostering curiosity.
Karina, congratulations on your award-winning image, Research is made of trials, errors...and bubbles! What made you want to submit an image to Science Exposed?
I decided to submit this image because it reflects the true nature of research: it's unpredictable. The Science Exposed contest felt like the perfect opportunity to share this perspective and make scientific research more accessible. One of the objectives of my PhD work is to bridge the gap between science, engineering and art. This was an opportunity to showcase innovative research and its visual representation.
The image was taken during your work on translucent concrete. Can you tell us more about this material?
Concrete is durable, strong and cost-effective. It's made of cement, fine and coarse aggregate, and water. To create translucent concrete, we can add different elements, such as optical fibres or materials that are capable of transmitting light.
For example, translucent concrete made with optical fibres allows natural light to filter through and reduces the need for artificial lighting, resulting in energy savings. By adding certain components, such as electronic devices or sensors, we can create a smart material that allows the shapes and silhouettes placed behind it to be visible. In this way, translucent concrete could be used in architectural designs for building facades and to improve indoor lighting.
Image of translucent concrete showing the silhouette of a hand.
Your image captures an error that occurred during an experiment. What happened?
The material that I use for the translucent parts of the concrete is called PDMS, or polydimethylsiloxane—a type of resin that is optically clear and flexible.
To create this resin, a base and an activator must be mixed thoroughly. This process introduces a lot of air bubbles. Because concrete is porous, some of those bubbles can get trapped in the pores, and it’s difficult to release them before the mixture is cured, even when using a vacuum chamber.
I accelerated the curing process because we had a problem with leakage, but a lot of bubbles got trapped and didn't have time to escape, which is what is shown in my research image!
You’re currently a PhD candidate working on the design of intelligent and augmented concrete. How did you become interested in civil engineering?
My dream of becoming a civil engineer started when I was a kid. I was fascinated by how buildings and bridges were designed to be both functional and enduring. During my undergraduate studies, I learned that civil engineering involved a lot more than construction. It's about solving real world challenges and offering innovative, sustainable solutions.
Civil engineering is the perfect opportunity to blend functionality with aesthetics. One of my objectives is to bridge these two aspects, to explore where engineering and art meet, so that we can contribute to a future where building materials are smarter, more sustainable and more visually appealing.
You say in your image description that “research is a winding path.” How do you envision your path moving forward?
Research is rarely linear, especially experimental research. It's full of unexpected challenges. I continue to embrace this process and learn from both successes and setbacks.
My immediate goal is to complete my PhD in civil engineering with a focus on developing smart materials. Lots of properties can be explored, and looking ahead, I hope to contribute to research and industry by facilitating the transfer of these innovations from the lab to the real world. I envision contributing to projects that integrate smart materials into construction to create buildings that are strong and adaptive.
Do you have any tips for other researchers who might be interested in submitting a research image to Science Exposed?
Don't be afraid to share, even if it's not perfect. I almost didn't submit my image because it was exposing a mistake that I made in the lab. But that's research— it's trial and errors. It can tell powerful stories about persistence.
I hope my image and all the others inspire people to embrace not only their successes, but also their mistakes. We always plan for research to be perfect, but it doesn't always happen that way. Mistakes can provide insights and help us improve our methods. Share your work, spread your message!
This interview was condensed and edited for length and clarity.
*Acfas is responsible for the French segment of the contest,