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UConn Announces Winners of FRAME Art Contest
Featured Research Art & Media Exhibit showcases creativity in research-inspired artwork
Mar. 20, 2026 at 5:48am
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The University of Connecticut's Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) has announced the winners of the first annual Featured Research Art & Media Exhibit (FRAME) contest. The contest received 75 entries from nearly 40 individuals across various campuses, schools, and colleges, with the winning artworks set to be displayed on OVPR walls in Storrs and Farmington.
Why it matters
The FRAME contest aims to spotlight the diverse and fascinating research taking place at UConn by encouraging researchers, students, and others to creatively depict their work through visual art. This helps bring research to life in an engaging way and highlights the university's commitment to supporting creativity and innovation.
The details
The winning entries were selected by a panel of judges from the OVPR based on the originality of the research depicted, the creativity of the depiction, and the aesthetic success of the presentation. The first-place winner was 'Growth Rings of an Ancient Cephalopod' by Tracy Frank, a professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, which used cross-polarized light to reveal the concentric growth rings in an ancient squid-like cephalopod. Second place went to 'Light moves' by Paria Darbandsari, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Kinesiology, which captured participants with Parkinson's disease performing light-based movements as part of a physical therapy and arts project. The third-place winner was 'Duplication Dance' by Juan Abrales, a student in the Department of Digital Media & Design, which showcased the process of mitosis through 3D rendering.
- The FRAME contest received 75 entries from nearly 40 individuals across various campuses, schools, and colleges.
- The winning images will be framed and displayed on OVPR walls in Storrs (at the Whetten Graduate Center) and in Farmington at UConn Health in the coming months.
The players
Tracy Frank
A professor and department head in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Connecticut.
Paria Darbandsari
A Ph.D. student in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Connecticut.
Juan Abrales
A student in the Department of Digital Media & Design at the University of Connecticut.
Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR)
The office at the University of Connecticut that organized the FRAME contest and will be displaying the winning artworks.
What they’re saying
“Opportunities like [the FRAME contest] allow us students to use our creativity to contribute to meaningful fields such as science and research. I am grateful to have been a part of this cause.”
— Juan Abrales, Student, Department of Digital Media & Design
The takeaway
The FRAME contest demonstrates how UConn is fostering an environment that encourages creativity and innovation, allowing researchers, students, and others to bring their work to life through engaging visual art. This helps make research more accessible and highlights the diverse array of fascinating studies taking place across the university.
