Biology Ph.D. student wins competition for fieldwork photo
March 22, 2024 - Savannah Peat
One University of New Mexico Ph.D. student is being recognized nationally for his showcasing of plant biological studies.
Joseph Kleinkopf just took first place in The American Institute of Biological Sciences’ (AIBS) annual Faces of Biology Photo Contest.
Kleinkopf captured a photo of himself in action atop Sheepshead Peak, part of a challenging, 13-mile trail in Carson National Forest. Here, he’s collecting alpine plant specimens for his fieldwork in UNM’s Biology Department at over 12,000 feet in elevation. Museum of Southwestern Biology Herbarium collections manager, Harpo Faust, who captured the moment, encouraged him to submit the action shot.
“I was surprised to win, because there are a lot of really cool science photos. At the same time, it's a really cool photo,” Kleinkopf said, “One of the reasons for visiting this area is actually that we didn't know what we would find. Now we have a better idea of what grows there.”
Since 2011, the AIBS contest has challenged scientists to become photographers and showcase the varied forms that biological research can take. Whether taken in a lab or in the field, these images have inspired scientists, educators, and students to explore how they can communicate their work to a broader audience.
Read more in the UNM Newsroom
