Elegance of science: Coordinating an annual scientific art contest at the library

In fall 2008, the Marston Science Library, the library of the University of Florida, held its first annual Elegance of Science art contest. The event was a huge success and culminated in the display of 116 pieces of artwork, including everything from mosaics collected from the surface of solid lubricant material to compounds detected using mass spectrometry imaging. The main goal of the contest was to increase the UF Libraries' overall mission to serve as places for contemplation and discovery. Here, Buhler and David discuss how the library coordinated to conduct an annual scientific art contest.