Peacock Mountain, the second-place image of a laser weld by mechanical and mechatronics engineering student Mikhail Malmyguine.
The Art of Engineering and Architecture research photo contest 2025 had a wide range of beautiful entries all of which truly represented the heart of the contest, showcasing the beauty of their fields.
Second-place, with a prize of $500, was taken by Mikhail Malmyguine, a graduate student in mechanical and mechatronics engineering. This big winning picture titled Peacock Mountain is a digital microscopy. The image features a laser weld, created by the laser directed energy deposition (LDED) process. Its striking beauty includes colourful streaks of iron and titanium oxides pointing back to the centre. This centrepiece is a weld termination defect from surface tension forces. All the elements of the photo work together to create a stunning piece.
There were many other fantastic submissions from other departments, with the whole faculty truly stepping forward in this contest.
All the entries did a wonderful job at showcasing the beauty of the field and allow for a close up look at the wonder of engineering and architecture. Take a closer look at Peacock Mountain and the other 2025 winners on the research photo contest winners page.