Alejandro Santos García, PhD researcher at EETAC, winner of the UPC European Doctoral Day photography competition

Alejandro Santos García, a PhD researcher and lecturer at EETAC and member of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group (GAA) at UPC, has been recognized as the winner in the science category of the first edition of the research photography competition “Scientific Perspectives: Research Through Images”, organized by the UPC Doctoral School in the European Doctoral Day. The competition, which includes five thematic categories covering different areas of doctoral research, aims to promote creativity and science communication among early-career researchers.

The award-winning image, entitled “When the Milky Way aligns with science”, features a spectacular capture of the night sky taken from the William Herschel Telescope, located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (La Palma). The photograph shows the Milky Way alongside a luminous beam produced by the laser used in the Laser Guide Star (LGS) technique, a fundamental tool in adaptive optics that corrects for atmospheric turbulence and improves the quality of astronomical observations.

The composition stands out for illustrating the coexistence of the beauty of the natural night sky with the advanced technology that enables its study with greater precision. The silhouette of the telescope, illuminated by the laser itself, adds a striking visual element that emphasizes this interaction between science and engineering.

The competition is part of the activities of the European Doctoral Day, an initiative aimed at increasing the visibility of doctoral researchers’ work and promoting the dissemination of research through creative formats such as photography.

This recognition highlights both the artistic quality and the scientific relevance of the work carried out by EETAC researchers.