2023 MP Biomedicals Image Contest and Travel Awards

MP Bio 2023 Imaging Contest/Travel Awards Terms and Conditions

1. Eligibility:

• Undergraduate students, graduate students, post-docs, professors, and lab personnel employed at an academic or non-profit institution are eligible to submit an image and win a travel award.
• Participants must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the United States.
• Employees, or family members of employees at MP Bio are not eligible.
• Submitted image files must have utilized an eligible MP Bio product to be considered for an award.
• Entry is limited to original work to which the entrant holds copyrights.
• Healthcare and government officials may be ineligible to apply – award is void where prohibited by law.

2. Eligible Conferences (2023-2024) for a Travel Award:

• Society for Neuroscience (SFN) – November 11-15, 2023, Washington, D.C.
• American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) – Dec 2-6, 2023, Boston, MA
• American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) – April 5-10, 2024, San Diego, CA

3. Entry and Submission:

To enter, visit the MP Bio Imaging Contest website at mpbio.com/2023-image-contest and provide the required information within the entry form.

• Limit three image submissions per person. Multiple entries can be submitted if the total number of entries is within this limit. Images that are identical or similar to another submitted image are ineligible for submission. “Identical” or “Similar” image refers to the following:
  • Image produced from identical data.
  • Image produced by cropping or retouching identical image data to alter it.
  • Image produced from similar, though not identical image data, as described above. For example, a frame from the same series of shots, images taken at a different date or time, yet producing the same results, or an image otherwise deemed to be similar.
• Entrants are responsible for the resolution of any legal issues arising from their submitted works and agree to pay any costs thereby incurred.
• Entries that could be disqualified at MP Biomedicals discretion:
  • Content that infringes on any laws, third-party proprietary rights, or is defamatory or libelous.
  • Content that constitutes or encourages criminal behavior, leads to civil liability, or that otherwise violates laws.
  • Commercial content that promotes products or services that do not correspond with MP Biomedicals products or brand.
  • Content in which animals were harmed or manipulated in the making of said content.
  • Content that infringes on the copyrights, trademarks, contract rights, or other intellectual property rights of a third person or entity (whether individuals or companies), or violates rights of privacy or publicity, including: 
    • trademarks owned by third parties 
    • materials protected by third-party copyrights

4. Image Guidelines:

• Acceptable images include files created with any device capable of taking still images, including smartphones and digital still cameras (including medium and large-format digital cameras).
• Images can be edited or retouched using camera apps, photo editing apps, other software, etc., but only for adjusting size, cropping, color contrast, and white balance adjustment within an acceptable range.
• Fluorescent color images are acceptable.
• File sizes should not be more than 10 MB.
• Image data file format: TIFF/150 dpi or more are recommended.
• Entrants must hold all applicable rights to the final image, including any retouching or other image processing.

5. Selection and Notification:

• Finalists will be selected by a panel of MP Bio judges based on eligibility requirements, scientific merit, and use of MP Bio’s products. A final winner will be selected to receive a $500 travel award based on the greatest number of votes from an open poll. There will be one award recipient for each eligible annual meeting.
  • For SfN 2023, images must be received no later than October 11, 2023.
  • For ASCB 2023, images must be received no later than November 2, 2023.
  • For AACR 2024, images must be received no later than March 5, 2024.
• The initial round of all eligible submissions will be selected by a panel of judges who are qualified and have relevant expertise and experience relating to fluorescence cell imaging. All submissions will be judged based on (a) scientific merit (b) use of MP Biomedicals fluorescence imaging products, and (c) meeting of all eligibility requirements.
• The panel of MP Bio judges will narrow contest selections down to 10 or fewer images. These images will be posted in an open poll for the public to vote on and select the final winning image, based on the greatest number of votes.
• Odds of winning are dependent on the number and quality of eligible submissions received.
• MP Bio will notify (via email or phone) all image contest finalists no later than one week after the submission deadline, and prior to posting images to the public voting poll.
• The final travel award recipient will be notified at least 10 days prior to the start of the selected conference.
• By submitting an image, one agrees to consent to the rules, terms, and conditions of the program and consents to receive communications from MP Bio.
• Award finalists and winners grant consent to have their name, biographical information, photo, research summary, and submitted image published on MP Bio's website or used for additional marketing purposes, including, but not limited to, flyers, brochures, and social media posts.
• Each entrant or co-entrant consents to MP Bio’s marketing or other commercial use of any winner's name, likeness, photograph, and opinions regarding the contest and prize for any purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration. MP Bio anticipates using screenshot photographs and descriptions of the winning image which will be published online and other sources. All winners agree to reasonably cooperate in the publicity efforts of MP Bio.

6. Travel Award and Reimbursement:

• There will be one travel award recipient for each eligible conference for an amount up to, and not to exceed, $500 USD each to reimburse travel costs associated with attending the conference (not redeemable as cash).
• Travel costs can include meeting registration, transportation, meals, and accommodation expenses.
  Upon conclusion of the scientific conference, award recipients will have 30 days to submit receipts related to travel expenses to MP Bio. 
• MP Bio will reimburse recipient’s travel expenses within 4-6 weeks of receiving the required receipts.
• Proof of attendance at the eligible conference is required prior to payment of the award.
• Any applicable taxes or other duties or fees are the sole responsibility of the award recipient. Recipient must submit any tax documentation as requested by MP Bio or as applicable by law. Failure to do so may result in forfeiting of the award.

7. Additional Conditions:

• By submitting an image and additional information, you agree to receive information from MP Bio. Your information will not be sold to third parties.
• Participants agree that personal data may be collected, stored, and shared by MP Bio for the purposes of administration of the award.
• MP Bio reserves the right to modify, cancel, or terminate the Imaging Contest/Travel Awards program without notice.
• The Imaging Contest/Travel Awards program is subject to all applicable laws and regulations and void where prohibited or restricted by applicable federal, state, provincial and other local laws or regulations.
• No award substitution or cash redemption allowed by winner. No award is transferable, and one award will be issued to the named applicant.
• Winners are liable and solely responsible for all federal, state, provincial, municipal income taxes and any other fees, costs, or taxes associated with winning or use of any award.
• All submissions and designs are assigned to, and shall become the sole property of Sponsor upon submission to the contest.
• Limitation of Liability. Each applicant warrants and represents that his or her entry complies with these Official Rules, and agrees to be bound by these rules and to release MP Biomedicals, LLC (“MP Bio”), its parent, subsidiaries, other affiliates, any advertising or promotion partners, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees and agents, and all actions, suits, claims, damages, demands, obligations or liabilities of any kind whatsoever, by reason of any matter connected in any way with the Imaging Contest/Travel Awards program or awarding, receipt, and/or use or misuse of award or participation in any award related activities. Under no circumstances will any applicant or winner be permitted to obtain, and each applicant hereby waives all rights to, claim punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or attorneys' fees, and applicant further waives all rights to multiplied, increased or otherwise enhanced damages. MP Bio reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend part or all of this contest should any cause beyond the control of MP Bio impair its administration, security, fairness or proper play. In such an event, MP Bio may award awards in a drawing from eligible entries received prior to cancellation or suspension.
• Governing Law; Jurisdiction and Venue. All aspects of the MP Bio Imaging Contest/Travel Award shall be construed under, and governed by, the internal laws of the State of Ohio without regard to conflicts of law principles. Each entrant and co-entrant hereby irrevocably consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the applicable federal or state courts located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio and agrees to bring any litigation arising out of or with respect to any disputes arising out of the contest only in such courts. This Imaging Contest/Travel Award program is not governed by the United Nations Convention for the International Sale of Goods.

8. Contact:

• Submit questions or general inquires to [email protected].