Lennart Nilsson Award 2023 is awarded to Fredrik Pleijel

Fredrik Pleijel, researcher in marine biology at the Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, is awarded the 2023 Lennart Nilsson Award for his ability to depict and make visible the beauty of marine life. “I'm just a photographer who happened to be fascinated by the animals in the sea”, says Fredrik Pleijel.

Fredrik Pleijel researches the phylogeny of marine worms and the taxonomy of invertebrates. For many years, he has developed and refined techniques and methods to capture the beauty of marine worms and other marine organisms with the help of the camera. These inconspicuous animals are perceived by many as ugly or even disgusting, but Pleijel's deep knowledge of species, in combination with his images, contributes to arousing curiosity and interest in these important organisms.

Motivation:

Fredrik Pleijel is awarded the 2023 Lennart Nilsson Award for his scientific photography of fragile marine animals. In the spirit of Lennart Nilsson, he makes the invisible life of marine invertebrates not only visible but also aesthetic and fascinating. His images are an important contribution to the taxonomy of organisms in marine sediments. Through his images he reaches well outside the academic world in portraying the beauty of marine life and stimulating our fascination for biodiversity.

The Lennart Nilsson Award Foundation was established in 1998 in recognition of the world-renowned Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson and his extraordinary body of work. The main aim is to promote education, training, and research within the medical, biological, and engineering sciences through the use of images. This is achieved through the Lennart Nilsson Award, an international award bestowed annually upon an individual in recognition of outstanding contributions within the realm of scientific photography.

For more information, contact:

Fredrik Pleijel 
Mail: fredrik.pleijel@marine.gu.se