As part of effort to increase public awareness on scientific illustrations and provide an opportunity for people to appreciate the true beauty of indigenous species, the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR) has held Scientific Illustration Contest annually from 2006. The subject is Korean indigenous species excluding cultivated or foreign originated plants and animals.

Strix aluco (2014/2014) by Kim JaehwanNational Institute of Biological Resources

Scientific drawing or illustration refers to a style of drawing to convey exact information of animals and plants with a minimum of artistic interpretation. Using delicate and sophisticated touch of brush technique and harmony of colors, scientific illustration depicts unique characteristics of living creatures with more precision and detail than photos do, recognized as a distinctive field where arts and science are mingled together.

Owl(Strix aluco), Endangered Wild Species Class Ⅱ of Korea, Kim Jaehwan, 2014

Botaurus stellaris (2014/2014) by Kim JiminNational Institute of Biological Resources

Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Kim Jimin, 2014

Columba rupestris (2015/2015) by Jin GyeongsunNational Institute of Biological Resources

Hill pigeon(Columba rupestris)
Jin Gyeongsun, 2015

Upupa epops (2015/2015) by Seong SiwonNational Institute of Biological Resources

Hoopoe(Upupa epops)
Seong Siwon, 2015

Dendrocopos major (2015/2015) by Lee JihyeonNational Institute of Biological Resources

Great spotted woodpecker(Dendrocopos major)
Lee Jihyeon, 2015

Cuculus canorus, Paradoxornis webbianus (2015/2015) by Nam SeonghunNational Institute of Biological Resources

Common cuckoo(Cuculus canorus) and Vinous-throated parrotbill(Paradoxornis webbianus)
Nam Seonghun, 2015

Gallicrex cinerea (2014/2014) by Jin GyeongsunNational Institute of Biological Resources

Watercock(Gallicrex cinerea) female and male
Endangered Wild Species Class Ⅱ of Korea
Jin Gyeongsun, 2014

Martes flavigula (2014/2014) by Jeon SujeongNational Institute of Biological Resources

Yellow-throated marten(Martes flavigula)
Endangered Wild Species Class Ⅱ
Jeon Sujeong, 2014

Vulpes vulpes (2015/2015) by Kim JuncheolNational Institute of Biological Resources

Red fox(Vulpes vulpes)
Kim Juncheol, 2015

Phoca largha (2015/2015) by Hong HyejinNational Institute of Biological Resources

Spotted seal(Phoca largha)
Hong Hyejin, 2015

Pteromys volans (2015/2015) by Ko MiyeongNational Institute of Biological Resources

Siberian flying squirrel(Pteromys volans)
Endangered Wild Species Class Ⅱ
Ko Miyeong, 2015

Eremias argus (2015/2015) by Sin YujeongNational Institute of Biological Resources

Mongolia racerunner(Eremias argus)
Endangered Wild Species Class Ⅱ
Sin Yujeong, 2015

Cambaroides similis (2014/2014) by Lim DongsinNational Institute of Biological Resources

Crayfish(Cambaroides similis)
Lim Dongsin, 2014

Oncotympana fuscata (2015/2015) by Jo HyerimNational Institute of Biological Resources

Robust cicada(Oncotympana fuscata)
Jo Hyerim, 2015

Nannophya pygmaea (2014/2014) by Lee SeonhwaNational Institute of Biological Resources

Scarlet Dwarf(Nannophya pygmaea)
Endangered Wild Species Class Ⅱ
Lee Seonhwa, 2014

Inachis io (2014/2014) by Kim JuncheolNational Institute of Biological Resources

European Peacock(Inachis io)
Kim Juncheol, 2014

Shirakiacris shirakii (2015/2015) by Ryu JieunNational Institute of Biological Resources

Calliptamus abbreviatus(Shirakiacris shirakii)
Ryu Jieun, 2015

Rubus oldhamii, Papilio xuthus (2015/2015) by Ahn MigyeongNational Institute of Biological Resources

Korean creeping raspberry(Rubus oldhamii) and Asian swallowtail(Papilio xuthus)
Ahn Migyeong, 2015

Aristolochia contorta, Sericinus montela (2015/2015) by Kim JiyeongNational Institute of Biological Resources

Aristolochia contorta Bunge(Aristolochia contorta) and Dragon Swallowtail(Sericinus montela)
Kim Jiyeong, 2015

Abeliophyllum distichum (2014/2014) by Lim EunhyeNational Institute of Biological Resources

Korean abelialeaf(Abeliophyllum distichum)
Endangered Wild Species Class Ⅱ
Lim Eunhye, 2014

Vitex rotundifolia (2014/2014) by Bae HyeryeonNational Institute of Biological Resources

Roundleaf chastetree(Vitex rotundifolia)
Bae Hyeryeon, 2014

Impatiens textori (2014/2014) by Jung YunmiNational Institute of Biological Resources

Impatiens(Impatiens textori)
Jung Yunmi, 2014

Aeschynomene indica (2014/2014) by Park ChanaeNational Institute of Biological Resources

Indian jointvetch(Aeschynomene indica)
Park Chanae, 2014

Hemistepta lyrata (2014/2014) by Cho HyeonsukNational Institute of Biological Resources

Hemistepta lyrata
Cho Hyeonsuk, 2014

Rhodeus uyekii (2014/2014) by Park HyeyeongNational Institute of Biological Resources

Scientific drawings describe shapes and features of living organisms in a way closer to real life that cameras can’t capture. This type of drawing better conveys information on micro organs and their structure and species-typical features by realistically depicting living creatures or the process of their growth. For this reason, scientific illustration has a significant role to play in acrademia even today where there has been huge progress in photography. Scientific drawings use stippling and simple line techniques so they are generally black-and-white. They usually come with scale bars to represent actual size of living objects.

Korean Rose Bitterling(Rhodeus uyekii), Park Hyeyeong, 2014

Eriocheir sinensis (2014/2014) by Kim JonghwanNational Institute of Biological Resources

Chinese mitten crab(Eriocheir sinensis)
Kim Jonghwan, 2014

Pulsatilla cernua var. koreana (2015/2015) by Woo EunjuNational Institute of Biological Resources

Pulsatilla cernua var. Koreana
Woo Eunju, 2015

Callipogon relictus (2015/2015) by Choi EunjiNational Institute of Biological Resources

Callipogon relictus
Choi Eunji, 2015

Araneus mitificus (2015/2015) by Lee JunhoNational Institute of Biological Resources

Kidney garden spider(Araneus mitificus)
Lee Junho, 2015

Plecoglossus altivelis (2014/2014) by Jeong HangilNational Institute of Biological Resources

Ayu(Plecoglossus altivelis)
Jeong Hangil, 2014

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