Navigating rough seas, boring into ice cores, and a stunning aurora are some of the subjects of stunning photographs highlighting science and discovery.
Each year, the academic journal Nature selects its favourite photos for its Scientist At Work competition.
This year, a PhD student from the University of Melbourne was one of the six winners announced on Wednesday morning, but the overall prize went to a photo of a scientist braving choppy Norwegian waters on the search for whales.
Top prize for Norway
Biologist Audun Rikardsen on the search for whales near fishing trawlers in the fjords of northern Norway. Credit: Emma Vogel
Vogel, his PhD student, captured the scientist conducting fieldwork with a backdrop of Norwegian fjords and sea birds.
Rikardsen is holding an airgun with satellite tags that track the movement and behaviour of whales.
Another entry from Norway shows two figures on an ice sheet surrounded by impenetrable black.
Geobiologist James Bradley and microbiologist Catherine Larose are conducting fieldwork in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. Credit: Dagmara Wojtanowicz
Australian university student featured
The South Pole Telescope at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole station, taken during Aman Chokshi's stay at the research station. Credit: Aman Chokshi
Chokshi was staying at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole research station when he captured the colourful aurora lighting up the sky.
The competition also featured two-time consecutive finalist Ryan Wagner.
His image of a cheerful woman, Kate Belleville, shows her holding a small group of froglets in her hands in California's Lassen National Forest.
