"Wow, that's art." That's something you're bound to have thought sometime, looking down a microscope.You might be right - be it the multi-faceted eyes of a Drosophila staring back at you through the lens or that amazing sight of nerve cells firing in a rat's brain that got you hooked on neuroscience for life. Whatever it was that took your breath away, it's time to share all those stunning digital microscopy images or videos that you may have stashed away - and win amazing prizes.

The Olympus BioScapes International Digital Imaging Competition organised and sponsored by Olympus America Inc., is now accepting entries of digital art or "bioscapes" till the 30^th of September 2011. You can even tell the story behind your work of art.

"Microscope images forge an extraordinary bond between science and art," the website quotes Osamu Joji, Olympus America's Vice President and General Manager for the Scientific Equipment Group. "We look at BioScapes and these beautiful images as sources of education and inspiration to us and the world."

The first prize winner will earn his/her choice of Olympus products valued at $5,000 and an expense paid trip for two to the awards reception in December, including transportation and accommodation at a hotel in New York. The next best nine entries will be presented with Olympus products. That's not all - in an attempt to take science to the public, the best entries will also be exhibited at various museums, academic libraries and research institutes across the United States and Canada throughout the year.

All aspiring contestants have to register on the official website to take part in the competition. Information about registering for the competition along with rules to be followed are detailed on the website www.olympusbioscapes.com.