Judging looked a bit different this year — a much larger room and a lot more distance. Judges pictured, from the bottom row up, are UB faculty members David Lacy, Andrea Markelz (left), Luis Velarde (right). David Heppner, and Ekin Atilla (standing).

“I think it’s a great example of interdisciplinary stuff,” said physics professor Andrea Markelz, who has judged previous contests. “We are all united in crystallography, we all use it in material science and it’s nice to [see] many fields together working on this.”

Travis Nelson, graduate instructional support technician in the Department of Geology, shines a light through a crystal. “I love seeing the final product, the hard work put into these things,” he said. “I can't thank Jason (chemistry professor Jason Benedict) enough for setting it up. And the students for their hard work.”

Luis Velarde, associate professor of chemistry who has judged before, thought there were more entries this year. “It’s always fun. Some are nearly perfect. Some people are more creative.”

Ekin Atilla, professor of chemistry, is also a repeat judge.

David Heppner, assistant professor of chemistry, enjoyed his first experience as a judge, “It’s [judging] a little bit trickier than I thought it would be, but otherwise it’s pretty cool.” His work has some similarities to the crystal-growing, but on a much smaller scale. “It’s always inspiring, geology; it would be fun to do.”

Although the criteria for judging is size, quality and clarity, there is a "coolest" category, and this year there was a runner-up. Chemistry professor and competition founder Jason Benedict is holding the "Super Black Crystal."

But the Snowman crystal took first place. How cool is that?