Rome, May 2026 — The Embassy of Brazil in Rome will host, on May 6, 2026, the award ceremony and exhibition opening bringing together two major photography initiatives: the international prize Through Southern Lenses: Science in Focus and the Conrado Wessel Foundation (FCW) Photography Prize. The event will take place at the Candido Portinari Gallery, in Palazzo Pamphilj, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
The Through Southern Lenses prize is a joint initiative of FCW and The World Academy of Sciences for the Advancement of Science in Developing Countries (TWAS), a programme unit of UNESCO, aimed at highlighting scientific achievements, challenges, and human stories in developing countries through photography.
During the ceremony, the winner of the inaugural edition will be officially awarded: Peruvian photographer Musuk Nolte, recognized for his photographic essay Planting Water. The work documents the revival of an ancestral Andean technique in communities in Cusco, Peru, where rainwater is collected in underground wells and combined with the planting of native queñual shrubs and modern seed-adaptation methods. The initiative creates a bridge between indigenous knowledge and contemporary science in addressing climate change.
The exhibition is free of charge and open to the public from May 7 to June 19, 2026, brings together the winning essay alongside works by photographers awarded the FCW Photography Prize, widely regarded as the most prestigious photography award in Brazil. Featured artists include Érico Hiller (2025, “Climate Change), Luciana Whitaker (2024, “Brazil, a surreal country”), and Fabiano Carvalho (2023, “Computer Science”).
Hosted at the Candido Portinari Gallery, within the Brazilian Embassy in Rome, the exhibition offers a unique perspective on how photography can serve as a powerful tool for science communication, making complex issues more accessible and engaging to broader audiences.
The prizes
Through Southern Lenses: Science in Focus is an annual international prize that highlights scientific achievements, challenges, and human stories from the global South. Its inaugural edition, themed “Glaciers and Deserts,” received submissions from photographers in 26 countries across four continents.
The FCW Photography Prize, established in 2002, annually recognizes outstanding Brazilian photographers and awards R$100,000 to its finalists. It honors Ubaldo Conrado Wessel (1891–1993), a pioneer of the photographic paper industry in Brazil.
Service information
Event: Award ceremony and exhibition opening – Through Southern Lenses: Science in Focus
Date: May 6, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Venue: Candido Portinari Gallery, Palazzo Pamphilj (Embassy of Brazil in Rome)
Address: Piazza Navona, 10, Rome
Exhibition period: May 7 – June 19, 2026
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission: Free
More information: cultural.roma@itamaraty.gov.br