Science empowers us to explore, discover, and shape a brighter tomorrow—and now it’s your turn to shine! Show off your spectroscopy brilliance by submitting an abstract of your research along with a photo of your application. Want to stand out even more? Add a video or an artistic action shot of your spectroscopy in action! Email your entry to ContactUs@StellarNet.us

Compete with top scientists around the globe for a chance to win $5,000 in StellarNet Cash, which can be used toward purchasing StellarNet Spectrometer systems and light sources directly from our global sales and support office in Tampa, Florida. Choose from our popular preconfigured systems designed for measuring color, fluorescence, or UV-VIS absorption.

In addition to open submissions, StellarNet may nominate outstanding peer-reviewed spectroscopy applications published during 2025–2026 for consideration in the 2026 SpectraWizard’s Spectroscopy Application Challenge. Selected researchers will be contacted and invited to accept their nomination. Upon acceptance and completion of the Challenge requirements, nominated researchers become eligible for the same awards as all other entrants.

There is no age group limitation or restrictions to use StellarNet spectrometers. Whether you’re a curious kid or a seasoned scientist with published, peer-reviewed research, we invite you to participate. You don’t even need to own a StellarNet spectrometer — all brands are welcome!

💡 Share your light measurement story now. You just might have one of the most enlightening spectroscopy applications in the world!

Stay tuned to and follow us on Facebook and/or Linkedin for all the updates.

🌟 Congratulations to Emily Causi and the Carleton University Robotics Team, winners of the 2025 SpectraWizard Spectroscopy Application Challenge! Their custom-built 785 nm Raman spectrometer, integrated into the Planetary Extraction and Analysis Tool (PEAT), is helping advance planetary exploration by detecting molecular signatures that could indicate past or present life. Field-tested in Mars-like conditions, their innovative system showcases the power of spectroscopy in real-world astrobiology research.

Runner-Up: Dr. Luisa Cencha and her team developed hybrid photonic sensors that pair porous silicon with functional polymers to detect everything from glucose and arsenic to pharmaceutical residues and pathogens. Using a simple UV-Vis spectrometer, their technology enables portable, low-cost optical sensing for healthcare and environmental monitoring.

Third Place: The Grade 11 Engineering Contest at Maple Ridge Secondary, led by David Jamieson, gives students hands-on experience designing, building, and calibrating their own spectroscopes. Through engineering challenges and quantitative spectroscopy, students gain real-world skills in optical measurement and data analysis.

Click here to learn more about their fascinating work and how spectroscopy is shaping the future of discovery.

Choose from our popular preconfigured systems—perfect for measuring color, fluorescence, or UV-VIS absorption. Whether you’re working in a research lab, academic setting, or home-built setup, we have tools that fit your needs.