A Magnum War Photographer Turns His Camera on Basic Science

Michael Zhang

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Peter van Agtmael is a New York-based conflict photographer and a member of Magnum Photos. Since 2006, he has photographed wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the effect of the wars in the US.

Recently, Agtmael was asked to turn his lens on a different subject: science. Stanford University reached out to Van Agtmael and invited the photographer to use his skills to document basic science research happening on campus.

The “basic” in “basic science” doesn’t mean elementary. Rather, it refers to research that’s focused on discovery rather than application. Here’s how Stanford’s Kylie Gordon describes it in the opening of Van Agtmael’s photo essay:

Basic science aims to advance knowledge, not develop new drugs or cure disease. Yet today’s biomedical innovations are only possible because of fundamental research conducted decades ago. As national funding priorities shift toward applied research, young basic scientists face the most challenging funding landscape in 50 years, diverting many of them to new careers altogether. Though impossible to divine where the experiments of Stanford investigators will lead them, investing in their work – and in basic science in general – is crucial to keeping the #NextGreatDiscovery alive.

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“The research [Van Agtmael] captured is meant to advance human knowledge without a particular clinical application in mind – but the research often leads to new therapies,” says John Stafford, Stanford’s Senior Director of Digital Media Strategy. “Despite its importance, funding has proven extremely challenging for the researchers (even at universities like Stanford).”

“We think Peter’s photo essay is an honest, revealing look at their work.”

Pascale Guiton transfers parasites to host cells in the tissue culture room of Professor John Boothroyd's lab. Her research on the host-pathogen interaction at the molecular level may one day lead to new drugs that can prevent disease.
Pascale Guiton transfers parasites to host cells in the tissue culture room of Professor John Boothroyd’s lab. Her research on the host-pathogen interaction at the molecular level may one day lead to new drugs that can prevent disease.
At her lab bench, Pascale Guiton sets up a polymerase chain reaction to generate copies of Toxoplasma gondii DNA. T. gondii is one of the most common parasites, with an estimated one third of the global population infected.
At her lab bench, Pascale Guiton sets up a polymerase chain reaction to generate copies of Toxoplasma gondii DNA. T. gondii is one of the most common parasites, with an estimated one third of the global population infected.
In the lab of Professor Julie Theriot, Fabian Ortega sets up time-lapse photography to capture the subtle activity of Listeria infecting and spreading throughout human cells over the course of a day.
In the lab of Professor Julie Theriot, Fabian Ortega sets up time-lapse photography to capture the subtle activity of Listeria infecting and spreading throughout human cells over the course of a day.
"Different photosynthetic organisms enjoy different types of light," Ortega says, while passing through a neighboring lab. "These cyanobacteria are very good at harvesting energy from purple light."
“Different photosynthetic organisms enjoy different types of light,” Ortega says, while passing through a neighboring lab. “These cyanobacteria are very good at harvesting energy from purple light.”
Viviana Risca describes genome organization, the basic biology behind her research. She hopes to discover a new methodology for mapping DNA structure as it is packaged in the nucleus of living cells.
Viviana Risca describes genome organization, the basic biology behind her research. She hopes to discover a new methodology for mapping DNA structure as it is packaged in the nucleus of living cells.
Researchers Arwa Kathiria and Viviana Risca meet to plan an experiment in the Greenleaf Lab, which focuses on understanding the structure and function of the physical genome.
Researchers Arwa Kathiria and Viviana Risca meet to plan an experiment in the Greenleaf Lab, which focuses on understanding the structure and function of the physical genome.
Denise Monack inspects an image of Salmonella Typhi – the causative agent of typhoid fever – to determine whether the bacteria are making a virulence factor required for them to cause disease.
Denise Monack inspects an image of Salmonella Typhi – the causative agent of typhoid fever – to determine whether the bacteria are making a virulence factor required for them to cause disease.
Denise Monack "fell in love with microbes" at 12 years old when her father, a physician, brought home his microscope. "I used to look at pond water through it," Monack recalls. Here she meets with postdoctoral fellow Sky Brubaker.
Denise Monack “fell in love with microbes” at 12 years old when her father, a physician, brought home his microscope. “I used to look at pond water through it,” Monack recalls. Here she meets with postdoctoral fellow Sky Brubaker.
Justin Sonnenburg meets with graduate student Will Van Treuren to define the scope of his dissertation. Such conversations are "awe-inspiring" and "like a fountain of youth for faculty," says Sonnenburg.
Justin Sonnenburg meets with graduate student Will Van Treuren to define the scope of his dissertation. Such conversations are “awe-inspiring” and “like a fountain of youth for faculty,” says Sonnenburg.
Fiber consumption is the best way to promote healthy gut bacteria. Hence, the Sonnenburgs maintain a home garden where they grow polysaccharide-rich food. Pictured here, from left, are Claire, Erica and Camille Sonnenburg.
Fiber consumption is the best way to promote healthy gut bacteria. Hence, the Sonnenburgs maintain a home garden where they grow polysaccharide-rich food. Pictured here, from left, are Claire, Erica and Camille Sonnenburg.
Claire arranges homegrown pumpkins on the mantle. Above, E. Coli swim on a canvas within view of the family's dinner table "to remind us of the trillions of 'friends' we dine with at each meal," says Justin Sonnenburg.
Claire arranges homegrown pumpkins on the mantle. Above, E. Coli swim on a canvas within view of the family’s dinner table “to remind us of the trillions of ‘friends’ we dine with at each meal,” says Justin Sonnenburg.
Microscopes spanning decades line the top of a bookshelf behind Claire and Camille. Using Erica's childhood scope, the family inspects everything from head lice to plankton to bee stingers, says Justin Sonnenburg.
Microscopes spanning decades line the top of a bookshelf behind Claire and Camille. Using Erica’s childhood scope, the family inspects everything from head lice to plankton to bee stingers, says Justin Sonnenburg.
"Spending on basic science pays off," Michael Levitt says. Research he conducted in the 1980s "has indirectly led to a $40-billion-a-year industry in anti-cancer drugs," though no one could have predicted that outcome, he says.
“Spending on basic science pays off,” Michael Levitt says. Research he conducted in the 1980s “has indirectly led to a $40-billion-a-year industry in anti-cancer drugs,” though no one could have predicted that outcome, he says.
Nobel Prize-winning Professor Michael Levitt works in his home office on the Stanford campus.
Nobel Prize-winning Professor Michael Levitt works in his home office on the Stanford campus.
After pumping single molecules with a red laser beam, W.E. Moerner examines them on a computer screen at one of the super-resolution imaging setups in his laboratory.
After pumping single molecules with a red laser beam, W.E. Moerner examines them on a computer screen at one of the super-resolution imaging setups in his laboratory.
W.E. Moerner demonstrates how molecules produce fluorescence, the signature wavelength of light used to detect single molecules.
W.E. Moerner demonstrates how molecules produce fluorescence, the signature wavelength of light used to detect single molecules.
It's never all work and no play; when not in his lab, W.E. Moerner makes time for an amateur radio hobby. A member of the Stanford Amateur Radio Club, Moerner often broadcasts from ham radio gear in his garage at home.
It’s never all work and no play; when not in his lab, W.E. Moerner makes time for an amateur radio hobby. A member of the Stanford Amateur Radio Club, Moerner often broadcasts from ham radio gear in his garage at home.

This photo essay, titled “The #NextGreatDiscovery,” can also be viewed over on Stanford’s website.

Image credits: All photographs by Peter van Agtmael/Magnum Photos for Stanford University, and used with permission

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