The Lennart Nilsson Award Foundation was established in 1998 in recognition of the world-renowned Swedish photographer’s work. Honorees are people who work “in the spirit of Lennart Nilsson”, revealing science to the world in beautiful, unique and powerful ways. The Award, which comprises a diploma and the sum of SEK 100,000 (approx. EUR 10,870), is presented annually at a late-autumn ceremony in Berwaldhallen, a concert hall in Stockholm, Sweden. The occasion also marks the installation of Professors at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden’s largest medical training and research centre and the home of the Nobel Assembly. Criteria Candidates for the Award must use photographic representation as their explanatory medium. Users of animation technology, which can serve to impart verisimilitude and movement to scientific material, are also eligible for nomination. Prior publication is not a requirement. Evaluation is based on the visual representation of science as beautiful and the aesthetics of the images concerned; the impact of the images in the community at large; the content of the images and what they reveal about their subjects; the excellence in image-making craft that is demonstrated; the excitement invoked in the viewer; the complexity of the methods required to create the images; and other relevant subjective tools. Nomination Every year, about 50 international advisers are asked to propose candidates for the Award. A nominating committee, including experts in science and photography, appointed by the Board of the Foundation, evaluates the candidates and nominates three to five finalists. The final decision on whom to honour with the Award is made by the Board. Historical background The precursor to the Lennart Nilsson Award Foundation was the FTMF Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed on Lennart Nilsson in 1997 by the Swedish Society of Medical & Technical Photographers (FTMF). An initial group was organized to give credibility and financial backing to the Foundation, and to develop the seed money for the endowment that was required to establish the Award. The group\'s members were Ingvar Carlsson, the former prime minister; Bo G Erikson, a Swedish television producer; Staffan Larsson, director of medical media at Huddinge Hospital; Agneta Lundström, director of the National Maritime Museum; Sam Nilsson, Director General of Sveriges Television (SVT), the Swedish public service television company; Sven Nykvist, a Swedish cinematographer; Per Sköld, former Marshal of the Realm; Marcus Storch, ex-President & CEO of AGA; Hans Wigzell, then President of Karolinska Institutet; and Jan-Erik Wikström, a former cabinet minister. The first Board 1998 Front/left: Catharina Fjellström-Nilsson, Hans Wigzell (Chair) and Lennart Nilsson (Honorary Member) Back/left: Jacob Forsell (additional member), Staffan Larsson (Secretary), Bo G Erikson, Bo Zetterberg and Axel M Murray.