NEWS RELEASE 1 April 1999 Demand for scientific photographs led by UK publishers London's International Book Fair attracts visitors from around the world The UK book publishing industry leads the world in the use of scientific pictures, according to the Science Photo Library (SPL), which supplies scientific and technical images to many of the UK's book publishers. Maria Storey, marketing and communications director of SPL said: "Demand for scientific pictures is growing considerably. One of the reasons for this is that resources like SPL are available. As our techniques for enhancing and transforming medical and scientific images and those of the natural world, become increasingly advanced, there is no longer an academic aura associated with them and they are becoming part of the common currency within books, newspapers and magazines. "One of our aims in the market is to increase public awareness of science and in this we have been strongly supported by the UK book industry." The Science Photo Library (SPL) took its own stand for the first time at this year's London International Book Fair, displaying a variety of its scientific and technological images. The international status of the fair is reflected in the visitors; over a third of people visiting the SPL stand were from 33 different countries abroad. SPL works closely with scientific sources to make images accessible to the public, transforming them from pictures produced for academic or diagnostic purposes into graphic, colourful and appealing images, which excite popular audiences. It provides lengthier and more detailed captions than any other photo library, written by staff who are specialists in medicine and science. Science Photo Library (SPL) is the world's leading photo agency specialising in science, medicine and technology pictures and the only one of its kind in Britain. An independent, privately owned company, SPL's collection includes more than 120,000 images created by photographers, illustrators, scientists, researchers and medical specialists. Subjects covered range from astronomy to zoology, satellite images of the Earth to electron microscope pictures of bacteria and viruses and diagnostic scans and X-rays. It also has a wealth of quality photographs of science and medicine at work: hospitals, laboratories, surgeries, observatories etc. SPL was founded in 1979 by Michael Marten. It currently employs 45 people. The company works closely with young photographers to develop their skills and produce original and unusual pictures. For more information on SPL contact Maria Storey Maria Storey, Marketing & Communications Director, Science Photo Library, 327-329 Harrow Road, London W9 3RB Tel: 020 7432 1100 Fax: 020 7286 8668 www.sciencephoto.com Picture shows: Science Photo Library's stand at the London International Book Fair in March 1999 For more information and photographs please contact: Patricia Lotery or Fiona Davis- Coleman at PoLo PR, 30 Shrewsbury Avenue, London SW14 8JZ Tel: 0181 876 4242 Fax: 0181 876 8900 e- mail: info@polopr.co.uk back to Press Releases