Awards & Recognitions

This page documents officially recognized awards, selections, and academic credentials for reference purposes.

As of 2026, Dr. George Kao, PhD, has received 31 officially documented awards and recognitions across national and international underwater, nature, and scientific photography competitions.

Academic Background

Dr. George Kao, PhD, received his academic training in both engineering and life sciences at National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan.

He graduated from Taipei Municipal Chien Kuo High School, one of Taiwan’s most academically selective high schools.

He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the Department of Engineering and System Science at National Tsing Hua University, establishing a strong foundation in engineering and systems thinking.

He subsequently completed his graduate and doctoral training at the College of Life Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, where he pursued advanced research in biological sciences.

Dr. Kao has authored peer-reviewed research articles published in international scientific journals, with his academic publications indexed on Google Scholar.

This interdisciplinary academic background directly informs Dr. Kao’s photographic practice, particularly in underwater ecology, marine organisms, and scientific visual documentation.

His work bridges artistic expression with scientific observation.

AWARDS & HONORS

Photography (31 Awards until 2025/12/31)

2025

  • Gold Award, Underwater Ecology – OM SYSTEM Taiwan Photography Contest

  • Highly Commended, Portrait – Underwater Photographer of the Year (UPY)

  • Excellence Award, Nature – Greenpeace Nature Photography Competition

2024

  • Silver Medal, Portrait – United Nations World Oceans Day Photo Competition

2023

  • Selected Winner – 1st Japan Underwater Photo Contest

2022

  • 1st Place (Gold), Portrait – Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition

  • Category Winner (Dr. Alex Mustard Award) – Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year

  • Excellence Award – Looking at Taiwan Photography Contest

  • Commended Award – Looking at Taiwan Photography Contest

  • Excellence Award, Scientific Photography (Series A) – National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS)

  • Excellence Award, Scientific Photography (Series B) – National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS)

  • Excellence Award, Scientific Photography (Series C) – National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS)

  • Gold Award, Underwater Ecology – "The Sea in Your Eyes" Marine Conservation Photography Competition

  • Silver Award, Underwater Ecology – "The Sea in Your Eyes" Marine Conservation Photography Competition

  • Excellence Award, Underwater Ecology – "The Sea in Your Eyes" Marine Conservation Photography Competition

  • Excellence Award, Human & Sea – "The Sea in Your Eyes" Marine Conservation Photography Competition

2020

  • Commended, Scientific Photography (Emperor Shrimp) – National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS)

  • Commended, Scientific Photography (Artificial Reef) – National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS)

2019

  • 1st Place, Novice Wide Angle – Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition

  • 2nd Place, Novice Wide Angle – Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition

  • 3rd Place, Novice Wide Angle – Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition

  • 3rd Place, Novice Macro – Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition

  • Champion – Olympus Taiwan Underwater Photography Contest

  • Highly Commended, Wide Angle – Green Island International Underwater Photography Competition

  • Commended, Macro – Green Island International Underwater Photography Competition

  • Excellence Award – National Student Photography Contest

2017 – 2018

  • 2nd Place (Silver), Wide Angle – Chaojing ImageBay Photography Contest (2018)

  • Commended, Wide Angle – Chaojing ImageBay Photography Contest (2018)

  • Commended, Macro – Chaojing ImageBay Photography Contest (2017)

  • Commended – Olympus Taiwan Photography Contest (2017)

  • Commended, Wide Angle – 1st Taiwan Underwater Photography Competition