Effective Visual Communication of Science (Online)

Course Objective:

Aim: You will learn to visually communicate your complex research ideas and results so your messages are effortlessly understood by any specific audience (scientists or non-scientists). We will not focus on aesthetics but on how knowledge on human visual perception can help you create effective scientific images, slides, and posters.

You will design a graphical abstract of your research, discuss it with peer scientists in a group exercise, and get actionable advice and feedback on your own images and slides. It is an immersive workshop, comprehensive, structured, memorable, easy to follow, useful and fun.

The training is offered as blended learning that combines a self-study module and a live online workshop.

Topics:

Self-study via video course (approx. 7 hours)

• Communicating with scientific vs non-scientific audiences
• Visual perception and what humans find intuitive
• Layout: simplifying comprehension through a structured layout
• Eye-flow: effortlessly guide the audience through the design
• Colors: how to amplify, not ‘fancify’
• Typography for legibility, structure and aesthetics
• Slides that amplify messages and don't distract when presenting
• Posters: strategy and process for creating posters that attract and explain
• Homework: you submit your images and slides for feedback.

Live Online Workshop (4.5 h)

• Recap of fundamentals and Q&A: trainer facilitates an effective review of lessons learned in self-study module and answers all further questions.
• Feedback on submitted materials: you will get actionable suggestions on how to improve their own images and slides from the trainer.
• Graphical abstract drawing exercise : everybody draws a sketch of their research
• Exercises & group work: we make groups so everyone learns to give and receive informed feedback to peers on the graphical abstract.

Target audience: TransMed's doctoral candidates, postdocs, and clinician scientists

Maximum number of participants: 20

Next live workshop: January 22, 2025; 9.00 am - 1.30 pm

You will receive the pre-course work and login data to the video course a few weeks before the live workshop. To watch the online course beforehand is mandatory for the participation in the live workshop.

You have access to the online platform including video courses with bonus topics for 12 months.

Technology for the live workshop: Zoom
Please check that your PC meets the requirements beforehand (microphone, camera, internet connection).  

For the workshop 1.5 CP for transferable skills training can be credited.