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. 5 hours)

• Fundamental Visual Communication: understand how human visual perception and psychology shape our interpretation of visual information. Discover a science-based design method to visualize your research, making it easily comprehensible. We will cover strategic use of layout, eye-flow, colors, and typography applied to all types of scientific images.
• Slides, Posters, Grants: you will learn how to apply the Seyens Method™ design philosophy and strategies introduced in the Fundamentals to slides, posters, and grants. This will give you a holistic approach that builds from the first principles, makes sense and is easy to remember and apply.  
• Homework: submit your images and slides to receive personalized feedback.

Live Online Workshop (4.5 h)

• Recap and Q&A: an effective review of self-study topics and optional 1-on-1 consulting with facilitator to address your individual challenges.
• Feedback on your submitted materials: you will get actionable suggestions on how to improve your own scientific images and slides.
• Graphical abstract drawing exercise: you will draw a sketch of your research
• Peer-instruction group discussion: you will give and receive informed and structured feedback to improve yours’ and other participants’ images.

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

Maximum number of participants: 18

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.