What are the skills and tools you need to improve your visual science communication?

No todo el mundo percibe la información de la misma manera: hay personas que prefieren leer, otras que prefieren escuchar y otras que aprenden de forma visual. Además, visualmente, de un vistazo, puedes hacerte una idea de lo que va un tema y decidir si quieres profundizar en el tema o no. La Ciencia no está al margen de cualquier otro tipo de comunicación. Es más, debido a su carácter, en ocasiones complejo, es importante utilizar la inclusividad para que sea comprendida por la mayor cantidad de personas posible.

The skills and tools for visual science communication: Skills to hone: * Visual Thinking: Turn complex science into clear visuals. * Data Storytelling: Craft narratives around data to make it relatable. * Design Basics: Understand layout, color, and how they affect viewers. * Science Communication: Explain science clearly for your audience. Tools to use: * Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Python libraries, or Excel for charts and graphs. * Image Editing Software: Edit photos and create illustrations (e.g. Photoshop, GIMP). * Presentation Software: Design presentations with visuals (e.g. PowerPoint, Keynote). Bonus: Design Thinking helps you understand your audience's needs for visuals.

It is commonly said that “a picture is worth a thousand words”. With the right visual aids, even the most complex science - or anything, in fact - can be relayed to a general audience in an engaging and appealing way. It is not enough to do great science. It is also important to identify the most appropriate way to convey our findings to others - that's how real impact is made.

Creating effective visuals is not just about having pretty slides; It’s about making science click with your audience. It's about taking complex concepts and turning them into visuals that engage, teach, and spark curiosity. Mastering design and visual communication will elevate your work and open up new opportunities in your career as a scientist ??

?Alguna vez has visto las charlas TED de Hans Rosling? Velas. Te darás cuenta de las habilidades necesarias para comunicar la ciencia de forma adecuada. Y sí: pasan por la habilidad para contar historias. Sin ejemplos, sin historias, es difícil entender lo abstracto.

I think the critical skill required is the ability to tell great stories. It is also good to have an appreciation for design, but these days, there are lots of templates out there that you can modify to suit your purpose, even if you have zero design skills. Data visualization is important because it informs your choice of the most suitable types of charts and figures that weaves in nicely to your story. Once you have a good story, tailoring it to the needs of your audience is the easier part.

To be a good visual science communicator, one must have a handful of important skills. Communication - this is of course number one. More specifically, the ability to communicate clearly and concisely without jargon is key. Data visualization - this is a major skill that can give you the edge. Data can be overwhelming and confusing, so being able to create visualizations that simplify it for average readers will be a big help. Design - you don't need to be a graphic designed to be a good visual science communicator, but know you're way around photoshop or even Canva is a major asset.

Everyone can be a science communicator. You just need a mix of key skills ?? 1. Storytelling: First, you need to learn how to craft clear, engaging narratives about complex topics. Stories are a great vehicle to share your work with others. 2. Design: Learn how to use visual elements like colour, fonts, and layout to create attractive graphics. By learning design you will be able to create your own posters and even images for social media. 3. Data Visualization: Learn how to turn data into stories through graphics that are accurate and easy to understand. The book "Storytelling with Data" is a great resource to learn more about this!

There are many opportunities to perfect visual science communication skills online - both free and paid. My advice: identify your unique needs. Do you need to perfect the art of storytelling? or learn how to create more appealing figures and charts? The list is endless. After doing this, search for platforms that creates opportunities for you to learn that skill. For instance, LinkedIn learning courses, YouTube, Skillshare and so on. You can also identify people with great skills and connect/follow them to get some inspiration.

Todo depende del nivel previo de conocimientos que tengas y de tu propio nivel de habilidades. Para alguien que empieza de cero yo recomendaría algún posgrado en comunicación científica, que siempre son más generalistas. Si no, quizá habría que ir a adquirir habilidades más concretas: dise?o de presentaciones, dise?o de infografías, escritura de guion, que son habilidades que puedes aprender en un curso largo o empezar por alguno peque?o que puedes encontrar en plataformas como Domestika o similares.

Substituting the pursuit of perfection with a mindset of experimentation has proven invaluable in my experience. It's essential to acknowledge that your audience follows you for a specific reason, and blindly adopting others' strategies may not yield consistent results. Invest time in testing and implementing your insights, allowing your brand to naturally evolve based on the engagement you receive.

La única forma que conozco de mejorar es practicar mucho. Fíjate en otras infografías y presentaciones que te gusten: busca en Pinterest y Slideshare. Rebusca entre las plantillas de Canva, Genially o Mind-the-Graph. Pide feedback a algún compa?ero. Haz infografías para ONGs de tipo científico. Para ti será voluntariado y la práctica te ayudará a mejorar.

The best way to gain any skills is by practicing. This principle also applies to visual science communication. - Take advantage of every opportunity you have to show your work, - Receive feedback and improve, - Learn from other communicators around you, - Keep improving on your visual communication skills.

Practice, practice, practice. If you want to level up your science communication skills, it’s all about constant practice and learning. Try out different formats like infographics, animations, or even interactive web pages... and see what clicks with your audience. Joining online communities (like SciComm World) where people discuss and share visual science can also be a game-changer. A very famous one in the field of GIS is the #30DayMapChallenge. Again, practice, practice, practice. Get involved in challenges or competitions that push you to think with creativity!

La visualizaciones de datos que hace de cuando en cuando The New York Times son maravillosas. Juegan con la narrativa y con lo visual para contar las cosas desde otro punto de vista. Por supuesto, dentro del conglomerado NatGeo podemos encontrar ejemplos chulísimos. Los libros de la serie The Sick Rose, con ilustraciones vintage de enfermedades me encantan. Pero ahora mismo hay proyectos más modestos, como los de Fundación iO, en los que participo, para divulgar sobre enfermedades infecciosas, como Curiosidades sobre las enfermedades infecciosas (2021), libro que explica más de 50 patógenos con infografías.