Publishing your research paper is not the end of your research journey. It is simply the beginning of the next stage—research promotion!  

Over the years, scientists have found myriad ways to communicate their work. While science communication may seem easy within your peer group, reaching out to a wider audience is also of the essence. This is where graphical abstracts fit in. 

What is Scientific Communication?

Before diving into the role of graphical abstracts in scientific communication, let us first understand what science communication truly is and why it is critical. 

The primary objective of scientific communication is to inform both experts and non-experts of your research findings. Publishing in high impact factor journals is a great way to make your research known to your peer group and experts in your field. But when it comes to communicating with the general public, policymakers, and other non-expert stakeholders, highly technical writing may not be the best approach. 

Therefore, many journals have introduced alternate, more simplistic ways of science communication. These include:  

• plain language summaries,   

• graphical abstracts, and 

• video summaries or video abstracts. 

Plain language summaries provide readers with an overview of your work in simple, straightforward language, with minimal use of technical jargon. On the other hand, graphical abstracts and video abstracts visually appeal to the audience, summarizing the key points of your research in a pictorial or videographic format. 

Regardless of the format, the key purpose remains the same: communicating science effectively! 

Modes of Communicating Science Effectively

What are some modes of effective science communication in the modern era? Let’s take a look. 

• Journals: Publishing your research in peer-reviewed journals is the best way to disseminate your findings. It lets you reach out to an audience that connects the most with your work, ensuring that your contribution to science is valued the right way.  

• Conference presentations: Presenting your work to smaller groups of audience at conferences in another way to communicate your research. Poster presentations are especially considered powerful modes of summarizing your research findings to visually appeal to your audience. 

• Social media: Once you have published your paper in your preferred journal, you need to make sure that it reaches a wider audience. And this is where sharing graphical abstracts and video summaries on social media platforms can be game-changing! They let you connect with laypersons, who may not possess the expertise of your peer group but are interested to know more about your work. 

• Podcast interviews: Another popular mode of science communication is interviews, especially on academic podcasts. Podcasts are platforms for you to speak freely about your research, simplifying your findings in a way that can be easily consumed by people. 

Among these methods of scientific communication, journal publishing always takes the top spot! However, promoting your research post publication is key. And this is where graphical abstracts take the center stage. 

Why are Graphical Abstracts Popular?

So, what exactly about graphical abstracts is so attractive?  

• To begin with, graphical abstracts communicate pictorially with your audience! Considering that readers consume pictures better than text, graphical abstracts are your best bet to grab their attention on social media. 

• They follow an easy-to-understand format, wherein the ideas flow logically to make your intent clear. Even though a standardized template does not exist for graphical abstracts, most journals provide specific guidelines that can help you create an effective visual abstract that readers can grasp effortlessly. 

• The minimal usage of text in graphical abstracts helps audience relate to your work without having to worry about technical jargon. The use of relevant icons, images, arrows, and graphics lets you tell a story that simplifies your otherwise complicated research work.  

• Graphical abstracts are the closest to the preferred format of communication on social media. Essentially, they are the “TikToks” and “Reels” of scientific communication! Similar to these short-form content types, graphical abstracts lead to non-experts taking a deeper interest in your work.  

Key Takeaways

Scientific communication is an ever-evolving process, and we are seeing an era of digital communication contributing to effective research promotion. Graphical abstracts are at the center of this art of effective science communication and are only expected to grow further.  

However, it is key to remember that graphical abstracts in no way substitute research papers. They are simply a means to ensure that your work receives that well-deserved attention from a wider audience and do not serve as replacements for your research papers. 

Looking to make your research more impactful? Check out Editage’s Graphical Abstract Design Services and get professional support to make your research stand out.