{"id":37441,"date":"2019-12-09T13:23:08","date_gmt":"2019-12-09T07:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/?p=37441"},"modified":"2025-08-28T13:33:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T08:03:19","slug":"infographics-a-great-way-to-simplify-complex-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/infographics-a-great-way-to-simplify-complex-science","title":{"rendered":"Infographics \u2013 a great way to simplify complex science!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Studies have shown that\u00a0our brains process visuals a lot better<\/u><\/a>\u00a0than text. Using visuals along with text aids not only our comprehension but also our communication of scientific research. When complex scientific concepts need to be explained to someone who\u2019s not familiar with your work, using some form of visual media is generally the best way to go. Of course, there will always be traditional forms of research communication, such as original manuscripts, reviews, or even letters, all of which have their place amongst the pages of a journal. However, the landscape of research communication is undeniably changing. Journals are now beginning to embrace alternative formats such as lay summaries, infographics, cartoon abstracts, posters. As a science communicator at Impact Science, it is my job to visualize complex scientific research, so that you as a researcher can reach an audience that a journal sometimes can\u2019t. I believe in presenting impactful research in a visually engaging format, and I do so often by steering clear of presenting jargon-heavy paragraphs and complex tables\/figures.<\/p>\n

As visualizers, we also don\u2019t tie ourselves to specific design philosophy and we keep ourselves open to different subject areas. It helps us think outside the box! I could start my day working on an infographic for bone surgery, break for a discussion on a video script for explaining Brexit, and finish my day giving inputs on how to visualize an essay on data governance.<\/p>\n

But, that\u2019s enough about what I do. Because what I must tell you is that\u00a0science communication<\/strong>\u00a0today\u00a0is changing<\/strong>. And, we need to talk about how visualizing science in an engaging manner is necessary to take your research\u00a0beyond the journal article<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

For the purpose of this blog, we will focus on three visual modes of science communication that one can use to convey technical results \u2013 infographics, video summaries, and talking figures. The idea is for you to see how a visual approach to explaining scientific findings to an audience can be far more effective than anything else to generate interest around your work. Let\u2019s begin by talking about the Infographic.<\/p>\n

Scientific Infographics<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Infographics can draw readers\u2019 attention to your paper.<\/em>
\nScientific infographics present research in a visually engaging manner. They help readers easily comprehend the essence of a study by generally sharing the salient findings on a single page. If readers like what they see, they will be drawn to a study. Infographics are a powerful tool for presenting critical research findings and for helping readers focus on what is most important.<\/p>\n

How I go about creating a scientific infographic<\/strong><\/h4>\n

What matters most in a scientific infographic is the information that is being presented visually, ideally in an easy-to-understand manner. While creating scientific infographics, I first ensure that I have access to the simplified concept of the study, for which I approach our team of subject-area experts at Impact Science. When creating the infographic, I focus a lot on the Methods and Results. It is important for readers to understand how the results were arrived at as opposed to just seeing the findings. Colors are important too! Based on the visual style that I draw inspiration from, I need to ensure that the color palette isn\u2019t jarring to look and doesn\u2019t inadvertently hinder the reader\u2019s absorption of information. The simpler the infographic, the easier it is to understand!<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at an example<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The following abstract from the Royal Society of Chemistry presents a textual explanation of the Mixed-carbene cyclometalated iridium complexes with saturated blue luminescence<\/u><\/p>\n

(Teets et al. 2019)<\/u><\/p>\n

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This abstract is a brief read, it stands alone, and it tells us what we need to know about the study. When creating an infographic based on this abstract, I decided to present three key aspects \u2013 the study criteria, findings, and conclusions.<\/p>\n

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Wasn\u2019t this easier to grasp than what was written in the Abstract? Imagine how an infographic for your study findings could complement and, more importantly, enhance your journal article!<\/p>\n

Quick tips for creating infographics<\/h4>\n

You need to remember a few things when working on an infographic (either by yourself or with the help of a professional designer).<\/p>\n

Prepare a storyboard before the design: Highlight key points of your paper that should be included Visualize your story: Think about how you would want the information flow, the images you\u2019d want to see, and colors you\u2019d want to see them in. Focus on simplicity and detail: Stick to simple designs with visually appealing colors and legible fonts.<\/p>\n

That brings us to the end of this segment. In the next segment, I\u2019ll talk about how I use animation to increase the impact of scientific figures.<\/p>\n

Have you ever created an infographic based on your study? I\u2019d love to hear from you. Do share your experiences in the comments section below.<\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/h4>\n