Workshop Scientific Visualization

The workshop will consist of three half-day face-to-face meetings, in which the participants develop their ideas for scientific visualizations, draft a project, choose appropriate methods and receive feedback. The two self-study phases permit the participants to elaborate their projects.

The workshop «Scientific Visualization» promotes capacity building for scientific employees in the area of communication and dissemination (Vitae Researcher Development Framework, www.vitae.ac.uk.rdf) and facilitates transdisciplinary discussions. The workshop therefore meets some of the goals of the Transdisciplinary Laboratory of D-USYS (TdLab) and the curriculum initiative at D-USYS. The special feature of the workshop is the transdisciplinary approach to strengthen transferable skills in science communication.

The visualizations produced by the participants can be used in lectures, talks, on posters, in research publications and policy reports, on web pages and in outreach activities. The visualizations will be available online in the Moodle course of the workshop. A guideline «Visualizations for Science Communication» will be also available through the Moodle platform.

Partial funding is available through a collaboration with the World Food System Center (WFSC). With this proposal we apply for an initial funding of the first workshop. After successful first realization, funding will be available in subsequent years through the Mercator Foundation.

• Students could apply principles to a concrete practical work.
• Received critical feedback from communication professionals
• Students were allowed time and space for visual creativity.

This workshop enabled students to develop a visual communication concept for their own research project with artists and graphic designers including practical advice and one-on-one tutoring session.

The exercises for the students have been didactically improved – broken down into the steps required for developing their concept.

• Liked the input of 3 lecturers
• Even though the drawing lesson was fun it maybe should be in a separate course allowing more time for graphic design.
• Should be more course days-e.g.
• Coordinators were very good and motivated

• For most natural science students it is totally new to have to think in visual metaphors about their work time should be spent on this
• Students need exercises which are building blocks to help them reach the goal
• Give sufficient time for feedback and critical input
• Peer feedback works well but many appreciated the individual tutorials