Amanda Mueller … Some say “A picture is worth a thousand words” (San Antonia Light 1918), and in these pictures a thousand words can make one image. Credit: Jeff Clark Neoformix 2008* (left) and Colourbox (right) Each image elicits a specific thought or response in each of us, and that response may depend on the day of the week, our knowledge base, or experiences we have had in the past.

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Katie Goerger … “I’m just not sure how to get this concept across to people - it’s so complicated.” … “This publication is just too text-heavy. We need some visuals to spice things up.” … Does this sound familiar? If so, you’re missing a key tool in your science communication arsenal: the conceptual diagram.

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Jennifer Shanahan … As I listened to valuable lessons on how to improve visualization of our data during the latest unit in the IAN Science Communication course it struck me that there is a great parallel with the process of preparing to host a great party! Yes as much as we want to make a great impression the moment our guests walk in the door, similarly, we want our audience to quickly and easily understand relevant points from a data set.

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Holly Padgett … Imagine this scenario: you check your email and see an announcement for an upcoming presentation about elk migration in the Pacific Northwest. Excitedly, you register for the event and mark it on your calendar (because who doesn’t love elk?!).

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Melissa Merritt … Have you ever wondered if there's a secret formula for how to speak more effectively? A consistent method that can be used across the board to frame any presentation? Well the key sounds pretty simple. Tell a story. Storytelling is a powerful communication tool. Image from canadiandaily.ca … A story doesn't sound too difficult to create. Tell a story to gain an audience's investment and understanding of the information you're presenting.

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Throughout the semester, we have learned the importance of science visualization to communicate complex information. It is a way to give our data a voice by presenting it in an easy to digest visual format. But just having effective science communication products is not enough, the next step is to make sure that our message is being broadly disseminated. In this age of cyberspace, nothing beats the World Wide Web (Web) as a great communication platform.

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Kathleen Gillespie … PT Barnum. Photo credit: Original in John Hancock Mutual Insurance company advertisement … A conference is your time to shine and to get the word out about your scientific project. You have a finite amount of time to interact, and many people are just strolling through a venue. In order to make an impression, reach out to them! The presenter themselves must make sure to play an active role by being able to promote themselves effectively.

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Caron Gala … Academic poster sessions are now a mainstay for workshops, professional meetings, and collaborative conferences. The audience that you are designing the poster for will determine what the content of your poster will be. However, regardless of how you communicate your scientific outcomes, seek feedback, or articulate methods, you will want to follow some simple design/layout rules for your poster. Helpful guidelines: • Make sure that your title is as short as possible.

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Kara Hawkins … Picture it: A library full of scientific journals and a scientist sitting in a rocking chair in the center of the room reading an article and sharing the visual elements around the audience. Surrounding him/her is a group of people, all ages, and all education levels. Their eyes never stray from the scientist, as they are spell bound. They hang on to each word And..But..Therefore.. The story has reached the end and no one thought they could enjoy science more!

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Keota Silaphone … To capture a great photo, some of the students had to lay on the ground or in my case sit in a roadside ditch. I took photos of cover crops, but changed my perspective each time, only to discover that the perspective from the roadside ditch happened to be the most impactful. This series of cover crop photos were taken from three different perspectives.

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