Visualize Your Science Course

Learn to illustrate and visualize your research

Visualize Your Science

Equivalent to 4 ECTS PhD-credits

SPRING COURSE

Duration: 3rd of March until 15th of May
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SUMMER COURSE

Duration: 5th of May until 12th of August
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We all do excellent research that deserves to be presented in the best possible way. This course is open for you who want to improve your skill in drawing figures, making posters and visually conveying your research more effectively to both your peers and to the general audience.

As fluent as we may be in writing or talking about our science and results, we may still lack one essential element of scientific communication in our repertoire: the translation of our work into clear, pedagogic images and figures.

The goal with the course is to teach you basic skills that will make you comfortable to do figures that are clear and crisp, posters that outshine your neighboring fellow posters and presentations that keep your audience awake.

Course summary

Course name: Visualize your Science
Credits: Equivalent to 4 ECTS (3 weeks of study)
Level: PhD-course
Language: English
Software: Inkscape, Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer or equivalent

How is the course structured?

The course is a mix of on-line modules and face-to-face sessions.

Theory and drawing tutorials are online whereas feedback sessions are face-to-face. We will meet in four face-to-face sessions according to the following schedule.

In face-to-face session 2 and 3 you are divided in smaller groups and will only need to attend one 1.5 h session. You select when and where you would like to attend the face-to-face sessions.

If you cannot attend a face-to-face session in your city you could always attend the same session in another city or on-line.

The online “face-to-face” sessions will be done as webinars and online meeting rooms.

After the course you will know

How to create beautiful and credible scientific posters

How to use professional illustration software to illustrate your research

Where to find images, if you cannot draw them yourself

How to create images that are simple yet informative

You will also

Get lots of feedback on your poster, graphical abstract and other images

Meet lots of PhD-students from other disciplines and actually understand what they are doing

Learn how to think visually about your research

Get training in how to produce, print and present your poster

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in the course?

The course itself, all course material and a 30 pages printed factsheet. I always strive to keep the cost down, that is why I have not included coffee, lunch, poster printing, accommodation etc.

Hmm, you represent a company, could you really examine and give me the credits?

Of course not, but if you complete the course I will give you a certificate that clearly states the amount of work you have done in time. This certificate could then be used to get ECTS credits but your supervisor/resonsible must be the examinator. So far, more than 100 students have completed the course and received their certificate. If you will run in to problems, please let me know.

Why does it cost 575 €, I thought all PhD courses should be free of charge!

I wish that all courses were free as well but since I am doing this for a living I need to charge for the course. I do everything I can to keep the cost as low as possible.

Is this some easily earned credits? I mean, I pay a registration fee, then you must be happy and just let me pass?

Absolutely not, In order to pass and complete the course you must do all the assignments, attend all face-to-face sessions and complete all on-line modules. It is equivalent to 3 weeks of full time work.

What will happen if I cannot complete the course this semester?

No problem, you will get another chance to complete the course next time the course is given, free of charge of course. This happens quite often among my students, don't worry.

How could I pay for the course?

I prefer that your supervisor/institution pay the registration fee. You could pay by invoice or directly on-line when the course opens.

If I sign up for the Uppsala course, Am I allowed to join the Stockholm group if It better suits my schedule?

Yes of course! You could switch between the locations and also take some face-to-face sessions completely on-line. The most important is that the schedule is convenient for you.

How long time do I have access to the on-line material?

You will have access to the material for life (or as long as you would like to).

What is Visualize your Science?

Visualize your Science AB is a company based in Espoo Finland (FO: 2754269-4), It was founded by Andreas Dahlin in April 2016. Visualize your Science AB helps scientists to communicate their research more effectively with better images, illustrations, visualizations and animations.

Your tutor

Andreas Dahlin

Espoo, Finland

An assistant professor in analytical chemistry but have always been interested in visualization mine and my colleagues’ research. In 2011, started a PhD course at Uppsala university called “Visualize your Science.” The course became very popular and now is given to more than 200 researchers every year. In the beginning of 2016, I decided to quit my research career and focus entirely on helping other researchers to improve their images and posters for more effective visual communication of their research results.

Learn to illustrate and visualize your research