Pixels & Plans

Creating SciComm Workshop at CSPC 2019

CSPC workshop participants — group 1CSPC workshop participants — group 2

ABOUT THE PANEL //

With growing divides in public and scientific opinion on controversial science policy issues like data privacy, vaccinations, and climate change, there has never been a more pressing time to improve how we communicate science.

In a step toward achieving this goal, Art the Science team members Alice Fleerackers (ScholCommLab), Julia Krolik (Pixels and Plans), Cat Lau (CHILD-BRIGHT Network), and Dorina Simeonov (AGE-WELL NCE Inc.) shared their science communication expertise at this year’s Canadian Science Policy Conference in a panel titled Creating SciComm: An interactive session connecting scientists, policymakers, and the public. Collaborative and participatory, the panel offered a hands-on approach to communicating science through visual methods. Attendees used paper, markers, glue sticks, and their own creativity to engage with four themes of public concern: climate change, artificial intelligence, genetically modified foods, and vaccinations.

During the session, participants learned to embrace their creativity, work together, and harness the power of visual communication to make science more understandable, accessible, and engaging. In less than an hour, they produced these 55 unique infographics—evidence of their originality, enthusiasm, and willingness to connect with communities beyond the conference.

Julia Krolik is an information designer, data scientist, artist and entrepreneur. Her diverse background enables a rare cross-disciplinary empathy and she continuously advocates for effective research communication with the public. Formally educated in the sciences, her work includes published research in microbiology, geospatial analytics, public health, and groundwater quality. As an award-winning artist, Julia fuses scientific methodology into her creative process. Julia is the founder of Art the Science, a non-profit organization facilitating artist residencies in scientific research laboratories across Canada to foster public engagement in art and science. Through her consulting agency Pixels and Plans, Julia and her team work with private and public organizations, helping them with information design, data visualization, communication strategies and knowledge mobilization.

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Alice Fleerackers is a PhD candidate studying science communication at Simon Fraser University. She is also a researcher at the Scholarly Communications Lab and a freelance writer and editor. Alice holds a master’s in Publishing from Simon Fraser University and a bachelor’s in Psychology and English Literature from the University of British Columbia. In both her academic work and her writing, she is passionate about bringing research into everyday life.

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Catherine Lau is a former behavioural neuroscientist-turned-science communicator. She is passionate about integrating creative approaches in science communication and knowledge mobilization. For the past few years, Cat has held diverse roles as a science writer, amateur-artist, nomadic science outreach facilitator and knowledge translation coordinator. She is interested in how art-based science communication can play a role in engaging the community about topics that affect our daily lives from the environment to healthcare.

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Dorina Simeonov is a visual storyteller, knowledge mobilizer, and policy enthusiast. She is the Policy and Knowledge Mobilization Manager at AGE-WELL, Canada’s Technology and Aging Network. Dorina enjoys working with diverse teams to dream up innovative ways of sharing research. She has a formal education in the health sciences with a focus on methods, policy and knowledge mobilization. Dorina is passionate about helping professionals share their research and expertise in a visually engaging way.

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PARTICIPANT INFOGRAPHICS //

VIDEO INTERVIEWS //

EDITORIAL //

To read our CSPC editorial titled Barriers to science communication: The challenges of finding high quality, accessible research click this link.

Barriers to accessing research

SESSION GALLERY //

CSPC workshop session photo 1