The Visual ElementsAbstraction

A Handbook for Communicating Science and Engineering

For anyone interested in visual communication, a training guide for evaluating and developing visual representations for the big ideas in science and technology, essential skills for journal submissions, grant applications, and public understanding.

As a scientist, engineer, or other researcher, you may have written an abstract. In a paragraph, you explain the purpose of your research, your approach, the questions you have asked and answered, and your works impact. The abstract is a summary and an invitationto read the paper, attend your talk, and join you in your thinking. You may even have been asked to create a visual abstracta single imageto achieve the same goals. As a designer or public information officer, you may have had a similar briefto explain a compelling subject with a visual for a journal cover or press release. And yet, this important skilldevising