Teaching Scientific Communication Using Infographics

Abstract

Undergraduate students need to develop the ability to communicate scientific ideas to both their peers and the public. Often senior level chemistry classes focus on written and sometimes oral communication methods, such as reports and presentations. These traditional methods of dissemination are valuable, but often inaccessible to non-scientists. Information graphics or infographics are examples of visual communication and have become increasingly common in recent years. In a senior-level inorganic chemistry course at George Mason University, students created information graphics or infographics to communicate a scientific idea of interest to them. This flexible project required students to think creatively about unfamiliar elements and concepts. The details of the assignment, its assessment, and the student products will be presented in this poster. Recommendations for changes and future implementation by other educators will be discussed.