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Conceptual DiagramsA tool for science communication
Bill Dennison & Tim Carruthers
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Conceptual diagrams• Conceptual diagrams have proven useful for
science integration and applications
• Technological advances have made it possible to ‘click & drag’ using symbol libraries (you don’t need to be an artist)
• An easy to use system that can ‘grow’ (updated with additional symbols and bases) will encourage more scientists to use conceptual diagrams and communicate more effectively
"Make everything as simple as possible, but not "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler." A. Einsteinsimpler." A. Einstein
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What is a conceptual diagram?
• “Concept” from Latin conceptus (meaning thought); something conceived in the mind
• “Diagram” from Greek diagramma (meaning to mark out by lines);
• a graphic design that explains rather than represents, a drawing that shows arrangement and relations
• THOUGHT DRAWING
• Conceptual diagram = A diagram using symbols that depicts the essential attributes of a system
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Conceptual diagrams provide an interface
Science Community
Priorities &environmentalvalues
Credibility & support
Commitment &resources
Current understanding
ConceptualDiagram
Shared vision
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Good conceptual diagrams are used extensively
Z scheme of photosynthesis
Plate tectonics
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Darwin used conceptual diagrams to explain his theory of coral reef
formation
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Conceptual diagrams use symbols: an ancient technique to depict unequivocal messages
Darwin’s conceptual diagram
Cave drawing (Australian aborigines)
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Symbols (icons) are a key element of conceptual diagrams
• Symbol: from Greek symbolon (token of identity) and Latin symbolum (token, sign)
• Symbol: A sign that signifies by virtue of sharing a property with what it represents –a. something that stands for or suggests something else–b. a visible thing that stands for something invisible or intangible
• Symbols used in mathematics (e.g., p), chemistry (e.g., 210Pb), music(e.g., ) weather (e.g., ), religion (e.g., ), corporations (e.g., ), and organizations (e.g., )
• Symbols can be universal; language independent
• Symbols are scalable; size of symbol can represent relative importance-- vs.
• Symbols can be information-rich; size, shape, color and position of symbols can convey information
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Both shape and color of symbols can be important for recognition
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Symbols are an important feature of everyday life
Shape, color and images used for traffic signs
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In conceptual diagrams, as in maps, symbols need to be explained in a legend
Map legend:
Conceptual diagram legend:
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Conceptual diagrams can capture the increasing understanding of a system…
1995 1998
2001
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Conceptual diagrams can depict processes at different scales…
meterskilometers
centimeters
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Conceptual diagrams can be nested
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Conceptual diagrams are not…
… cartoons… model relationships
… colored box & arrow diagrams
… a replacement for good, well-interpreted data
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Conceptual diagrams can augment the effective communication of
scientific understanding
Conceptual diagram that uses 2 pp. of
text for explanationConceptual diagram with
‘stand-alone’ legend
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Literature citations can be added…
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Why use conceptual diagrams?
• Helps to clarify thinking(words can be ambiguous, an image commits to the message being portrayed)
• Communication(one way and two way –idea presentation and idea development)
• Identify gaps / priorities / essential elements
• Develop syntheses (or present synthesis)
Seagrass loss in Moreton Bay
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Use of conceptual models facilitates hybrid diagrams of data
Journal articles Books
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Symbols can be used on maps and linked to species identification guides
Distributionmap
Identificationguide
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Who develops/uses conceptual diagrams?
Scientists Teachers
Resource Managers
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Various applications of conceptual diagrams
ResearchSynthesisMonitoringManagement
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Conceptual diagrams can be incorporatedinto various publications
Books
Newsletters
Journal publications
Posters
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Conceptual diagrams can be used in powerpoint presentations
Overall summary Component diagrams (nested)
Problem statement Problem resolution
(Burford et al.)
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Conceptual diagrams can be produced in real time to synthesize main messages
Result of one day meeting into seagrass loss in Western Port
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The Ten Commandments of conceptual diagrams…
1. Thou shalt honor thy audience 2. Thou shalt simplify 3. Thou shalt not use garish colors or apply colors inconsistently4. Thou shalt not produce a diagram without a complete legend 5. Thou shalt not covet a single style6. Thou shalt not be constrained by geometry7. Thou shalt not use arrows indiscriminately8. Thou shalt not be afraid of making new symbols 9. Thou shalt not publish diagrams without significant editing10. Thou shalt not confine use of diagrams to scientific peers
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Drawing Programs
Program Web Site Price
Adobe Illustrator (PC, MAC)
www.adobe.com * $ 45
Corel Draw(PC)
www.corel.com * $165
Macromedia Freehand(PC,MAC)
www.macromedia.com ** $ 99
Deneba Canvas (PC, MAC)
www.deneba.com ** $199
* ~ USM Site License
** ~ Educational Price (not though USM site license)
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Copyright issueshttp://www.copyright.gov http://www.benedict.com/homepage.htm
• © Dennison 2000 and /or add logo; but this does NOT connote any real proprietary value
• Right click to grab image from web site—public supported web sites do not need permission, but permission and/or acknowledgement is recommended
• Ideas not copyrightable “Copyright does not protect ideas, concepts, systems, or methods of doing something.”
• Universal symbols, lists and tables from public documents are not copyrighted
/
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Resolution issues
Print/Publication Monitor/Web
72 DPI (also called PPI-Pixels per inch)
RGB paletteRed, green, blueCompressed images, small files (size)
300 Dots per inch (DPI)
CYMK palette cyan, yellow,magenta, blackDrawing files, bitmap images-May be large files (size)
Pixel = Picture Element Text scanned in as line art at 600 DPIPaste Special when inserting image > smaller image size
72 dpi 150 dpi 250 dpi
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Transferring images to Powerpoint..
• From the ‘edit menu’:choose ‘paste special’
• For diagrams and figures use Enhanced Metafile, GIF or PNG
• For photos use JPEG
• This can reduce a 70Mb powerpoint file to 2Mb !!
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File Types— determined by the way they
represent graphic information
vector
raster
File Name Type Primary Use
*.ai Adobe Illustrator vector art work
*.cdr Corel Draw vector art work
*.bmp Windows bitmap format raster photographs, art work
*.tif Tagged-Image Format raster, vector scanned images
*.eps Encapsulated Postscript vector, raster art work
*.jpg(jpeg)
Joint Photographic Experts Group
compressed raster
photographs (web)
*.gif Graphics Interchange Format
compressed raster
art work (web)
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Creating conceptual diagrams
• Define overall message (e.g., what story or stories to tell)
• Identify audience (e.g., scientific peers, general audience)
• List key structural & functional aspects– major processes (e.g., biogeochemical pathways,
food web)– biota/habitats (e.g., forest types, wetlands)
• Experiment with ways to depict system (2D vs. 3D; mirror images; nested)
• Start drawing (white boards are useful)
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Layering simplifies the diagram
Layer 1 (background panels)
Layer 3 (window dressing)Layer 2 (Icons and Keys)
Priority is assigned within layers: a ‘sent to back’ icon will be in front
of the ‘sent to front’ background panel
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The ‘layers’ window
Creates new layers
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The ‘layers’ window
The currently active layer is highlighted, anything drawn or imported will be in this layer
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The ‘layers’ window
This locks entire layers (for eg base of model) –to work on other layers (eg icons)
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The ‘layers’ window
Layers are indicated by different highlight colors
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Bases can be 2 or 3 dimensional• Forming Bases – Filled and Clear arrow tools• Line and Fill colors – the color/stroke/gradient menus• Textures – the swatch menu
Bases
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Click and drag bases…
Import the ‘bases palette’
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Click and drag bases…
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Click and drag bases…
To edit base, right click & ‘break link to symbol
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Replicating a base fill/style
Open the Style library‘Environmental..Physical Styles’
Then highlight the objectto receive a fill style
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Replicating a base fill/style
Changes fill, in thiscase to ‘mud’
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Gradient palette
Custom gradientscan be found in
the swatch palette
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Gradient palette
Useful to indicate gradual changes
in water quality etc
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Gradient palette
Adjust mid point of gradient
Create new color points
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Pen tools (selection tools) Drawing palette
Left click and hold on pen tool gives four options..
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Pen tools (selection tools)
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Pen tools (selection tools)
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Pen tools (selection tools)
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Pen tools (selection tools)
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Pen tools (selection tools)
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Outlines and Fills
Fill
Outline
Line is defined as black and a stroke weight of 1 ptFill is transparent (turned off)
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Outlines and Fills
Line is transparent (turned off)Fill is defined as light blue
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Libraries
Window:symbol librarieschoose required
library
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Libraries
1
2
3 1. Create new layer2. Choose symbol
3. Insert into model
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Creating new symbols
Find a photograph ofobject and import into
Illustrator
Lock the image
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Creating new symbols
Choose the standardpen tool
Set line thickness and choose an easily visible
color
Start tracing areas of uniform color
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Creating new symbols
Use the curve pentool to smooth lines
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Creating new symbols
Adjust color and fill
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Grouping and transforming
Having created a symbol group the
elements
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Grouping and transforming
Symbols or elements canbe rotated, scaled and
reflected
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Grouping and transforming
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A range of currently available symbols
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www.ian.umces.edu/conceptualdiagrams.htmPlease visit our website to download the symbol libraries for
Illustrator for FREE
Be sure to click the “Register for FREE Instant Access” link
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Acknowledgements…
Eva AbalCatherine Collier Karen HollowayDiana KleineKate Moore Judy O’NeilFrancis PantusDieter Tracey
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Future possibilities:• Develop Stella-like functionality with conceptual diagram ‘front-
end’ (quantitative representations, scenario runs)?