As part of #SciComm, we shared our findings with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada @RASCTC@MakerExpo@sci_rendezvous and it appeared on the cover of Toronto Metro newspaper.
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Here's a thread on basic tips to help improve your next science figure! 📝 (ie common mistakes I see). It'll cover: 1) Contrast (color value) ⬛️⬜️ 2) Color (it’s a tool, not decoration!) 🌈 3) Fonts 🔤 4) Image Resolution 📷 5) Spacing / margins 📐 6) By request! 💡
1a) Ahh contrast.. my favorite topic! If we lived in a world of black & white, contrast would actually be less of an issue (because we'd notice it immediately). Color variation can trick you into thinking something is legible!
1b) Left image - looks decent, but dark on dark elements getting hard to read. Right image - if converted to black and white (great trick to check contrast btw) becomes almost illegible and purple dots disappear. Bad for color blind and if figure is ultimately printed in B&W!
(1/6) This was a fun piece I illustrated with @NatGeo on the neuroanatomy of the common octopus 🐙 Seems relatively simple but (as many of you can attest) a lot of good storytelling is stripping AWAY info as opposed to adding.. (here's a peak at the process work below)
(2/6) First sketch that was proposed to me for the story. I was immediately hooked since I am fascinated with octopi 😍🐙
(3/6) Most of the work in science illustration actually goes into background research, coordinating w/ world experts (sometimes means emailing across 5 different timezones - Greenland, Australia, Canada, US, Europe...). Most times we have to go with the best 'theory' out there 🤔
Our team is a mix of scientists of many different skill sets and backgrounds. Some of us are great at tweeting, some of us are great at fixing cars, and some of us can cook a curry that makes you cry with happiness after a long windy day in the field.
What binds is together is our dedication to studying the workings of the Solar System by studying out of this world landmarks on Earth. #NASAFieldWork
Some of us are looking at ice and life in preparation for sending robots to Europa. That brought our Team Ice to The glacier covered volcano Kverkfjöll.
So a few people have been asking about general word finding difficulties and temporary episodes of language loss. Firstly, let me just say that I am not a medical doctor. 1/2
An increase in word finding difficulties can occur with age.
Temporary episodes of language loss may be called 'aphasia' by some but the cause is temporary - diff to someone who has a brain injury that changes the brain permanently (even tho they may recover to some extent). 2/2
@rudetuesday@MoiraR @tessisrelated
I hope the information in this thread helps.
Aphasia is caused by an acquired brain injury, most commonly #stroke. Around 1/3 of people with left hemisphere stroke can have aphasia. Over time, the severity of the aphasia and type may change but many people live with aphasia.
Here are a couple of YouTube clips that talk more about #aphasia, posting them again here for ease of reference:
This award-winning video by @shireeheath explains aphasia from a child's perspective: