{"id":11157,"date":"2015-08-10T05:00:33","date_gmt":"2015-08-10T09:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/?p=11157"},"modified":"2015-08-10T05:00:33","modified_gmt":"2015-08-10T09:00:33","slug":"sketching-your-notes-at-esa100","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/2015\/08\/10\/sketching-your-notes-at-esa100\/","title":{"rendered":"Sketching your notes at #ESA100"},"content":{"rendered":"<h6 style=\"text-align: right\">Enhance your sketching toolkit at #ESA100!<\/h6>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><em>Guest post by Bethann Garramon Merkle<\/em><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left\">Everyone can sketch \u2013 even you.<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sketching in the field to complement data collection? <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/doodling4science?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#doodling4science<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/outofthebox?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#outofthebox<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/scicomm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#scicomm<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ESA2014?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ESA2014<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/pinkjuniper?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#pinkjuniper<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/VxEzvMpGbn\">pic.twitter.com\/VxEzvMpGbn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Dr. Pika Jo Varner (@johannavarner) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/johannavarner\/status\/498584519906058240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Researchers have demonstrated that drawing (even without training) can:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bgmerklecommunications.files.wordpress.com\/2014\/08\/ainsworth_drawing-to-learn-in-science_science-2011.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">aid learning &amp; memorization<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.drawntoscience.org\/researchers\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">help clarify what you know<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bgmerklecommunications.files.wordpress.com\/2014\/08\/s-knapp-review-of-field-notes-on-science-and-nature_nature-08-2011.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">enhance research methodology<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.picturingtolearn.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">improve value of student assessments<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/artsedge.kennedy-center.org\/educators\/how-to\/arts-integration\/~\/media\/ArtsEdge\/LessonPrintables\/articles\/arts-integration\/KC-AE-Selected_Findings_CETA.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">enhance creativity and problem solving<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/story\/20140930-are-we-hardwired-to-doodle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">enhance communication efforts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There is even evidence that <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.plos.org\/attheinterface\/2013\/06\/19\/why-art-and-science\/\">collaboration between scientists and artists<\/a> may <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.plos.org\/attheinterface\/2012\/11\/22\/why-scientists-should-care-about-art\/\">result in better science<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2><strong>This makes sense, because <\/strong><strong>the history of science and art are closely intertwined.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Prior to the advent of cameras, <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/books.google.ca\/books?id=-CBKlQSJodwC&amp;pg=PA428&amp;dq=From+not+being+able+to+draw+and+from+not+having+sufficient+anatomical+knowledge,+at+great+pile&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=NY_OU97TNJHesATgioIY&amp;ved=0CB8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&amp;q=From%20not%20being%20able%20to%20draw%20and%20from%20not%20having%20sufficient%20anatomical%20knowledge%2C%20at%20great%20pile&amp;f=false\"><strong>scientific inquiry required drawing<\/strong><\/a><strong>. <\/strong>The drawings and paintings of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.google.ca\/search?q=leonardo+da+vinci&amp;hl=en&amp;prmd=imvnsob&amp;source=lnms&amp;tbm=isch&amp;ei=AOEWT6P5I-f00gGHwoTOAg&amp;sa=X&amp;oi=mode_link&amp;ct=mode&amp;cd=2&amp;ved=0CBgQ_AUoAQ&amp;biw=1440&amp;bih=732#hl=en&amp;tbm=isch&amp;sa=1&amp;q=leonardo+da+vinci+nature+drawings&amp;oq=leonardo+da+vinci+nature+drawings&amp;aq=f&amp;aqi=g1&amp;aql=&amp;gs_sm=e&amp;gs_upl=2090l4593l0l4830l15l15l0l8l8l4l522l1906l0.3.2.5-2l7l0&amp;fp=1&amp;biw=1440&amp;bih=732&amp;bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&amp;cad=b\">Leonardo da Vinci<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.google.ca\/search?q=maria+sibylla+merian+drawings&amp;hl=en&amp;prmd=imvns&amp;source=lnms&amp;tbm=isch&amp;ei=geEWT_naKKHm0QGTsqiLAw&amp;sa=X&amp;oi=mode_link&amp;ct=mode&amp;cd=2&amp;ved=0CBEQ_AUoAQ&amp;biw=1440&amp;bih=732\">Maria Sybilla Merian<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.google.ca\/search?q=john+james+audubon&amp;hl=en&amp;prmd=imvnsblofd&amp;source=lnms&amp;tbm=isch&amp;ei=ieIWT9uQCOLx0gHH_c2FAw&amp;sa=X&amp;oi=mode_link&amp;ct=mode&amp;cd=2&amp;ved=0CDkQ_AUoAQ&amp;biw=1440&amp;bih=732\">John James Audubon<\/a>, and the maps drawn by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.google.ca\/search?q=samuel+champlain&amp;hl=en&amp;prmd=imvnsb&amp;source=lnms&amp;tbm=isch&amp;ei=2-UWT73RD8jj0QHkzMDtAg&amp;sa=X&amp;oi=mode_link&amp;ct=mode&amp;cd=2&amp;ved=0CBEQ_AUoAQ&amp;biw=1440&amp;bih=732#hl=en&amp;tbm=isch&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=4OUWT4K0Jcbl0gGN06SGAw&amp;ved=0CDoQBSgA&amp;q=samuel+champlain%27s+maps&amp;spell=1&amp;bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&amp;fp=d01ba3a0926f1cd1&amp;biw=1440&amp;bih=732\">Samuel Champlain<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=lewis+and+clark+drawings&amp;source=lnms&amp;tbm=isch&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=2igAUv-ZJsP-2gWcuIGIDg&amp;ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&amp;biw=1024&amp;bih=653\">Lewis &amp; Clark<\/a> were tools and data that drove scientific discoveries around the world.<\/p>\n<p>Fast forward to the modern era \u2013 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.brainpickings.org\/index.php\/2012\/11\/27\/natural-histories\/\">our understanding of the world back then<\/a> would be impoverished had those scientists and citizens not made drawings. At the same time, we now collectively avoid sketching because drawing has become art, and art (like science) has become specialized.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>And yet, drawing is not a domain exclusive to the pros. <\/strong><\/h2>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">My drawing blind exercise (&amp; subject) \u2013 inspired by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/commnatural?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@commnatural<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/scicomm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#scicomm<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ESA2014?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ESA2014<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/x48Qwe0TEW\">pic.twitter.com\/x48Qwe0TEW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Dr. Holly Menninger (@DrHolly) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DrHolly\/status\/498580846664613888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>After all, the curiosity, close observation, recording, and critical thinking required for drawing should seem quite familiar to any scientist.<\/h3>\n<p>This is exactly why drawing has been part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/advancingecocomm.wordpress.com\/esa2015-workshop\/\">SciComm Section\u2019s workshops<\/a> for the past two years.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">RT <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/chris_creese?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@chris_creese<\/a>: Drawing from life! illustrate your science w\/ <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/commnatural?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@commnatural<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/experrinment?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@experrinment<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/scicomm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#scicomm<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ESA2014?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ESA2014<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/wk15?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#wk15<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/hxxeIZoqop\">pic.twitter.com\/hxxeIZoqop<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Dr. Holly Menninger (@DrHolly) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DrHolly\/status\/498579191697133570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>I lead the workshop section on drawing and sketching, and participants have a blast doing blind contours, tracings, shadow tracings, and other basic drawing technique exercises in a roomful of fellow scientists and science communicators. We focus on observation over \u201cart,\u201d and build a drawing toolkit anyone can use.<\/p>\n<h2>Conference relevance: Visual note taking (aka \u201csketchnoting\u201d) isn\u2019t just for artists<\/h2>\n<p>At last year\u2019s conference, in response to the drawing workshop Perrin Ireland and I taught, a handful of <a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/ecology-and-society\/sketchyourscience-at-esa-2014\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">mountain ecology researchers launched<\/a> a <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?src=typd&amp;q=%23sketchyourscience\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#sketchyourscience<\/a> initiative that drew <a href=\"https:\/\/storify.com\/johannavarner\/mountain-research-at-esa2014\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">colorful responses<\/a> from a host of researchers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MtnResearch\/status\/498930299875512320\/photo\/1\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/MtnResearch\/status\/498930299875512320\/photo\/1<\/a><\/p>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/advancingecocomm.wordpress.com\/2014\/09\/17\/sketchyourscience-takes-off-after-esa-2014-workshop\/\">we wrote at the time<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">\u201cLike Tweeting, but arguably more compelling (and perhaps more daunting), compressing your work into a single sketch is a true exercise in honing your multimedia multi-disciplinary SciComm skills.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MtnResearch\/status\/499424910767177728\/photo\/1\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/MtnResearch\/status\/499424910767177728\/photo\/1<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>And, scientific sketchnotes aren\u2019t exclusive to ESA conferences, either.<\/h3>\n<p>Right now, social media is awash with visual notes from other science conferences, and many of these sketches were inspired by <a href=\"http:\/\/news.fisheries.org\/try-this-sketch-your-conference-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">an American Fisheries Society <em>Fisheries<\/em> magazine article<\/a> penned by Natalie Sopinka (<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/phishdoc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@phishdoc<\/a>). Natalie\u2019s article succinctly distills several science illustrators\u2019 advice for making meaningful and satisfying sketchnotes.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SolomonRDavid\/status\/618460236156960768\/photo\/1\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/SolomonRDavid\/status\/618460236156960768\/photo\/1<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Try it yourself. Quick tips for sketching at #ESA2015:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<div style=\"width: 162px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/bgmerklecommunications.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/04\/201410_pittsburgh-6_ducks.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"190\"><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Using only two complimentary colors (blue &amp; orange) can make your sketch look well-designed and punchy. Sketched from conference exhibit (ballpoint pen &amp; crayon)<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Keep your supplies simple and portable.<\/strong> A ballpoint pen and one color (marker, colored pencil, even a crayon!) can produce delightful results.<\/p><\/li>\n<li><strong>Use frames to organize\/design page layout. <\/strong>You can even set up your pages in advance, making frames for intro, main points, conclusion, key questions, etc.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Incorporate text into your sketches.<\/strong> Be sure to include your own questions and observations. Your personal \u201cfeedback\u201d will make the sketches particularly interesting\/valuable to you later.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use only one spot\/accent color.<\/strong> Realistic colors are hard to achieve quickly in a dark room. Instead, use color as a design device, to highlight key points or thought flows.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Using a quick sketch to capture the essence. <\/strong>Even if your sketch isn\u2019t technically accurate, it will help you make or remember a point.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Think of yourself as a curator. <\/strong>Don\u2019t try to capture everything, and don\u2019t worry about what you <em>should<\/em> capture. Sketch what interests you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Drawing my notes from Parker House's Giant Sea Bass talk <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/JMIH15?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#JMIH15<\/a> @phishdoc <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/commnatural?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@commnatural<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/Q4C0uz8ByS\">pic.twitter.com\/Q4C0uz8ByS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Emily A. Miller, PhD (@SturgeonSurgeon) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SturgeonSurgeon\/status\/621836527371292672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 17, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want to take sketching seriously? Here are a few resources for sketchnoting and drawing:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/advancingecocomm.wordpress.com\/2014\/08\/09\/multimedia-scicomm-resource-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SciComm Section\u2019s multimedia resource guide<\/a>; my section on sketching includes lots of links and tips.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/madmimi.com\/s\/543f66?o=tm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Expert tips re portable sketching materials<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.core77.com\/posts\/19678\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">One sketchnoter\u2019s take on \u201cSketch noting 101\u201d<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/uxmastery.com\/sketchnoting-101-how-to-create-awesome-visual-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">20 tips for \u201cHow to create awesome visual notes\u201d<\/a> \u2013 detailed \u201ctraining\u201d for serious sketchnoting; point 12 is a great starting point for simple punchy sketches \u2013 Contrast, Repetition, Alignment &amp; Proximity are key considerations.<\/li>\n<li>Search \u201csketchnotes\u201d or <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/sketchnotes?src=hash\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#sketchnotes<\/a> for inspiration from folks like <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/experrinment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Perrin Ireland<\/a>, a professional \u201cvisual scribe.\u201d Take a careful look at the sketch notes you most appreciate, and try copying some of their techniques \u2013 color, use of arrows and inventive fonts, page layout, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What doodling can do for your brain:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\" data-video-type=\"youtube\"><iframe class=\"embed-responsive-item\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7fx0QcHyrFk?modestbranding=0&amp;rel=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;iv_load_policy=3&amp;enablejsapi=1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>About the author: <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Bethann Garramon Merkle is an award-winning artist\/science communicator currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Wyoming. Connect with her online via Twitter (<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/commnatural\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@commnatural.com<\/a>) or her website (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.commnatural.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.commnatural.com<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/advancingecocomm.wordpress.com\/tag\/esa2015\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-654 img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/advancingecocomm.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/07\/communicating-science-vividly_workshop-banner_v2.jpg?w=338&amp;h=68\" alt=\"Communicating science vividly_workshop banner_v2\" width=\"225\" height=\"45\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><i>This article is the third in the SciComm Section\u2019s 2015 series on science communication in ecology. <a href=\"https:\/\/advancingecocomm.wordpress.com\/tag\/esa2015\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click here to view the full series<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/advancingecocomm.wordpress.com\/2014\/06\/23\/ecotone-series\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here to check out our 2014 series!<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Enhance your sketching toolkit at #ESA100! Guest post by Bethann Garramon Merkle Everyone can sketch \u2013 even you. Sketching in the field to complement data collection? #doodling4science #outofthebox #scicomm #ESA2014 #pinkjuniper pic.twitter.com\/VxEzvMpGbn \u2014 Dr. Pika Jo Varner (@johannavarner) August 10, 2014 Researchers have demonstrated that drawing (even without training) can: aid learning &amp; memorization help clarify what you know enhance&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":11160,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1727,85],"tags":[457,301,1728,1748,1409],"class_list":["post-11157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-centennial-2","category-guest-posts","tag-art","tag-esa-annual-meeting","tag-esa100","tag-esa2015","tag-science-communication"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11157"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11157\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}