SciComm Note: Sight

This SciComm Note focuses on one of the five senses – sight – considering the role of visual methods and those experienced via ‘seeing’ in science communication. Designed for science-communication practitioners and researchers who are using visual methods for the first time, it explores: Which visual methods seem well-established and which are emerging? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches? And what impacts can visual science communication techniques have? From a content analysis of research (2019 to 2025) gaps in understanding of visual science-communication methods and areas where further awareness of practice and/or investigation are also highlighted. A set of key questions for science communicators planning to use a visual approach are provided. Selected examples are included, with further information on all of the research incorporated in the corresponding open-access database (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18172544).