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Conceptual Diagrams 

A tool for science communication 

Bill Dennison & Tim Carruthers 

integration application network

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 

simpler." A. Einstein 


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 


Conceptual diagrams provide an interface 

Science 

Conceptual 

Diagram 

Community 

Current 

understanding 

Priorities & 

environmental 

values 

Credibility & 

support 

Shared vision 

Commitment & 

resources 


Good conceptual diagrams are used extensively 

Z scheme of photosynthesis 

Plate tectonics 


Darwin used conceptual diagrams to 

explain his theory of coral reef 

formation 


Conceptual diagrams use symbols: an ancient 

technique to depict unequivocal messages 

Darwin’s conceptual diagram 

Cave drawing (Australian 

aborigines) 


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., 210 Pb), 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 


Both shape and color of symbols 

can be important for recognition 


Symbols are an important feature of 

everyday life 

Shape, color and images used for traffic signs 


In conceptual diagrams, as in maps, 

symbols need to be explained in a legend 

Map legend: 

Conceptual diagram legend: 


Conceptual diagrams can capture the 

increasing understanding of a system… 

1995 1998 

2001 


Conceptual diagrams can depict 

processes at different scales… 

kilometers 

meters 

centimeters 


Conceptual diagrams can be nested 


Conceptual diagrams are not… 

…cartoons 

…model relationships 

… colored box & arrow diagrams 

… a replacement for good, wellinterpreted 

data 


Conceptual diagrams can augment 

the effective communication of 

scientific understanding 

Conceptual diagram 

that uses 2 pp. of 

text for explanation 

Conceptual diagram with 

‘stand-alone’ legend 


Literature citations can be added… 


Why use conceptual diagrams? 

Seagrass loss in Moreton Bay 

• 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) 


Use of conceptual models facilitates 

hybrid diagrams of data 

Journal 

articles 

Books 


Symbols can be used on maps and linked 

to species identification guides 

Distribution 

map 

Identification 

guide 


Who develops/uses conceptual 

diagrams? 

Scientists 

Teachers 

Resource Managers 


Various applications of conceptual 

diagrams 

Research 

Synthesis 

Monitoring 

Management 


Conceptual diagrams can be incorporated 

into various publications 

Books 

Newsletters 

Journal 

publications 

Posters 


Conceptual diagrams can be used in 

powerpoint presentations 

Overall summary 

Component diagrams (nested) 

Problem statement 

Problem resolution 

(Burford et al.) 


Conceptual diagrams can be produced in 

real time to synthesize main messages 

Result of one day meeting into seagrass loss in Western Port 


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 inconsistently 

4. Thou shalt not produce a diagram without a complete legend 

5. Thou shalt not covet a single style 

6. Thou shalt not be constrained by geometry 

7. Thou shalt not use arrows indiscriminately 

8. Thou shalt not be afraid of making new symbols 

9. Thou shalt not publish diagrams without significant editing 

10. Thou shalt not confine use of diagrams to scientific peers 


Drawing Programs 

Program Web Site Price 

Adobe Illustrator 

(PC, MAC) 

Corel Draw 

(PC) 

Macromedia Freehand 

(PC,MAC) 

Deneba Canvas 

(PC, MAC) 

www.adobe.com * $ 45 

www.corel.com * $165 

www.macromedia.com ** $ 99 

www.deneba.com ** $199 

* ~ USM Site License 

** ~ Educational Price (not though USM site license) 


Copyright issues 

http://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 


Resolution issues 

Print/Publication 

300 Dots per inch (DPI) 

CYMK palette 

cyan, yellow,magenta, black 

Drawing files, bitmap images- 

May be large files (size) 

Monitor/Web 

72 DPI (also called PPI-Pixels 

per inch) 

RGB palette 

Red, green, blue 

Compressed images, small files 

(size) 

Pixel = Picture Element 

Text scanned in as line art at 600 DPI 

Paste Special when inserting image > smaller image size 

72 dpi 150 dpi 250 dpi 


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 !! 


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) 


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) 


Layering simplifies the diagram 

Layer 1 (background panels) 

Layer 2 (Icons and Keys) 

Layer 3 (window dressing) 

Priority is assigned within layers 

: a ‘sent to back’ icon will be in front 

of the ‘sent to front’ background panel 


The ‘layers’ window 

Creates new layers 



The currently active layer is highlighted, 

anything drawn or imported will be in this layer 



This locks entire layers (for eg base of model) – 

to work on other layers (eg icons) 



Layers are indicated by different highlight colors 


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 


Click and drag bases… 

Import the 

‘bases palette’ 





To edit base, 

right click & 

‘break link 

to symbol 


Replicating a base fill/style 

Open the Style library 

‘Environmental.. 

Physical Styles’ 

Then highlight the object 

to receive a fill style 


Replicating a base fill/style 

Changes fill, in this 

case to ‘mud’ 


Gradient palette 

Custom gradients 

can be found in 

the swatch palette 



Useful to indicate 

gradual changes 

in water quality etc 



Adjust mid point 

of gradient 

Create new 

color points 


Drawing palette 

Pen tools (selection tools) 

Left click and hold on pen tool gives four options.. 












Outlines and Fills 

Fill 

Outline 

Line is defined as black and a stroke weight of 1 pt 

Fill is transparent (turned off) 


Outlines and Fills 

Line is transparent (turned off) 

Fill is defined as light blue 


Libraries 

Window: 

symbol libraries 

choose required 

library 


Libraries 

3 

1 

2 

1. Create new layer 

2. Choose symbol 

3. Insert into model 


Creating new symbols 

Find a photograph of 

object and import into 

Illustrator 

Lock the image 



Choose the standard 

pen tool 

Set line thickness and 

choose an easily visible 

color 

Start tracing areas of 

uniform color 



Use the curve pen 

tool to smooth lines 



Adjust color and fill 


Grouping and transforming 

Having created a 

symbol group the 

elements 



Symbols or elements can 

be rotated, scaled and 

reflected 




A range of currently available 

symbols 


www.ian.umces.edu/conceptualdiagrams.htm 

Please visit our website to download the symbol libraries for 

Illustrator for FREE 

Be sure to click the “Register for FREE Instant Access” link 


Acknowledgements… 

Eva Abal 

Catherine Collier 

Karen Holloway 

Diana Kleine 

Kate Moore 

Judy O’Neil 

Francis Pantus 

Dieter Tracey 


Future possibilities: 

• Develop Stella-like functionality with conceptual diagram ‘frontend’ 

(quantitative representations, scenario runs)?

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