Visual Communication of Research through Video and Images

Welcome to Visual Communication of Research through Video and Images

Description: This course equips PhD researchers from all disciplines with the foundational skills to plan, capture, and edit compelling visual narratives of their work, addressing the growing expectation from journals and conferences for video and image-based explanations of dynamic systems and complex results. Through a blend of focused lectures and hands-on exercises, students learn to storyboard and script their ideas, master basic principles of framing, lighting, audio, and motion, integrate data visualization into moving media, handle editing and post-production workflows, consider accessibility and ethical presentation, and prepare assets for effective dissemination.

The core of the course is project-based: each student develops and iteratively refines a visual communication piece centered on a research project of their choice, culminating in a final deliverable in the form of a short video and/or detailed storyboard. Evaluation is based on the clarity and impact of that final project, the demonstration of applied techniques, and the reflective development process. By the end of this course, students will have edited a short video and gained a toolbox of practices and principles to enhance the reach and intelligibility of their future research communication.

Prerequisites: None

Learning objectives: By the end of the course, students will be able to identify the key components of effective visual communication and describe the video production process, including planning, shooting, and editing. They will apply techniques such as storyboarding, framing, pacing, and narration to communicate their own research projects clearly and ethically through video or images. Students will be able to critique visual materials using established principles, justify their design decisions, and adapt their skills to future research contexts. Ultimately, they will leave the course with both a completed visual communication piece and a transferable toolbox of methods for enhancing the clarity and impact of their research dissemination.

Organizer: Timothy Merritt

Lecturers: Tim Merritt (Associate Professor, AAU Dept. of Computer Science) provides introductory lectures, facilitates workshop sessions, and wraps up the course with a summary lecture. He provides the framing and structure of the course to ensure relevance to PhD researchers. He has invited two guest lecturers and together they have developed a robust program for the course.

External lecturers, including: 

Tatiana Fernandez Geara - Fulbright-trained photojournalist and documentary filmmaker (University of Missouri) whose feature films include Nanny (2015) and Santo Domingo Waltz (2021), and she writes, directs, and shoots her projects through Cine Carmelita. She also works for outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press, The Washington Post, NPR, The Guardian, and El País, and she will share hands-on techniques for capturing human emotion and the essence of a scene—whether in a domestic setting or while documenting scientific research—through practical guidance on trust-building, ethical observation, and visual storytelling. (see Tatiana's production company website: www.cinecarmelita.com)

Keith Partridge - International Emmy–winning adventure filmmaker and cinematographer (BBC’s Human Planet) who regularly collaborates with scientists, recently filming everything from laser microbiology in ancient ice to NASA astronaut cave training and fieldwork in extreme environments. He will run a hands-on, PhD-friendly workshop that invites students to bring their own research stories while he guides them through the full production workflow—from planning and shooting to editing, post, and delivery. (see more about Keith's work: www.adventurecamera.co.uk)

Deadline for enrolment: 2 September 2026

Important information concerning PhD courses: There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is, of course, an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before the start of the course. 

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment; all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

You may find more information in our FAQ: https://phd.moodle.aau.dk/local/page/faq 

For inquiries not described in the FAQ, please contact the PhD administration at phdcourses@adm.aau.dk. When contacting us, please state the course title and course period. Thank you.