In science, the failure to communicate effectively can mean the death of a proposal, the rejection of a paper, or failure to obtain a job. Coalescing the ideas of many experts in cognitive psychology and technical communication, I have created a general framework for scientific communication that I use extensively for scientific presentations, grant proposals, academic papers, and posters which I call ANChor (Assertions, Noise, and Cohesion). I propose that this approach is a powerful way to unify, clarify, and sharpen scientific messages for the benefit of both the audience and the author. This methodology has proven effectiveness based on 4 presentation awards given to myself and my colleagues resulting from the use of this framework.

1. Josh
Inouye
Postdoctoral
researcher
Biomedical
Engineering
University
of
Virginia
February
12th,
2015
UVA
Office
of
Graduate
&
Postdoctoral
Affairs
Seminar
ANChor
A
powerful
approach
to
scien2fic
communica2on
PRESENTATIONS
PAPERS
POSTERS
PROPOSALS
instrucIonaltechtalk.com
parkerlab.bio.uci.edu
Bob
Scholtz,
USC

2. We
communicate
with
diverse
groups
US
ADVISOR
CO-AUTHORS
FUNDING
AGENCIES
EXPERTS
EMPLOYERS
INTRO
Notes:
Given
that
we
must
communicate
to
these
groups,
it
begs
the
quesIon
of
how
this
can
be
done
most
efficiently
and
effecIvely.

3. We
communicate
with
diverse
groups
US
ADVISOR
CO-AUTHORS
FUNDING
AGENCIES
EXPERTS
EMPLOYERS
LEAST KNOWLEDGE
INTRO
, MOST INFLUENCE
Notes
1:
These
two
groups
are
parIcularly
important
for
our
careers.
They
also
have
the
caveat
that
many
Imes
they
have
the
least
knowledge
of
our
area,
least
Ime
to
study
our
work,
and
least
interest
in
studying
it
as
much
as
their
own
research
or
research
directly
in
their
area
of
experIse.
And,
paradoxically,
perhaps
the
most
influence.
Notes
2:
If
we
are
concerned
with
these
groups,
we
want
our
communicaIon
to
be
extremely
efficient
and
understandable.
I
argue
that
storyboarding
and
ANChoring
are
some
of
the
best
ways
to
disIll
and
distribute
clean
and
efficient
technical
messages.
This
presentaIon
was
started
with
a
storyboard
and
includes
all
ANChoring
principles,
so
you
can
decide
if
you
think
they
are
effecIve
here.

4. Communica7on
prepara7on
methods
Figure
set
Topic
outline
Sentence
outline
Introduc7on
Methods
• SubsecIon
1
• SubsecIon
2
• …
Results
• SubsecIon
1
• SubsecIon
2
• …
Conclusions
ABSTRACT
ColonizaIon
of
the
fetal
and
infant
gut
microbiome
results
in
dynamic
changes
in
diversity,
which
can
impact
disease
suscepIbility.
To
examine
the
relaIonship
between
human
gut…
INTRO
Notes:
StarIng
a
paper
with
a
set
of
figures
to
get
feedback
from
advisors
or
colleagues
is
a
logical
way
to
start
many
technical
communicaIons.
Notes:
Some
papers
or
communicaIons
can
be
effecIvely
started
by
creaIng
a
topical
outline.
Notes:
Some
situaIons
may
benefit
from
starIng
mostly
with
a
sentence
outline
such
as
an
abstract.

5. INTRO
A
storyboard
organizes
figures,
topics,
and
sentences
Notes:
It
combines
all
3
preparaIon
methods
from
the
previous
slide.
Best
of
all
three
worlds!

6. STORYBOARD
PAPER/PROPOSAL
PRESENTATION
A
storyboard
is
versa7le
INTRO
Figures
Topics
Sentences
/POSTER
Notes:
Once
a
complete,
standalone
storyboard
is
created,
it
can
be
instantly
converted
to
a
poster,
or
rearranged
slightly
to
produce
a
paper,
proposal,
or
presentaIon
with
succinct
messages,
great
organizaIon
and
outstanding
clarity
(especially
if
principles
such
as
ANChor
are
employed).

7. Considera7ons
for
a
great
storyboard
Asser7ons
Noise
Cohesion
Sentences
Figures
Topics
h
o
r
OVERVIEW

8. Considera7ons
for
a
great
storyboard
Asser7ons
Noise
Cohesion
Sentences
Figures
Topics
h
o
r
OVERVIEW

9. h^p://catholiclane.com
ASSERTIONS HELP ARTICULATE
Notes:
They
help
us
arIculate
the
important
messages.
However,
a
good
asserIon
that
is
succinct,
clear,
short,
and
meaningful
can
take
several
revisions.

10. Sentence
(asser7on)
Figure
(evidence)
Asser7on-­‐evidence
slide
design
is
powerful
ASSERTIONS
Notes:
Michael
Alley
has
advocated
this
structure
for
over
10
years
for
presentaIon
slides.
It
involves
a
simple
one-­‐sentence
asserIon
for
the
slide
headline
and
visual
evidence
that
directly
supports
the
asserIon.
This
structure
has
been
shown
empirically
to
be
very
effecIve
for
communicaIng
and
aiding
retenIon
of
knowledge.
Notes:
There
is
an
inImate
relaIonship
between
the
asserIon
and
the
evidence.
SomeImes
a
back-­‐and-­‐forth
process
of
revision
helps
to
make
the
asserIon
meaningful
and
then
the
evidence
reworked
to
be^er
support
the
asserIon,
or
the
asserIon
reworked
to
reflect
relevant
messages
in
the
evidence.

11. ASSERTIONS
Asser7on-­‐evidence
transforma7on
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
B C D
A
A
C
B
D
?
Digital Acquisition System
Overw
helm
ing
Accelerometer outputs an analog voltage
Hardware converts analog signal to digital
Computer samples a number of points
Data is exported to popular applications
o Microsoft Excel
o Matlab
Topic
Sentence
outline
Notes:
This
is
an
example
of
a
typical
slide
that
uses
a
topic
headline
and
sentences
or
phrases
as
bullet
points.
These
sorts
of
slides
are
what
Michael
Alley
directly
advocates
against.
Alley,
2013

12. Alley,
2003
ASSERTIONS
Asser7on-­‐evidence
transforma7on
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
B C D
A
A
C
B
D
?
Digital Acquisition System
Overw
helm
ing
Accelerometer outputs an analog voltage
Hardware converts analog signal to digital
Computer samples a number of points
Data is exported to popular applications
o Microsoft Excel
o Matlab
Digital data acquisition changes the data’s form
Output voltage
Analog to
digital conversion
Computer sampling
of signal
Sentence
(asser7on)
Figure
(evidence)
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
B C D
A
A
C
B
D
?
Digital Acquisition System
Overw
helm
ing
Accelerometer outputs an analog voltage
Hardware converts analog signal to digital
Computer samples a number of points
Data is exported to popular applications
o Microsoft Excel
o Matlab
Digital data acquisition changes the data’s form
Output voltage
Analog to
digital conversion
Computer sampling
of signal

13. No
asser7ons
here
Doumont,
2009
Topic
Figure
ASSERTIONS

14. Doumont,
2009
Figure
ASSERTIONS
Sentence
(asser7on)
ONLY
28%
OF
ADULTS
SLEEP
THE
RECOMMENDED
8
HOURS
This
asser7on
ar7culates
the
message!

15. Alley,
2013
ASSERTIONS
Another
asser7on-­‐evidence
example

16. Figure
1.
ComputaIonal
model.
Figure
1.
We
use
a
3D
finite
element
model
to
simulate
velopharyngeal
closure.
ASSERTIONS
Publica7on
figure
example
Figure
Topic
Sentence/
asser7on
Notes:
The
topic
capIon
would
be
fine,
but
the
asserIon
capIon
really
adds
value
and
helps
the
figure
stand
alone
as
an
informaIon
source
rather
than
having
to
read
text
apart
from
the
figure-­‐
capIon
combinaIon.
Inouye
et
al.,
2014

17. Time
A^enIon
Asser7ons
crucial
ASSERTIONS
Human
aNen7on
during
presenta7ons
Notes:
During
presentaIons,
ajer
the
iniIal
1-­‐2
minute
“honeymoon
period”
where
a^enIon
is
high,
the
average
audience
member’s
a^enIon
is
very
liable
to
wander
either
for
long
or
short
periods,
even
if
the
presentaIon
is
excellent.
AsserIons
are
really
helpful
during
this
Ime
so
that
someone
can
get
at
least
a
li^le
value
from
each
slide
without
having
to
listen
to
the
speaker.
For
example,
if
there
is
a
slide
with
heading
“Results”
with
a
graph,
and
someone
loses
concentraIon
and
sees
a
bunch
of
data
points,
they
may
be
lost.
However,
if
the
head
was
more
some
thing
like
“Results
show
output
is
highest
with
[X]”,
then
some
key
knowledge
can
be
imparted
to
someone
that
lost
concentraIon.

18. ASSERTIONS
Make
presenta7on
asser7ons
short
Notes:
Short
presentaIon
asserIons
help
to
direct
the
audience’s
a^enIon
back
to
the
speaker
as
quickly
as
possible.
AsserIon-­‐evidence
structure
calls
for
no
more
than
two
lines
of
text,
but
I
feel
personally
that
this
may
be
too
much
in
general
for
presentaIons.
For
papers,
longer
capIons
are
be^er
since
the
reader
does
not
have
the
verbal
input
from
a
speaker
and
has
more
Ime
to
dissect
the
asserIon
and
relate
it
to
the
evidence.
I
am
inspired
to
try
to
make
asserIons
in
presentaIons
like
ESPN
and
CNN
headlines,
which
typically
can
be
as
short
as
2-­‐5
words.

19. Considera7ons
for
storyboarding
Asser7ons
Noise
Cohesion
Figures
Topics
Sentences
h
o
r
OVERVIEW

20. NOISE
OBSCURES
MESSAGES
videvo.net

21. NOISE
OBSCURES
MESSAGES
Try
to
remove
noise!

22. NOISE
OBSCURES
MESSAGES
Notes:
Reducing
noise
makes
the
message
much
clearer!

23. Doumont,
2009
NOISE
Noise
ASSERTIONS
Elimina7ng
noise
strengthens
signal

24. Doumont,
2009
NOISE
ASSERTIONS
Elimina7ng
noise
strengthens
signal

25. Try
to
increase
signal-­‐to-­‐noise
ra7o
Doumont,
2009
Noise
Signal
Adding
signal
Removing
noise
NOISE
ASSERTIONS
Notes:
The
combinaIon
of
reducing
noise
and
adding
signal
can
make
a
bland
slide
excellent.
Also,
I’m
not
sure
why
Doumont
takes
out
the
reference.
Maybe
it
is
ficIIous
or
his
own
work.
If
not,
it
needs
to
be
in
the
slide
of
course,
although
a
lighter
shade
and
placement
more
in
the
lower
right
and
a
li^le
smaller
might
help
to
reduce
noise
from
it
without
plagiarizing.

26. High
noise
High
signal
NOISE
ASSERTIONS
Paper
figure
example
Notes:
Now,
clear
asserIons
can
be
made
such
as
“The
max
output
power
was
650mW”,
if
that
is
the
main
message.
Or,
“The
bandwidth
was
630MHz”.
Or,
“The
calculated
values
compared
favorably
with
the
measured
values”.
Maybe
there
is
one
asserIon
the
author
wants
to
communicate
most
clearly,
but
the
other
informaIon
allows
readers
with
addiIonal
interests
in
other
aspects
of
the
data
to
see
the
relevant
points
as
well.
The
high
signal
one
to
me
is
admi^edly
a
li^le
extreme.
I
shoot
for
a
middle
ground
between
the
two,
although
maybe
a
li^le
more
towards
the
high
signal
example
when
appropriate.
Doumont,
2009

27. Grant
figure
example
NOISE
ASSERTIONS
Noise
reduc7on
h^p://www.mcqbiology.com
Figure
1.
Sarcomeres
are
the
smallest
contracIle
units
of
muscles.
Notes:
I
wanted
my
asserIon
to
be
the
capIon
below.
There
are
91
words
in
the
original
image
on
the
lej.
Ajer
reducing
the
noise,
I
put
in
5
relevant
words
and
highlighted
in
red
the
main
component
in
the
figure.
Adobe
Illustrator
can
do
this
transformaIon
in
a
few
minutes
using
the
pen
tool
and
a
clipping
mask.

28. Considera7ons
for
storyboarding
Asser7ons
Noise
Cohesion
Figures
Topics
Sentences
h
o
r
OVERVIEW

29. h^p://kubiyagames.com
COHESION PULLS CONTENT TOGETHER
Notes:
SpaIal
and
temporal
cohesion
are
important
in
figures,
storyboards,
and
slides.
See
Mayer
and
Moreno,
2003.

30. Storyboarding
requires
temporal
cohesion
NOISE
ASSERTIONS
COHESION

31. NOISE
ASSERTIONS
COHESION
Op7mal
communica7on
involves
spa7al
cohesion
Figures
Topics
Sentences
Notes:
This
is
where
asserIons
or
phrases
are
placed
as
close
to
the
relevant
parts
of
the
slide
or
figure
as
possible.
It
has
been
shown
to
increase
learning
efficiency.

32. NOISE
ASSERTIONS
COHESION
Standard
asser7on
evidence
slide
splits
aNen7on
Eye
movements
Notes:
The
“split
a^enIon
effect”
(Sweller
et
al.
1990)
has
been
studied
in
the
literature
and
idenIfied
as
an
impediment
to
mulImedia
learning.
This
is
one
drawback
of
asserIon-­‐evidence
structure
to
me,
in
general,
for
situaIons
where
the
asserIon
is
applicable
to
a
specific
part
of
the
figure,
and
not
just
a
summary.
I
think
it
just
depends
on
the
situaIon
as
to
what
is
best.
Either
way,
the
“split
a^enIon
effect”
is
something
useful
to
bear
in
mind
for
presentaIons,
papers,
etc.

33. Alley,
2013
Not
very
spa7ally
cohesive
NOISE
ASSERTIONS
COHESION
Notes:
I
feel
like
the
eyes
have
to
make
unnecessary
movements
to
understand
this
message
fully
because
it
is
not
spaIally
cohesive,
in
my
opinion
(although
I
will
grant
that
it
is
sIll
a
very
nice,
clean,
clear
slide).
This
is
a
standard
asserIon-­‐evidence
example
from
Michael
Alley.

34. Halogen
Xenon
Headlight
comparison
Signs
illuminated
beNer
with
Xenon
NOISE
ASSERTIONS
COHESION
More
cohesive

35. NOISE
ASSERTIONS
COHESION
Spa7al
cohesion
created
Notes:
My
modificaIon
I
feel
is
more
efficient
and
clear
for
communicaIon
because
of
the
increased
spaIal
cohesion
(aka
“conIguity”
in
the
literature)
and
“signaling”
(Mayer
and
Moreno,
2003),
provided
by
the
arrows,
which
directs
a^enIon
quickly
to
the
small
signs
in
the
figure.
In
the
original,
the
reader
or
audience
is
lej
to
search
for
the
signs.
I
reduced
the
menIon
of
headlights
from
three
Imes
to
one.
The
spaIal
placement
of
halogen
and
xenon
prevents
eyes
from
having
to
travel
laterally
as
much
(a
very
simple
and
trivial
modificaIon,
but
I
think
those
things
add
up
eventually).
Furthermore,
I
reduced
the
asserIon
from
nine
words
to
five.
My
revision
Original
slide

36. Parallels provide
advantageous
intersections
My future research vision
combines intersections to
advance technology and
healthcare
Technology
advancements
Healthcare
advancements
Biology
enhances
engineering
(PhD work)
Design
Computation
Optimization
Anatomy
Neural processing
Adaptation Engineering
benefits biology
(Postdoc work)
Biology Engineering
NOISE
ASSERTIONS
COHESION
Job
applica7on
spa7al
cohesion
example

37. Parallels provide
advantageous
intersections
My future research vision
combines intersections to
advance technology and
healthcare
Technology
advancements
Healthcare
advancements
Biology
enhances
engineering
(PhD work)
Design
Computation
Optimization
Anatomy
Neural processing
Adaptation Engineering
benefits biology
(Postdoc work)
Biology Engineering
NOISE
ASSERTIONS
COHESION
Job
applica7on
spa7al
cohesion
example
Figure
Topics
Sentence/asser7on
Notes:
I
could
have
put
the
asserIon
as
a
capIon
to
the
figure
or
inside
my
research
statement
text,
but
I
wanted
it
to
be
spaIally
cohesive
and
place
the
statement
about
technology
and
healthcare
next
to
those
exact
terms.
Plus,
it
is
at
the
logical
end
of
the
flowchart,
whereas
in
a
capIon,
it
is
not
clear
whether
it
should
be
considered
first
or
last
or
something
in
between.
So
there’s
also
an
element
of
temporal
cohesion
with
its
placement.

38. h
o
r
Create
Cohesion
GOOD
SCIENTIFIC
COMMUNICATION
PRACTICES
No
Noise
Always
Assert

39. KNOWLEDGE
iwls.com
ANCHORS
Notes:
One
analogy
for
scienIfic
communicaIon
is
that
we
are
the
climbers
that
set
down
the
anchors
on
the
way
up
to
the
knowledge
summit
that
we
want
to
get
to.
It
is
our
responsibility
to
lay
down
anchors
for
the
audience
to
follow
us
up
to
the
summit
and
protect
them
from
loss
of
concentraIon
in
a
presentaIon
and
protect
them
from
frustraIon
when
reading
a
paper,
proposal,
or
poster.
And
well-­‐organized
figures
that
follow
ANChoring
principles
are
one
great
way
to
do
that,
parIcularly
for
technical
presentaIons.

40. 1.
Storyboarding
organizes
figures,
topics,
and
sentences
TAKEAWAYS
2.
ANChoring
op7mizes
storyboards
Creates
communicaIon
versaIlity!
Notes:
As
a
side
note,
ANChoring
principles
can
be
used
completely
apart
from
the
idea
of
a
storyboard
and
a
storyboard
can
be
created
without
any
consideraIon
of
ANChoring
principles.
I
really
like
the
combinaIon
of
the
two
personally,
although
I
use
them
together
about
1/2
of
the
Ime
at
this
point.
The
other
half
I’m
sIll
using
ANChoring
as
much
as
possible.
Notes:
Although
versaIle,
someImes
small
or
huge
adjustments
must
be
made
for
different
audiences.
Even
more
so
for
non-­‐specialists,
storyboards
help
to
get
quick
feedback
from
people
of
the
same
technical
knowledge
level
as
your
target
audience.
A
single
implementaIon
of
a
storyboard
is
most
versaIle
when
audiences
of
similar
technical
knowledge
are
being
addressed
(e.g.,
in
presentaIons
at
conferences
and
with
publicaIons
in
journals).

41. As
the
author,
your
job
is
to
make
the
reader’s
job
easy.
–
Joshua
Schimel,
author
of
Wri2ng
Science
As
a
scienIst,
you
are
a
professional
writer.
Geoffrey
Handsfield
Katie Pelland Shawn Russell,
Ph.D.
Kyle Chadwick
Silvia Blemker,
Ph.D.
Shayn Pierce-
Cottler, Ph.D.
Kevin Janes,
Ph.D.
Special
thanks
to
the
following
scien7sts
for
helpful
comments:
Organizers
Melissa
Hurst,
Ph.D.
Amy
Clobes,
Ph.D.
Thank
you!
QuesIons,
comments,
feedback?
Please
let
me
know!
jmi@virginia.edu

42. References:
My
papers
that
used
storyboarding
and
ANChor:
Inouye
JM,
Pelland
K,
Lin
KY,
Borowitz
KC,
Blemker
SS.
A
ComputaIonal
Model
of
Velopharyngeal
Closure
for
SimulaIng
Clej
Palate
Repair.
J
Craniofac
Surg.
2014:In
press.
(h^p://bme.virginia.edu/muscle/pdf/inouye2014computaIonal.pdf)
Inouye
JM,
Blemker
SS,
Inouye
DI.
Towards
undistorted
and
noise-­‐free
speech
in
an
MRI
scanner:
CorrelaIon
subtracIon
followed
by
spectral
noise
gaIng.
J
Acoust
Soc
Am.
2014;135(3):1019-­‐1022.
(h^p://bme.virginia.edu/muscle/pdf/Inouye2014_JASA.pdf)
Asser7on-­‐evidence
structure:
Michael
Alley
website:
h^p://www.wriIng.engr.psu.edu/slides.html
*Alley
M,
Neeley
KA.
Rethinking
the
design
of
presenta7on
slides:
A
case
for
sentence
headlines
and
visual
evidence.
Tech
Commun.
2005;52(4):
417-­‐426.
M.
Alley,
The
cra;
of
scien2fic
presenta2ons.
Springer,
2013.
*Robert
Yale.
The
Asser7on-­‐Evidence
Structure
for
PowerPoint
Slide
Design
(~20
minutes).
h^ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNW84FUe0ZA&hd=1
Asser7ons,
signal-­‐to-­‐noise:
J.
L.
Doumont,
“Trees
maps
and
theorems,”
Principiae,
Belgium,
2009.
Doumont
website
with
communicaIon
resources:
h^p://www.principiae.be/X0300.php
Doumont
YouTube
lecture
(~60
minutes):
h^ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meBXuTIPJQk
Cogni7ve
load
(applies
to
all
ANChor
principles):
Mayer,
Richard
E.
2002.
“MulImedia
Learning.”
Psychology
of
Learning
and
MoIvaIon
41:85–139.
Chandler,
Paul,
and
John
Sweller.
1991.
“CogniIve
Load
Theory
and
the
Format
of
InstrucIon.”
CogniIon
and
instrucIon
8(4):293–332.
Mayer,
Richard
E.,
and
Roxana
Moreno.
2003.
“Nine
Ways
to
Reduce
CogniIve
Load
in
MulImedia
Learning.”
EducaIonal
psychologist
38(1):43–52.
Other
great
resources:
C.
Heath
and
D.
Heath,
Made
to
s2ck:
Why
some
ideas
survive
and
others
die.
Random
House
Digital,
Inc.,
2007.
E.
R.
Tuje
and
P.
R.
Graves-­‐Morris,
The
visual
display
of
quan2ta2ve
informa2on,
vol.
2.
Graphics
press
Cheshire,
CT,
1983.
Schimel,
Joshua.
WriIng
science:
how
to
write
papers
that
get
cited
and
proposals
that
get
funded.
Oxford
University
Press,
2012.
**Reynolds,
Garr.
Presenta7on
Zen:
Simple
ideas
on
presenta7on
design
and
delivery.
New
Riders,
2011.
**Duarte,
Nancy.
Slide:
ology:
The
art
and
science
of
crea7ng
great
presenta7ons.
Sebastopol,
CA:
O'Reilly
Media,
2008.
*If
you’re
strapped
for
7me
but
want
to
learn
more
I
would
recommend
star7ng
with
one
of
these.
**These
are
outstanding
books,
but
I
feel
that
some
of
the
ideas
are
less
appropriate
for
academic
presenta7ons
and
more
appropriate
for
less
technical
presenta7ons,
such
as
TED
talks.