Wednesday 27 January 2027 | 14:30 - 16:00 I Workshop Room

When Scientific Figures Need More Than Python

Science doesn’t have to look boring. In this creative workshop, Petra Korlevic from the Wellcome Sanger Institute demonstrates how artistic tools and visual storytelling techniques can elevate scientific communication beyond standard plots and pipelines.

Learn how to annotate figures in ways not possible in Python or R alone, design striking visuals for papers and presentations, create mascots for research projects, and explore comics and illustration as tools for science outreach and education. 

Scientific Art Structure

Learning outcomes

  • See science differently – explore how art and visual storytelling can transform complex scientific ideas into compelling visuals.
     
  • Get hands-on – experiment with both digital tools and traditional pen-and-paper techniques to annotate, illustrate and reimagine scientific figures.
     
  • Make something yourself – create a visual inspired by your own research, from a scientific figure or concept to a comic, illustration or outreach piece.
     
  • Take away new ideas – discover practical techniques you can use in papers, presentations, teaching, outreach and public engagement.

Who should attend

This workshop is aimed at life science researchers who are curious about how AI can help them work more effectively, regardless of their technical background. 

It will be particularly valuable for: 

  • Wet-lab scientists 

  • Bioinformaticians and computational biologists 

  • Genomics researchers 

  • PhD students and postdoctoral researchers 

  • Principal Investigators and research group leaders 

  • Anyone interested in building practical AI tools for research 

No coding or AI experience is required.

Workshop outline

A hands-on, interactive creative workshop combining short demonstrations, guided activities and time to experiment. Petra will showcase digital and analogue approaches before participants have the opportunity to create their own scientific artwork.
No artistic or graphic design experience required – just bring your curiosity (and your science!).

Workshop Leader

**Please register your interest in being considered for a workshop place when completing your festival ticket registration.**