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Christiana Varnava
Senior Editor, Nature Electronics
• PhD from University of Cambridge, UK
• Research focused on entangled light-
emitting diodes based on quantum dots
and on optical quantum information
applications
Broad Introduction
Methods
Detailed Results
Discussion
Broad Conclusion
Context: Focus:
Findings:
why your key studies,
a preview
study is rationale,
(optional)
useful objectives
• Describing figures
• Highlighting important data
• Evaluating findings and their implications
• Providing context for your data
• Explaining methods used
Why should I
care?
Introduction: Discussion:
Results:
topic, key self-reflection,
strong
studies, key studies,
evidence
objectives what next?
Exercise 1
Hints:
• Describe what you did and how you did it
• Explain how your findings advance the field
• Say why they will be of interest to the journal’s readers
A variety of physical phenomena associated with nanoscale electron transport often results in
non-trivial spatial voltage and current patterns, particularly in nonlocal transport regimes. While
numerous techniques have been devised to image electron flows, the need remains for a
nanoscale probe capable of simultaneously imaging current and voltage distributions with high
sensitivity and minimal invasiveness, in a magnetic field, across a broad range of temperatures
and beneath an insulating surface. Here we present a technique for spatially mapping electron
flows based on a nanotube single-electron transistor, which achieves high sensitivity for both
voltage and current imaging. In a series of experiments using high-mobility graphene devices, we
demonstrate the ability of our technique to visualize local aspects of intrinsically nonlocal
transport, as in ballistic flows, which are not easily resolvable via existing methods. This technique
should aid in understanding the physics of two-dimensional electronic devices and enable new
classes of experiments that image electron flow through buried nanostructures in the quantum
and interaction-dominated regimes.
Figure Presentation
• Self-contained
– Readers should not need to consult the main text to
understand the data
• Descriptive title
• Incorporate crucial information about methods to
enable interpretation
• Define scale bars, error bars and other statistics
• Define colours and annotations
• Cite third-party material
Improved legend
Resource
Nature Research’s reporting summary
www.nature.com/documents/nr-reporting-summary-flat.pdf
Institute of Semiconductors, CAS, 23 March 2021
Representing your data
Guidelines for choosing an appropriate graph type:
• Box plots
should be used
to represent
the
characteristics
of a distribution
combination (top)
• For good contrast, replace red
with magenta (middle) or green
with turquoise (bottom).
• To simulate colour-blind vision
and correct scientific graphics,
use: vischeck.com
• A good resource for sequential,
diverging or qualitative colours:
colorbrewer2.org
Nature Methods 8, 441 (2011).
• Guide readers
through the
experiment or
data
• Be logical and
clear
Useful for:
• Displaying raw or
moderately complex
data
• Lists that would make
the text cumbersome
• Summarising findings
across many studies
• Comparisons of
approaches or models
Institute of Semiconductors, CAS, 23 March 2021
Summary
• Be mindful of figure clarity
Exercise 2
Improving Figures
Improving Figures
Examine Figure 1 and its legend in the Participant Guide.
Which aspect of Figure 1 do you think needs most improvement?
Hints:
• Is the figure legend self-contained?
• Is colour being used appropriately?
• Does the figure clearly convey the data?
Improving Figures
Figure 1
Spin-density wave transition temperature TSDW and Korringa rate b as a function of transition
metal substitution M when the ESR spin probe is a) out of the Fe-As plane and, b) in the Fe-As
plane. Scientific Reports 4, 6543 (2015).
Improving Figures
Which aspect of Figure 1 do
you think most needs
improvement? (Select one)
• Panel labels
• Use of colour
• Use of arrows
• Graph type
• y-axes Spin-density wave transition temperature TSDW and
Korringa rate b as a function of transition metal
substitution M when the ESR spin probe is a) out of
Vote in the poll! the Fe-As plane and, b) in the Fe-As plane.
Scientific Reports 4, 6543 (2015).
Institute of Semiconductors, CAS, 23 March 2021
Participant guide page 15
??
Improving Figures
Potential issues
• Panel labels
– Obscuring the data
– Should be moved elsewhere
• Use of colour
– Colour unnecessary for x-axis
labels, right-hand y-axis and
data points
• Use of arrows Spin-density wave transition temperature TSDW
– Undefined in legend and Korringa rate b as a function of transition
metal substitution M when the ESR spin probe is
– Reconsider use of colour a) out of the Fe-As plane and, b) in the Fe-As
plane. Scientific Reports 4, 6543 (2015).
Institute of Semiconductors, CAS, 23 March 2021
Participant guide page 15
??
Improving Figures
Potential issues
• Graph type
– Inappropriate
representation of data
– Consider presenting TSDW
and Korringa state b data
as separate panels
• y-axes
– Left-hand y-axis units Spin-density wave transition temperature TSDW
missing and Korringa rate b as a function of transition
metal substitution M when the ESR spin probe is
– Formatting of y-axes labels a) out of the Fe-As plane and, b) in the Fe-As
plane. Scientific Reports 4, 6543 (2015).
Institute of Semiconductors, CAS, 23 March 2021
Participant guide page 15
??
Improving Figures
Improving Figures
Other issues
• Data points
– Make filled or open
– Make smaller and avoid
overlapping
• Figure legend
– Figure title missing
– Does not describe how
data were obtained Spin-density wave transition temperature TSDW
and Korringa rate b as a function of transition
– Should describe the panels metal substitution M when the ESR spin probe is
separately a) out of the Fe-As plane and, b) in the Fe-As
plane. Scientific Reports 4, 6543 (2015).
Institute of Semiconductors, CAS, 23 March 2021
Participant guide page 15
??
Improving Figures
Write an improved legend
for Figure 1.
What Makes a Great From Introduction to Abstract Consultation Submitting Your Journal Decisions
Paper? Conclusion • How to structure and Paper • Journal decisions and
• What researchers and improve your how they affect your
• How to structure each scientific writing • Journal submission
editors look for in a manuscript
great paper part of your paper to procedures • How to assess and
• Characteristics of facilitate clear writing • How to structure and respond to journal
excellent primary write a good cover decisions
research papers and letter to the Editor
review articles Figure Presentation Plagiarism and Other
• An interactive module An individual 8-minute
session with a Nature The Editorial Process Ethical Issues
Titles and Abstracts on designing clear and
• How to write a informative figures and Research journal editor and Peer Review • Why research
compelling title tables to discuss your pre- • The editorial process misconduct happens,
• Structuring a well- submitted abstract and the value of peer what it looks like and
balanced abstract + Interactive activities review
what to do about it
and Q&A sessions • The importance of
+ Interactive activities referee reports
+ Interactive activities
and Q&A sessions
+ Interactive activities and Q&A sessions
and Q&A sessions
Institution
dates