Make your own conceptual model

The Basics

• Know what you want to achieve with your models. Establish a clear idea of the purpose of your conceptual models. Identify the key messages you wish to convey and, importantly, identify and understand the audience for the models.
• Plan and prioritise models.
• Conduct a literature review to develop box/arrow models/lists of key features, processes, drivers and other information related to your message.
• Engage experts who know about your wetlands to ensure the accuracy of information presented.
• Engage representatives of your audience to provide feedback about the usefulness of the models.
• Hold workshops with experts. Present the information and understandings you have gained from the literature review. Allow plenty of time for discussion and recording of their insights, understandings and speculations.* For the experts, this is an important opportunity to identify relevant papers and projects
• Draft your model based on expert feedback and literature review.
• Disseminate draft model to experts and audience representatives for review.
• Assimilate feedback.
• Continue the iterative process until consensus is reached.
• Regularly review and update models.

* In cases where there is speculation about a particular topic, it can be useful to record the degree of certainty held by the experts. It is important to record situations where further research is needed or where there is significant variation between sites.

Principles for Conceptual Model Development and Collaboration

Overall Principles

• Effective models identify their audience and tailor the content and terminology to their knowledge base, interest and information requirements.
• Models prioritise scientific knowledge and identify knowledge gaps.
• Models are designed with the understanding of their location in the overall model hierarchy in mind, to ensure compatibility and therefore enhancing the usability of all models.
• Conceptual models acknowledge the temporal variability of wetlands. This may require the creation of separate models for wet and dry periods.

Content Principles

• Form the content around a clear idea of the underlying message the conceptual model is created to tell.
• Represent the concept diagrammatically in the conceptual model; back up with  text and references.
• Define the terms and minimise the use of jargon.
• Use current information that is relevant and supported with scientific references.
• Include disclaimers to acknowledge that even though the best possible science has been used, it is subject to change.
• Reference content to a study, workshop or other source.

Design Principles

• Use symbols and colours consistently within and between conceptual models; explain them in a legend.
• Use IAN symbols as a basis for the models. This encourages consistency and allows model creation to be more efficient.
• Apply basic design techniques to ensure the diagram and the supporting material (including text and other layout features) are clear and visually effective.
• Include pop out models to explain further detail.
• Consider the creation of templates to ensure compatibility.

Process Principles

• Develop conceptual models in an adaptive management cycle arrangement so they can be reviewed and updated as necessary.
• Be willing to contribute, share and consider consistency in design for the benefit and increased compatibility with other models.
• Have models reviewed by experts, possibly through the creation of virtual teams of experts, workshops, or another suitable method.
• Consider sharing conceptual models on a share point, allowing version control and input from a range of interested parties as they are being developed and reviewed.
• Ensure models are accessible and communicate the outcomes of the model development process.
• Maintain and update web-based models, or publish new hard copy versions of the models as understanding changes.

Conceptual Model Resources

Adobe Illustrator This software can be used to create icons and conceptual models.

The IAN symbol libraries contain over 1500 custom-made vector symbols (in 32 categories) designed specifically for enhancing science communication skills. The libraries are designed primarily for use with Adobe Illustrator (requires version 10 or later). However eps and svg versions are also available for non-Illustrator users. The symbols allow diagrammatic representations of complex processes to be developed easily with minimal graphical skills.

OzCoast This website provides information about the use of conceptual modelling. Conceptual model templates for the seven different types of estuaries and coastal waterways have been developed. You can use these templates and the drop and drag icons provided to build conceptual models representing causal pressures in your catchment and the stressors that impact upon your waterway.

eWater has a tool, Concept, that is used to create dynamic conceptual diagrams. It is a drawing package that allows the user to display the important elements of a scenario in a visually appealing way and to show the links between these elements. The links can have relationships associated with them and these relationships can be changed dynamically to show changed conditions for the elements under different scenarios. The software can be used to model just about any situation for purposes ranging from communicating processes and scenarios to stakeholders, to consensus building, issues scoping and prioritising.

Communicating_Science_Effectively:_A_Practical_Handbook_for_Integrating_Visual Elements_2006 is a practical handbook on how to communicate science effectively. The first part is an introduction to the principles of science communication—what effective science communication is, why it is important, and how to do it. The principles in these chapters include how effective science communication can change societal paradigms and make one a better scientist. General principles relating to all science communication products include providing synthesis, visualisation, and context, assembling self-contained visual elements such as photos, maps, conceptual diagrams and data, formatting content to define and simplify terms, and eliminating jargon and acronyms. Formatting of these visual elements is also discussed.