Science Communication and Biomedical Visualization : Two Sides of the Same Coin

Biomedical visualization has a long history as a tool for education around public health. However, recent advances in our understanding of how to be more effective at communicating complex scientific ideas to a public audience necessitate a re-examination of approaches to biomedical visualization. Scientific knowledge has expanded dramatically in the twenty-first century, as has its availability beyond the scientific arena. This chapter briefly discusses the historical approaches in biomedical visualization from the perspective of Western public health. It also outlines the approach that biomedical visualization should take according to best practices in effective science communication.