Visual posters to encourage collaborative learning

To overcome language barriers and make complex research accessible, the team created visual-first posters using illustrations and field photographs that connect scientific findings to farmers' experiences. Rather than presenting recommendations, these posters pose thought-provoking questions that spark dialogue. Discover how these visual tools are transforming collaborative agricultural learning in West Africa.

Farmers are discussing the posters during the Innovation Platform meeting, photo: Lilian Beck

The poster illustrates key reasons why integrating trees and shrubs with cereal crops in Sahelian landscapes is a promising approach. Download via links below.

The poster facilitates reflection and learning regarding the application of medicinal trees and shrubs to treat gastrointestinal nematode infestations. Download via links below.

Poster: Improving yields by integrating a diversity of shrubs or trees into crop fields

Poster: Application of medicinal trees and shrubs to treat gastrointestinal nematode infestations

The evening is setting in, but the room is still filled with lively discussion. We find ourselves in a small community in Niakhar, Senegal. Scientists, farmers, and herders gathered to discuss research findings from participatory field experiments, soil analysis, and system modelling. Ideas, questions, observations, experiences, and scientific findings merge into a rich picture that dives into the complexity of agroforestry systems. It is an opportunity for farmers and scientists to identify important questions together and evaluate results by contextualising them to formulate the next steps of their research. One statement of a farmer expresses the commitment to these exchanges: "For me, it does not matter if it is already late in the day, we are here for discussion, so we use the time to discuss!"

But how can we effectively facilitate engaging discussions about scientific research? Scientific posters, while informative, can be challenging to decipher for individuals not immersed in the same academic field. Language barriers compound this challenge, as many farmers communicate in various local languages, making written text inaccessible.

In an attempt to facilitate discussions, we created posters aiming to bring research findings to life through illustrations and field photographs. Making research tangible and relatable to the field experiences of farmers was the aim. These images not only draw attention but also help straightforwardly convey complex ideas. Text was only added as a supporting element. Rather than simply presenting scientific findings as recommendations, we framed the posters with intriguing questions, encouraging thoughtful dialogue and inviting the audience to explore the findings more deeply. Thanks to the valuable feedback from farmers, we were able to refine and enhance the poster to better meet their needs.

The projects posters can be downloaded here, and used to facilitate discussions and collaborative learning in workshops with farmers.

The two recently published posters are available for download on Zenodo.org: