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RES.10-001 | Spring 2026 | Undergraduate

# Making Science and Engineering Pictures: A Practical Guide to Presenting Your Work

### Textbook

Frankel, Felice. Picturing Science and Engineering. MIT Press, 2018. ISBN: 9780262038553. [Note: Now out of print.]

### 2015 Syllabus

In 2015, Felice C. Frankel taught this course as an MITx Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on the Edx platform. We have included the the syllabus (PDF) that was used to teach the course.

### 2026 Update

In this 2026 video, research scientist Felice Frankel updates the course with a discussion regarding AI and its role in generating images. Felice brings our attention to the pitfalls and ethics of using generative AI models to document research and outlines the necessary guardrails to ensure the production of honest and communicative images.

### How to Cite This Course

If using these materials, please include the following citation when giving attribution:

© Felice Frankel. RES.10-001 Making Science and Engineering Pictures: A Practical Guide to Presenting Your Work. Spring 2017. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare, https://ocw.mit.edu. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA.

### Summing Up

Each week you’ll find Summing Up, a one-page reminder of essential content and tips. It will help you get the most out of each lesson and complete each week’s assignment.

### Course Goals

This is an introductory level course. While previous experience with a camera will be helpful, it is not essential. By the end of the course, you will:

- learn to photograph your work with new perspectives
- develop methods and techniques that improve the quality of your images
- build critical thinking skills
- increase proficiency with a range of image making devices (scanners, cameras, smartphones, video)
- discover how compelling images will reinforce and augment grant and journal submissions
- learn to evaluate what makes an effective image

### Course Assignments

In order to complete the course assignments you will need access to a:

- single-lens reflex camera
- camera’s software and cable to view images on computer (you will only need the camera and lens for weeks 2 and 3 of the course)
- 105 macro lens
- flatbed scanner
- tripod
- smartphone or tablet with camera

## Course Info

##### Instructor

- Felice C. Frankel

##### Departments

- Chemical Engineering

##### As Taught In

Spring 2026

##### Level

Undergraduate

##### Topics

- Engineering
  - Computer Science
    - Artificial Intelligence
- Fine Arts
  - Visual Arts
    - Graphic Design
    - Photography
- Health and Medicine
- Science
  - Biology
  - Chemistry
  - Physics
- Teaching and Education

##### Learning Resource Types

assignment_turned_in Activity Assignments with Examples
co_present Instructor Insights
equalizer Lecture Audio
theaters Lecture Videos

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