Image for Leverhulme Grant Proposal hero section
  • CLIENTI: University of Cambridge
  • BUDGET: £2500
  • PRODUCER: Samuele Lilliu
  • EDITOR: Samuele Lilliu, Mariano Tuveri
  • CREW: Samuele Lilliu, Mariano Tuveri, University of Cambridge team
  • SOFTWARE: Illustrator, Photoshop

Production

These three illustrations were commissioned by the IPLU initiative directed by Nobel Laureate Didier Queloz as part of a grant proposal submission to the Leverhulme trust. The proposal was eventually awarded and the Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe was established in 2021. The illustrations were conceptualised by Samuele Lilliu and developed with the help of Mariano Tuveri, who is a graphic designer based in London.

Overview

Each illustration represent a core aspect of the Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe.

Characterising the cradle of prebiotic chemistry and life. Generalised evolution of a rocky planetary body: Boundary conditions such as size, proximity to host star, composition, orbital/dynamical environment during planetary formation and evolution influence planetary environments, available chemical pathways, and the capacity of any planet, including our own, to support life.
Characterising the cradle of prebiotic chemistry and life. Generalised evolution of a rocky planetary body: Boundary conditions such as size, proximity to host star, composition, orbital/dynamical environment during planetary formation and evolution influence planetary environments, available chemical pathways, and the capacity of any planet, including our own, to support life.
Chemical pathways to the origins of life. Chemical pathways along the transition from prebiotic chemistry to life: Chemical pathways connecting the inanimate state to the animate can only be confidently unravelled with detailed knowledge of planetary environments, and fresh analysis of concepts such as ‘aliveness’, ‘complexity’ and ‘life’.
Chemical pathways to the origins of life. Chemical pathways along the transition from prebiotic chemistry to life: Chemical pathways connecting the inanimate state to the animate can only be confidently unravelled with detailed knowledge of planetary environments, and fresh analysis of concepts such as ‘aliveness’, ‘complexity’ and ‘life’.
Research Themes.Flow of information and research activities across the Centre: Robust understanding of life in the Universe can only be achieved through communication and iteration among several sciences and the arts and humanities.
Research Themes.Flow of information and research activities across the Centre: Robust understanding of life in the Universe can only be achieved through communication and iteration among several sciences and the arts and humanities.

Why should you include illustrations in a grant proposal?

Illustrations are a crucial component of a scientific grant proposal submission. They help to visually communicate complex concepts, experimental design, and results in a way that is easily understood by a wide audience. In this article, we will explore the various ways in which illustrations can enhance a scientific grant proposal and the reasons why they are so important for grant reviewers to consider.

First and foremost, illustrations help to clarify and simplify complex scientific concepts and ideas. While scientific writing is often filled with technical jargon and detailed descriptions, illustrations can help to break down these concepts into more easily understandable visual representations. This is particularly important for grant reviewers who may not have a background in the specific field of research being proposed. By using illustrations to clearly and concisely convey the main ideas of the proposal, researchers can ensure that their work is understood and evaluated on its own merit, rather than being misunderstood or dismissed due to a lack of understanding.

In addition to clarifying complex concepts, illustrations can also help to highlight the significance and potential impact of the proposed research. By visualizing the results of experiments or simulations, researchers can clearly demonstrate the potential applications and implications of their work. This can be especially helpful in cases where the proposed research has the potential to solve real-world problems or address important scientific questions. Illustrations can also help to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed research by visualizing the experimental setup or data analysis methods that will be used.

Another reason why illustrations are important for scientific grant proposal submissions is that they help to make the proposal more visually appealing and engaging for the reviewers. A well-designed illustration can help to draw the reviewer’s attention to specific points or highlights of the proposal, and can make the proposal more memorable and impactful. This can be particularly important in cases where the proposal is competing with many other submissions for limited funding.

Finally, illustrations can also help to build credibility and trust with the reviewers. By clearly and accurately depicting the proposed research, illustrations can help to demonstrate that the researchers have a thorough understanding of their field and are able to clearly communicate their ideas. This can help to increase the reviewers’ confidence in the proposed research and increase the chances of the proposal being funded.

In conclusion, illustrations are a vital component of a scientific grant proposal submission. They help to clarify and simplify complex scientific concepts, highlight the significance and potential impact of the proposed research, make the proposal more visually appealing and engaging, and build credibility and trust with the reviewers. By including high-quality illustrations in their grant proposals, researchers can increase their chances of success and help to ensure that their work is understood and appreciated by a wide audience.