VCS 495: Grand Rounds

It's easy to find images for your presentation, right? You can find almost any type of image you need just by searching Google. But how do you know the image is free to use? Do you need to include a citation with your image? For answers to these questions and more--keep reading!

Including images in your presentation offers a nice contrast to blocks of text, but it is important to be selective in using images in scientific presentations. Do not use images just for the sake of breaking up text. You should be asking questions like: Does the image support your message? Is it clear why this particular image is being used? Are the graphs and charts easy to read and not too cluttered?

It's incredibly easy to find images by searching Google, but understanding ownership, copyright status, and acquiring permission to re-use images can be much more difficult. In general, for your oral presentation you will want to at least cite where each image came from. In other situations, especially if you are publishing your work, you may need to have permission from the creator or use images that are in the public domain. 

• Public Domain images

  • Images in the public domain are those where copyright ownership has expired. There are literally millions of public domain images, though finding modern images may be a little more challenging. Images produced by federal government agencies are often copyright-free, but it's always wise to look for any rights statements.

• Creative Commons images

  • Creators can use Creative Commons (CC) licenses to renounce some or all rights to their works. Though it is difficult in many jurisdictions to completely renounce all rights, creators can apply a CC0 license to their works which effectively places them in the public domain. Other CC licenses allow for reuse for noncommercial purposes but ask that the creator be credited. To learn more about CC licenses and to search for CC licensed images, visit https://creativecommons.org/.

The following image libraries and websites are just a few of the many sites with images that are in the public domain, have creative commons licensure, or allow for re-use. Most of the images you find on these sites are free to use, but it is important to review each website and/or each image for specific information on re-use.