15.1 Prelab: GenAI for Graphical Abstracts

15.1.1 Activity 1 - Google Gemini

15.1.1.1 Part 1 - Generate Graphical Abstract

15.1.1.2 Instructions

  1. Access Google Gemini via gemini.google.com
  2. Ask Gemini to generate an image using Prompt #1 (see below)
    • For Prompt #1, we start with the entire abstract from Sleator 2008
    • Preface this text with a specific ask: “Create a graphical abstract image based on the scientific abstract below:”
  3. Answer questions below

15.1.1.3 Questions

1. Copy and paste your Prompt #1 in the box below.
Prompt #1
2. Copy and paste the generated image in the box below.
Image #1
3. Evaluate the graphical abstract that resulted from your Prompt #1.
Evaluation Your Answer
Did the image convey the content of the abstract well? Explain.
Describe/critique the graphical abstract.
What is one thing you would change about the graphical abstract?

15.1.1.4 Part 2 - Adjust Style

15.1.1.5 Instructions

  1. Identify aspects of style you may want to change about the resulting graphical abstract above, for example:
    • Lighter or darker background
    • More or less labels or text
    • Specific color changes
    • Other
  2. Use the graphical abstract you created in Part 1 as input for Prompt #2, and engineer your prompt to also include style modifications of interest
  3. Enter Prompt #2 to generate a second graphical abstract

Prompt# 2 Example: Modify the style of the above graphical abstract image by reducing dead space, making the image darker, and individual image parts bigger.

15.1.1.6 Questions

1. Copy and paste your style-modifying Prompt #2 in the box below.
Prompt #2
2. Copy and paste the revised image in the box below.
Image #2
3. Evaluate the revised graphical abstract.
Evaluation Your Answer
How did the revised graphical abstract improve in quality, good and bad?
What would you change to make this graphical abstract better?

15.1.1.7 Part 3 - Enhance Content

15.1.1.8 Instructions

  1. Identify a detail that was not conveyed by the graphical abstract, but that interested you from your reading of the Sleator 2008 review.
    • e.g. Something conceptual: Metagenomics helps uncover unknown microbial diversity in a complex environment by circumventing the unculturability of most microbes.
    • e.g. Something of niche focus: Something you learned about a specific environment mentioned, such as the Sargasso Sea was a good start for metagenomic inquiry because it contains a fairly simple microbial community.
  2. Use the graphical abstract you created in the Part 2 as input for Prompt #3, and engineer your prompt to also include content addition of interest.
  3. Enter Prompt #3 to generate a third graphical abstract.

Prompt #3 Example: Modify the above graphical abstract image by emphasizing that metagenomic approach can significantly enhance our understanding of the unknown microbial diversity in a complex environment by circumventing the unculturability of most microbes.

15.1.1.9 Questions

1. Copy and paste your content-modifying Prompt #3 into the box below.
Prompt #3
2. Copy and paste the second revised image in the box below.
Image #3
3. Evaluate the second revised graphical abstract.
Evaluation Your Answer
How did the second revised graphical abstract improve in quality, good and bad?
What would you change to make this graphical abstract better?

15.1.2 Activity 2 - Your Choice

15.1.2.1 Instructions

  1. Access a different GenAI tool of your choice. Some suggestions include:
  2. Generate one final graphical abstract using your original Prompt #1 from Activity 1.

15.1.2.2 Questions

1. Which GenAI tool did you use in this activity?
Tool
2. Copy and paste the image generated by a different tool in the box below.
Image
3. Which of the two graphical abstracts better reflects the ideas in the paper and why?
Answer

15.1.3 Grading Criteria

  • Download as Microsoft Word (.docx) and upload on Canvas

15.1.4 Footnotes

Resources

Contributions and Affiliations

  • Valeriya Gaysinskaya, Johns Hopkins University
  • Frederick Tan, Johns Hopkins University

Last Revised: January 2026