PentaCharts

What is a Pentachart

Made famous by DARPA, Pentacharts are used to describe "in a glance" your project.

Pentacharts are made of 1 single powerpoint slide, a4 format (easily printable) and contain 5 (penta) charts concerning your project:

  • Status quo: What is the state of the art and what are its limitations?
  • New Insights: What are the key new insights?
  • MAIN ACHIEVEMENT/ HOW IT WORKS /ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS.
  • Quantitative Impact: Characterize the quantitative impact as compared to start of the art technologies and/or microbial evolution.
  • Proposed Concept Goals: What is potential capability of this technology.

    • Pentachart Template

    Download template here

    Rules:

    Any changes to colors used should be changed within the Color Theme. Sub-group color choices right now:

  • General Technical: Grey
  • Jeff/OCT/Eye stuff: Blue
  • Developmental Biology (later, but my suggestion): Green
  • Others in Theme which should work: Orange, Purple, Yellow (not in Theme, but could be easily added)

    • Motivation

  • Teaches you the BIG picture
  • Reminds you the importance of what you are doing
  • Tool to keep rest of sub-group aware of your work
  • Practice clear technical communication
  • Update group on your progress
  • Group can use slides for funding purpose