Water Whys Talk with U of A Assistant Professors Sandra Bae and Takanori Fujiwara -- Communicating Complex Data through 3D Representation: Examples of Planetarium Visualizations and Data Physicalizations

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Communicating Complex Data through 3D Representation: Examples of Planetarium Visualizations and Data Physicalizations

How can we make complex data more accessible, engaging, and meaningful? S. Sandra Bae and Takanori Fujiwara, Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Arizona will introduces the research vision of the D-REP Lab (Data Representation Lab) which they co-lead. The lab explores how data representation can bridge abstract data and human understanding. Data representation is how raw data takes form—whether as a 2D visualization, a 3D model, a physical object, or an immersive environment. They will present recent projects that investigate novel forms of 3D data visualization and tangible interfaces. These include (1) Cosmic View of Life on Earth, an immersive planetarium-scale visualization which employs a 3D dimensionality reduction method to hierarchically depict biological diversity; and (2) interactive 3D-printed data physicalizations built using a computational design pipeline that integrates form and interactivity as a unified fabrication workflow. Together, these works demonstrate how new forms of data representation can expand our capacities for communicating and engaging with complex scientific data.