Introduction

The great modern encyclopedia Wikipedia currently defines data visualization as "the study of the visual representation of data, [...] information that has been abstracted in some schematic form, including attributes or variables for the units of information." Our class seeks to provide a foundation for understanding and creating visualizations of quantitative data, from 2-D static forms to 3-D and interactive works.

Our Physics Legacy: 

Why is this class in the physics department? Physics has a long-standing tradition of the appreciation of data, a love of inquisitiveness, a fascination with the world around us, and finally, of not only the existence, but also the application of wonder. Therefore, our data visualization course seeks not to merely use the data as the means to an aesthetic end, but instead as the inspiration and motivation for our works. Additionally, there is much research within this department that currently flounders in mundane graphs and data points; this data would have a greater impact on the world if only it could be shown in a more universally appealing vocabulary.

The Cast of Characters (from left to right):

Ethan Zisson '13: Biology and Visual Art
Miranda Steele '13.5: Computer Science and Visual Art
Lucas Eggers '13: Physics

Our Faculty Sponsor:

Dean David Targan, Associate Dean for the College of Science (and '74: Physics)

Over the course of the semester, we will be updating this blog with the fruits of our research and the iterations of our own visualization projects. Stay tuned!