Science with Impact

From Pitfalls to Principles: Data Visualization Fundamentals for Researchers

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Description

💡 How can scientists turn complex data into visuals that are clear, accurate, and impossible to misinterpret?

In this special collaboration between Science with Impact Podcast,and the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, we share highlights from an interactive workshop co-led by Dr. Miriam Krause and Dr. Vanessa Rosa.

Designed for undergraduate researchers, students learned how to make data visuals clear, accurate, and impactful. Using intentionally bad examples, students learned to spot common pitfalls, choose the right chart, and redesign visuals so research is understood exactly as intended.

🤔 Who is this for?

  1. Undergraduate and early-career researchers who want to present data clearly and confidently.

  2. Scientists, educators, and research mentors seeking hands-on strategies to teach data visualization while strengthening students’ science communication skills.

  3. STEM communicators who need visuals that are accurate, accessible, and engaging for diverse audiences.

  • 📋 What is it about?

    • Participants practice identifying when a chart’s signal is being buried by noise, explore how to match chart types to their dataset, and learn why measures like medians can reveal more than averages. The session closes with a demonstration of visualization tools and decision trees that help scientists select the clearest, most accurate way to present their findings.

    🔑 Key Takeaway: Clear, accurate visuals aren’t just decoration—they’re a critical part of scientific integrity. By identifying common pitfalls, choosing the right chart type, and protecting the signal from unnecessary noise, researchers can ensure their data is understood exactly as intended.

    ⌚️ Time Stamps

    00:00 Introduction and Speaker Background
    00:26 Understanding Visualizations and Color Associations
    00:41 Introduction to Data Visualization Techniques
    01:00 Detailed Explanation of Dissertation Work
    02:12 Improving Bar Charts and Labeling
    03:17 Discussion on Appropriate Data Representation
    07:43 Signal to Noise Ratio in Visualizations
    13:49 Choosing the Right Visualization Tools
    19:10 Conclusion and Post-Workshop Survey

    📣 Guest

    Dr. Miriam Krause | Director of Education and Outreach, Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

    Host:

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vanessa Rosa, Ph.D⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠., is the founder of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Science with Impact⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we partner with research organizations to translate STEM advancements into measurable societal benefits beyond academia.

    🙌🏽 Want to collaborate?

    If you know of a research organization seeking support in:

    1. Measuring (program evaluation, statistics/data analysis, and reporting) or

    2. Communicating (illustration/animation, data visualization, and presentations)

    the impact of their STEM research, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here to connect them with Dr. Rosa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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