This roundtable discussion, led by Professor Stephanie Wilson, will explore the role that data visualization can play in revealing hidden bias.
Image courtesy of Beth Taylor, PhD in Data Visualization doctoral candidate, City St George's
Data visualization can reveal bias by exposing biased data sampling, structural discrimination and other factors that may have hidden in the raw numbers. It can illuminate blind spots and allow users to trace errors to their original source. However, as with other forms of communication, data visualization can also be a source of bias itself.
The panel offers a range of perspectives and experiences, to explore and discuss bias, its exposure and entrenchment in visualization of both human and non-human data.
This panel discussion forms part of London Data Week. Friday's events are being hosted by Diverse CDT in the College Building. For these and other events, please see the London Data Week website.
About the Panel
Professor Stephanie Wilson – Stephanie is Professor of Human-Computer Interaction and Co-Director of both Diverse CDT and the Centre for HCI Design (HCID), a specialist research centre in the Department of Computer Science at City St George’s.
Her research is rooted in a deep commitment to designing for better futures and this is reflected in the ethos of HCID. Her research focuses on inclusive interaction design and data visualization, co-design and innovative digital technologies for healthcare.
As well as being Co-Director of Diverse CDT, Stephanie is a member of the management team for the Institute for Creativity and AI at City St George’s. She is principal investigator for the EPSRC project “Inclusive Data Visualization for Human-Centred Decision-Making” and recently led co-design activities on the team that was a semi-finalist in Longitude Prize on Dementia in collaboration with Memory Lane Games.
Dr Sara Heitlinger – Sara is a Reader in Computer Science at City St George’s, University of London where she co-directs the Centre for Human-computer Interaction Design. She also leads the More-than-Human Sustainable and Inclusive Smart Cities (Mosaic) project, funded through a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship.
Sara is interested in what “more-than-human” data visualization could be, where we use and communicate data to support the wellbeing of humans and other species in the city. She is also interested in how this could be explored through a focus on multi sensory data (e.g. data physicalisation, or data smells), as well as different mapping data for multi species storytelling.
Dr Narges Mahyar – Narges is a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at City St George’s, University of London, and a 2024–2025 Harvard Radcliffe Fellow. Her research sits at the intersection of data visualization, human–computer interaction, social computing, AI, and design.
She develops human-centered visualization systems that help people make sense of complex data, communicate uncertainty, and participate more meaningfully in decisions that affect their lives. Her work spans climate communication, public engagement, health, accessibility, civic decision-making, and creative data experiences.
Ana Marques – Ana is post-graduate researcher in Diverse CDT, studying for a PhD in Data Visualization. She is a multidisciplinary designer with extensive experience in higher education and academic settings, and a background in graphic design and illustration.
She is passionate about finding ways to humanise data visualization practices and outputs using design thinking, storytelling and multimedia, among other creative tools.
About Diverse CDT
The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Diversity in Data Visualization (Diverse CDT) is a pioneering, fully funded four-year PhD programme jointly delivered by City St George’s, University of London and the University of Warwick.
Its mission is to train the next generation of researchers to design, develop, and evaluate inclusive, impactful, and socially responsible data visualizations that address real-world challenges.
Diverse CDT brings together world-leading expertise in data science, human-computer interaction, visual design, user experience, and accessibility, alongside cutting-edge domain knowledge in health, social sciences, and beyond.
About London Data Week
London Data Week is a free, annual citywide festival of data at which participants can learn, discuss and explore how to use data to shape our capital city for the better.
There is huge potential for data to help tackle major issues, such as the cost-of-living crisis and public health emergencies, but many of these solutions require public trust and support. We believe that the most effective and inclusive way to earn this is through engaging with communities.
We set out on a mission to find a way to not only bring London’s residents into the fold, but the organisations, community groups and public institutions that are already driving changes and creating impact on the ground.
Related Centres
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