November 17, 12 p.m. (noon) to 1 p.m.
Linus Pauling Room 402

How beautiful is an r-squared of 0.95 for a regression line? How puzzling are a bunch of outliers on a distribution plot? How frustrating is a model misfit?

When scientists look at their data they not only think, they also feel. Those emotional reactions are the fuel that energizes the big moment, the moment of discovery. Can scientists convey those emotions to their audiences?

In this brainstorming seminar, we’ll explore ways to present accurate scientific data that fosters emotional responses in scientific and non-scientific audiences. We will bring scientists from across campus using new data visualization techniques to promote a more holistic perception of scientific evidence (encompassing the rational and emotional). We will initiate a discussion about not only the process of incorporating these concepts into science communication but also about the implications of engaging in emotional interactions with the audience when discussing science.