Jen Christiansen

As a tiny action to encourage the spread of evidence-based thinking, I'm providing free access to the Science Communication Fundamentals chapter of my book Building Science Graphics. It includes links to the work of lots of thoughtful people. Please share. https://www.buildingsciencegraphics.com/science-communication-fundamentals

It's a joy to work with scientists who have an infectious sense of curiosity & wonder. A recent highlight was Interviewing Sholei Croom (w/my Scientific American colleague Clara Moskowitz) about a paper they co-authored about knots and human perception https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/which-knot-is-stronger-humans-arent-great-judges/

Vaccination schedules on the CDC website have already started changing under RFK, Jr. So we published a guide to the evidence-based vaccine recommendations in place *before* all 17 members of the advisory panel were abruptly dismissed by the new admin. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-vaccine-recommendations-backed-by-science-in-these-handy-charts/

These books are helping me focus. Perhaps they’ll resonate with you, too.

Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World (Without a Bullhorn) // by Omkari L. Williams
https://www.omkariwilliams.com/the-book

Let's Move the Needle: An Activism Handbook for Artists, Crafters, Creatives, and Makers; Build Community and Make Change // by Shannon Downey
https://www.nokillmag.com/articles/moving-the-needle-the-power-of-craftivism-identity-and-community/

Do you have questions about the near-future and COVID vaccination access in the U.S.? (I do.) Fortunately for us, my colleague Meghan Bartels has answers. I'm so grateful for the information she pulled together in this article. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/who-is-eligible-for-the-covid-vaccine-in-2025-and-how-to-get-it/

In this article on illness from Vibrio bacteria along the U.S. east coast (yup, the genus that includes V. cholerae), cartographer @pinakographos@mapstodon.space pays homage to John Snow's classic cholera map with modern data from Kyle Brumfield. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/vibrio-bacteria-in-beach-water-can-make-you-seriously-ill/ #dataviz #datavisualization

This article about a popular statistics game by Allison Parshall is mend-bending in the most satisfying way. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-almost-everyone-gets-the-monty-hall-probability-puzzle-wrong/

Oh nothing. Just sipping champagne with my cat on my lap while reading my book. (It finally arrived!) 🥂

We were just trying to figure out what time of day my partner might connect by phone with a friend in Antarctica. It brought to mind this beautiful essay by Katie Weeman about time at the other pole. “‘Time’ is just an operational ritual, intended to create the illusion of regularity.” https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/observations/time-has-no-meaning-at-the-north-pole/

Working on a Nobel Prize viz feels like a right-of-passage for science data journalists. I opted to focus on the work celebrated, not biographical details of the laureates. Here’s the result—a comprehensive look at award-winning sub disciplines through the years, and the time that passed between research and recognition. #dataviz #datajournalism #nobel #nobelprize https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hidden-patterns-show-nobel-prize-science-trends/

This TikTok video made me think of the neat work that Data Vandals, Jer Thorp + The St. Louis Map Room group, and many other folks have done/are doing in the collaborative dataviz space. Love to see the conversations that happen as people build maps/charts together in real time. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8B9fY3V/

Stunning time-lapse of auroras viewed from space 🤩 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/drop-everything-and-watch-this-stunning-video-of-northern-lights/ ☀️ For more on space weather and why we’re hearing a lot about auroras this year, also see this gorgeous visual explainer with illustrations by Matthew Twombly. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/expect-auroras-solar-flares-and-more-space-weather-from-the-solar-maximum/

This seems like a particularly good time to boost one of my favorite resources on how to navigate digital information. It's accessible, entertaining and incredibly useful. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtN07XYqqWSKpPrtNDiCHTzU (There's even a discrete data and infographics module! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiND50qfCek&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtN07XYqqWSKpPrtNDiCHTzU&index=9 )

Job alert: Northeastern University is seeking a Professor in Scientific Communication with an appointment between Journalism and the school of Art and Design.
https://northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/careers/job/Boston-MA-Main-Campus/Assistant--Associate--or-Full-Professor-of-Science-Communication_R120417
(I’m not affiliated)

This TikTok about Harlem Renaissance cartographer Louise E. Jefferson (from Saki Savavi) is so good. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8hhVbr1/
There’s a companion post from Savavi for more info: “The visual techniques Jefferson developed for representing complex global relationships influenced broader conversations about how educational materials could challenge racist assumptions while building international solidarity.” https://sakisavavi.substack.com/p/the-counter-cartographer-who-mapped?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

Scientific American is seeking a full time summer/fall news graphics intern (focused on dataviz). Experience w/Adobe Illustrator + the ability to work in the U.S. is required. We’re hybrid—in NYC office at least 2x a week. Applications due March 21
https://springernature.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/SpringerNatureCareers/job/New-York/Graphics-Intern--Scientific-American_JR102258