Visualizing Our Uncertain World - By Dr. Lace Padilla

Mind, Technology, & Society (MTS) Talk Series at the University of California Merced

Talk Abstract: We live in an uncertain world. From weather events to financial markets, every day we are confronted with uncertainty. However, even experts have difficulty reasoning with uncertainty. Visualizations allow our visual systems to identify patterns in data that would otherwise go unnoticed. Visualizations can also help us focus on relevant data when making probabilistic judgments. Unfortunately, visualizing the uncertainty in complex phenomena such as hurricane forecasts can introduce new problems, as evidenced by the confusion associated with Hurricane Dorian's path. In this talk, we will discuss state-of-the-art uncertainty visualizations, along with the cognitive processes that lead to misunderstandings of forecast data.

Bio: Dr. Lace Padilla is an assistant professor in the Cognitive and Information Sciences department at the University of California Merced. She was awarded an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship for work at Northwestern University. She received a PhD in Cognitive and Neural Sciences and an MFA in Design from the University of Utah. In 2018, she was awarded a Visionary Grant for research on Improving Trust in Uncertain Science funded by NASA. In her spare time, she is a strong advocate for minoritized groups in STEM. The National Science Foundation appointed her as their 2017/2018 STEM ambassador for her outreach work, and she has received numerous awards for work with underserved populations.