| Abstract Scope |
Materials science and engineering (MSE) is an interdisciplinary field that requires processing and communication of information in multiple formats. While there is a large curricular emphasis on textual representations (e.g., written lab reports), less emphasis is given to visual representations. Yet visualization is a powerful tool for communicating ideas at all stages of one’s career and is increasingly important in today’s digital and data-driven world. This talk will discuss my experience in designing and teaching an undergraduate visualization course within MSE, which covered programmatic data visualization, digital illustrations, and interactive/animated graphics. The focus is as much on the cognitive science principles behind visual perception as it is on visual representations that reinforce our understanding of materials science concepts. Students also learn practical, open-source tools for making effective visualizations, and I will showcase several examples of their creative projects from the class. |