Zezhong Wang (王澤中)
We live in a world overflowing with data, the ability to understand and utilize data has become more critical than ever. Yet, for many people—non-experts and the general public—data feels cold, distant, or even exclusionary, like a language they were never taught to speak. This disconnect has real consequences: it fuels inequity, spreads misinformation, and leaves communities feeling powerless to address challenges like climate change or public health crises. In this landscape, the need for clear, engaging, and compelling data communication is urgent.
My work is rooted in a simple belief: Storytelling bridges the gap between data and empathy. Data can spark curiosity, invite interaction, and tell stories that resonate with people’s lives. By blending data visualization, storytelling, and human-centered technology, I strive to turn data into a tool for connection, empowerment, and joy–transforming abstract numbers into meaningful experiences that inspire action.
I am currently a postdoctoral fellow at ixLab, Simon Fraser University working alongside Dr. Sheelagh Carpendale. Previously, I earned my PhD in 2022 from the University of Edinburgh under the supervision of Dr. Benjamin Bach and Dr. Dave Murray-Rust.
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A Journey of Exploring Data Comics
A brief introduction to data comics and a summary of my exploration Continue reading A Journey of Exploring Data Comics
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Cheat Sheets for Data Visualization Techniques
A set of concise graphical explanations to support understanding data visualization techniques Continue reading Cheat Sheets for Data Visualization Techniques
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Data Comics for Climate Change
Engage the public to understand climate change with validated science and data Continue reading Data Comics for Climate Change
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AI-VIS EthiCards: exploring ethics in AI for visualizations
A card deck and activities to engage exploration of ethics in AI for visualizations Continue reading AI-VIS EthiCards: exploring ethics in AI for visualizations
News
Co-organizer of the Visual Methods & Analyzing Visual Data in Human-Computer Interaction workshop at ISS 2024 (October 27). Also serving as Local Organization Co-Chair for ISS 2024.
Co-organizer of the Data Storytelling in an Era of Generative AI workshop at VIS 2024 (October 13).
Paper Exploring Using Personalised Comics for Healthcare Communication for Patients Living With Hemodialysis was accepted by ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference (DIS 2024).
Paper Design Patterns for Data-Driven News Articles received the Best Paper Honourable Mention at CHI 2024.
Paper From Science to Story: Communicating Permafrost Concepts with Data Comics was accepted by the International Conference on Permafrost (ICOP 2024).
IEEE Visualization and Graphics Technical Community (VGTC) Visualization Dissertation Award Honorable Mention 2023.
Started a project Data Comics for Climate Change in the summer of 2023, with Dr Sheelagh Carpendale, Dr Michelle Levy, and Dr Stephan Gruber, supported by the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF).