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On Think Tanks was founded in mid 2010. It has evolved from a blog into a global platform dedicated to study and support policy research and policy research centres, or think tanks. The members of the On Think Tanks Team and its Advisory Board are spread out across 6 continents!

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series

Think tanks & data visualisation

The field of research is led by data. Numbers shape a story, and these numbers, analysed in their contexts, become catalysts in public policy debates. How can these numbers reach a wider audience? How can their impact in society increase? What can you do to make sure your data informs and inspires? In this series, you will find opinion pieces, step-by-step guidance on data visualisation tools, advice, and interviews with and from data visualisation experts.
  1. 1

    Data visualisation: how numbers tell a story

    Data is not boring. Data can explain social and economic trends and start new conversations. Data can inspire new ideas, and it can test how they work. Data can challenge those in power. Data can change the world. John Schwartz, Data visualisation competition for think tanks   About a... Read full article
  2. 2

    Think tanks and data visualisation: Opening new spaces for communication and research

    A solid academic and research approach has always been – and remains – at the heart of any think tank initiative. But there is a growing interest in making sure that any project includes an effective communication plan that ensures that the research will have also an impact on society,... Read full article
  3. 3

    On #datavis judging: Jeff Knezovich’s advice

    Round 3 of the On Think Tanks Data Visualisation Competition is currently open for submissions. We've had some great entries in both Round 1 and Round 2, but this is the last open call for entries (the deadline is 20 November at 23:59 GMT!)! The judges want it to be the biggest and the... Read full article
  4. 4

    On #datavis judging: Leonora Merry’s advice

    Round 3 of the On Think Tanks Data Visualisation Competition is currently open for submissions. We've had some great entries in both Round 1 and Round 2, but this is the last open call for entries (the deadline is 20 November at 23:59 GMT!)! The judges want it to be the biggest and the... Read full article
  5. 5

    On #datavis judging: John Schwartz’s advice

    Round 3 of the On Think Tanks Data Visualisation Competition is currently open for submissions. We’ve had some great entries in both Round 1 and Round 2, but this is the last open call for entries (the deadline is 20 November at 23:59 GMT!)! The judges want it to be the biggest and the... Read full article
  6. 6

    On #datavis judging: Andrej Nosko’s advice

    Round 3 of the On Think Tanks Data Visualisation Competition is currently open for submissions. We've had some great entries in both Round 1 and Round 2, but this is the last open call for entries (the deadline is 20 November at 23:59 GMT!)! The judges want it to be the biggest and the... Read full article
  7. 7

    On #datavis judging: Enrique Mendizabal’s advice

    Round 3 of the On Think Tanks Data Visualisation Competition is currently open for submissions. We’ve had some great entries in both Round 1 and Round 2, but this is the last open call for entries (the deadline is 20 November at 23:59 GMT!)! The judges want it to be the biggest and the... Read full article
  8. 8

    Data visualisation: A pen and cantaloupe may be enough

    The other week I had the good fortune of participating in an excellent meeting in Prague hosted by the Open Society Foundations: Policy Research, Technology and Advocacy Event @ the Hub. The event was designed to bring experts together from across Central and Eastern European think tanks to... Read full article
  9. 9

    The On Think Tanks interview: Eric Barrett of JumpStart Georgia

    Don’t limit HER possibilities, a static visualization by Eric Barrett at JumpStart Georgia, won round the judges with its original use of photography and creative manner of telling the story about STEM education for girls in Georgia. We wanted to unpack Eric’s motivation for the graphic, the origins behind its unusual style and some of the challenges they faced during the process. Read full article
  10. 10

    Visualising data: both a science and an art

    Data visualisation is both an art and a science. What's more, it requires many different skills to get right, and prioritising just one or two of these skills over the others is disingenuous at best. What we need to be talking about is building a comprehensive set of skills – whether they lie in one person or across teams – including research, technology, design and communication. Read full article
  11. 11

    Robert Muggah, author of Mapping Arms Data

    The First Round of the On Think Tanks Data Visualisation Competition was won by the Mapping Arms Data visualisation produced by the Igarapé Institute of Brazil in collaboration with Google Ideas and PRIO. Submissions for Round 2 of the competition are open until 2 October 2013,... Read full article
  12. 12

    Data visualisation competition for think tanks

    “The doctrine of boring data serves political ends”. Edward Tufte, The Visual Display of Quantitative information Data is not boring. Data can explain social and economic trends and start new conversations. Data can inspire new ideas, and it can test how they work. Data can challenge... Read full article

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