Originally scheduled to take place in Tampa, Florida, the IEEE VIS 2024 conference—the premier event in visualisation and visual analytics—adapted to an entirely virtual format due to the impact of Hurricane Milton. Running from Sunday, 13 October, to Friday, 18 October 2024, the conference brought together researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders from around the world to explore groundbreaking developments in the field. Details and programme highlights are available at IEEE VIS 2024.
The shift to an online format also opened up opportunities for a wider group of PhD students and staff to participate, broadening the reach of IEEE VIS 2024. This allowed members of the Visualisation group, including Jonathan, Panos, Pete, Rhiannon, Glory, Aron, and Iwan, to engage with conference sessions, attend workshops, and connect with global experts in visualisation and analytics from their own locations.
The conference opened with workshops over the weekend, followed by main events on Tuesday, structured around Florida's timezone. For UK-based participants, such as Bangor University’s Visualisation Data Modelling and Graphics (VDMG) group, sessions began in the afternoon and continued into the evening, allowing for global collaboration and conversation across time zones.
The event’s keynote address was delivered by Dr. Bill Pike, Chief Science and Technology Officer at the National Security Directorate of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. His talk, titled “Visualization and Viability: The Future of Visual Analysis in an Era of Autonomous Discovery,” marked twenty years since the formative workshops that established the visual analytics field. Dr. Pike reflected on the evolving role of human inquiry within data-driven discovery, discussing how advances in AI and autonomous science are prompting a new era where human and machine intelligence increasingly work hand in hand.
The Visualisation Data Modelling Graphics (VDMG) group, from the School of Computer Science and Engineering, were well-represented throughout IEEE VIS 2024. They presented two full journal papers, three posters, and participated in organising a workshop.
The two journal papers showcased innovative approaches in visual design and perceptual response. Professor Jonathan C. Roberts presented “Path-Based Design Model for Constructing and Exploring Alternative Visualizations” during the “Visualization and Design Methods” session, while Arvind Srinivasan and Johannes Ellemose jointly presented “Attention-Aware Visualization: Tracking and Responding to User Perception Over Time” in the “Perception and Cognition” session.
In addition to presenting research, Professor Roberts co-organised the EduVis workshop, focusing on visualisation pedagogy, which took place on Sunday. At the workshop, Roberts shared insights from his work on “Engaging Data-Art: Conducting a Public Hands-On Workshop,” illustrating how data art can foster a deeper understanding of visualisation principles among diverse audiences.
The research group's poster contributions covered a range of topics in visualisation and creativity:
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“Fostering Creative Visualisation Skills Through Data-Art Exhibitions” by Jonathan Roberts,
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“Towards Metrics for Evaluating Creativity in Visualisation Design” by Aron Owen and Jonathan Roberts, and
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“Design Contradictions: Help or Hindrance?” by Aron Owen, Dan Boyes, and Jonathan Roberts.
IEEE VIS 2024 engaged its remote audience with a mix of virtual platforms, streaming sessions via YouTube, hosting presentations on Zoom, and using Discord for real-time discussion and networking. Questions were facilitated through Slido, allowing attendees to interact dynamically with presenters.
The conference wrapped up on Friday with an inspiring keynote by Professor Catherine D'Ignazio on “Visualising Inequality: What We Can Learn From Grassroots Data Activism,” a powerful exploration of the role of visualisation in social change and the impact of grassroots data on public perception and policy.
Despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Milton, IEEE VIS 2024 adapted swiftly to deliver a rich and varied program, underscoring the resilience and adaptability of the global visualisation community.
We were disappointed not to gather in Tampa, but the virtual format allowed so many more of our team to engage with the cutting-edge research presented at IEEE VIS 2024. It’s been inspiring to connect globally and to see our work contributing to advancements in visualisation and analytics.
