Nickle@Noon – Visualizing Charles Darwin's Interactions
How do you turn a collection of historical letters, rare books, and biographical details into something people want to explore on a big touch-table screen?
How do you turn a collection of historical letters, rare books, and biographical details into something people want to explore on a big touch-table screen? We'll describe the design and development of an interactive touch-table application on Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, the two naturalists who independently arrived at the theory of natural selection. Built to enrich an exhibit, the application uses visualizations of correspondence, geography, and writing to support the exhibition's central story: that a groundbreaking scientific idea emerged not from a single genius working alone, but through networks of correspondence and scientific community. We'll share our process on how data on a rare book and letter collection became sketches, working prototypes, then a finished interactive tool.   John Brosz, PhD is the Data and Visualization Curator at the University of Calgary's Taylor Family Digital Library where he provides data visualization support, collaboration, and training to scholars across campus. John's research expertise lies in information visualization, computer graphics, and human-computer interfaces.   Tatiana Losev, PhD is a researcher and consultant on public engagement through data visualization, with work spanning nursing, public health, and participatory design. A former nurse and public health researcher, she designs visual, hands-on ways for public communities, scientists, and decision-makers to explore data together — from public health dashboards built during COVID-19 to community-built data sculptures showing national statistics on public trust in information sources. Based in Calgary and Vancouver, Canada. Everyone welcome. Always free.
Nickle Galleries, Taylor Family Digital Library
Thursday, December 3, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. to Thursday, December 3, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. (Calgary time)
Last checked: 2026-10-04T21:34:09.649Z