Visualizing Complex Changes: Creating Space for Crucial Conversations

Rapidly changing environments are creating complex problems across the globe, which are particularly magnified in the Arctic. These worldwide challenges can best be addressed through diverse and interdisciplinary teams that promote co-production of knowledge and data-informed decision-making by identifying effective methods and spaces to engage with partners and stakeholders. The Vis Space is a new semi-immersive visualization system that provides space for teams to collaborate and develop solutions to complex problems, relying on diverse sets of skills and knowledge. It provides a venue to synthesize the talents of researchers, who gather data; modelers, who simulate complex systems; artists, who develop visualizations; communicators, who connect and bridge populations; and policymakers, who can use the visualizations to develop sustainable policies to emerging challenges in higher education.