VK25 | SPEAKER OPEN CALL

[RESILIENCE]

Are you interested in joining the VK25 lineup amongst some of the best voices in the industry and academia? Our international call for speakers welcomes proposals from both industry and academic experts in information design and all related fields of data visualisation. We’re open to your individual take on our theme, whether you have a keen interest in scientific research visualisation to more explorative, narrative-driven work.

With the guidance of our suggested subtopics, this year’s theme is Resilience. How can we visualise systems or processes that are in constant flux? What can we learn from humanity’s capacity to bounce back and adapt to change? And how can information design help us see clearer?

We are now inviting you to enter your visual abstract or proposal, which may also be selected for our conference showcase. The selected speakers will be invited to Visualizing Knowledge 2025, June 6th, at Aalto University in Finland, and will receive free admission to the conference. Additionally, we may also provide limited assistance with speaking fees, travel, and accommodation.

We welcome submissions from participants from all relevant fields of visualisation, working individually or as teams.

Please ensure that you submit your material before the call closes on March 3rd.
Successful applicants will be notified on a rolling basis.

[SUBTOPICS] click to open

Complexity

Getting meaning from data plays a vital part in understanding the world around us. How can we use data storytelling and scrollytelling to explore and explain complexities and uncertainties? How do we visualize and communicate resilience in the face of natural disasters or societal upheaval? We welcome a wide range of approaches to knowledge visualisation and representation of data.

Keywords: resilience, scrollytelling, data humanism, data journalism, accessibility, data art

Law & Policy

Law and policy exist as complex, diverse and deeply layered systems that span the entire world. Heavily involving geopolitics, science, health, industry and every subject imaginable, it is a fabric that permeates every level of our lives, and it is resilient by design. Can this complex system be visualised? How can we use data visualization to both better use and understand legal frameworks and their limitations? What role does resilience play in governance, human rights, and policy-making?

Keywords: law, legal data, ethics, data journalism, maps/borders, geopolitics, geospatial data, investigative journalism, regulation, democracy, governance

AI for Humanity

It is important, now more than ever, to discuss the current and future role of AI in our lives. The growing presence of AI tools for automation opens up new avenues of possibility and potential, and therefore may enhance our resilience in a number of ways, but is there a cost? What is our role in approaching and embracing this change responsibly? In envisioning an AI future where humanity is centred, how do we address the biases, ethical concerns and the social implications? What does an equitable and sustainable AI future look like?

Keywords: AI tools, human-centred, ethics, biases, responsible data, decision-making, algorithmic transparency, sustainability, language processing

Nature

We are constantly in search of a deeper understanding of our natural world. Considering recent developments in science, medicine, exploration of space and the depths of the ocean, we are pushing at the final frontiers of nature, and understanding its capacity for resilience -- as well as its limits -- is of vital importance. How can data visualisation contribute to greater understanding on these topics? Can it support decision making at the individual and state-level, and grant us the ability to make better decisions for our future?

We welcome interdisciplinary and wide-ranging approaches to visualisation of topics related to nature, science, health, and the environment.

Keywords: geopolitics, environment, decision-making, climate change, policy-making, open access, science, medicine, sustainability, conservation, ecosystem services, multi-species

[TIMELINE]

20th DEC 2024Registration now open: Entries will be evaluated on a rolling basis and will be judged based on suitability to our theme and subtopics. Notification will follow soon after this process.

3rd MARCH 2025Call closes at 11:59 pm GMT+1.

12th MAY 2025Final deadline for print, video or audio files for those selected entries to be set up in the showcase.

6th JUNE 2025Conference day

[REQUIREMENTS]

SUBMISSION • The speaker call is now open for visual abstract submissions.

• What is a visual abstract/ proposal?
We’d like to see a description of your current work/interests as well as your planned approach to the talk. You may like to include visuals and past projects.

• Please indicate the theme that you would like to address. The format is open and could be a set of slides, document or video.

• All entries must be submitted (one form per entry) through: here.

• Entries may be submitted by individuals or as part of a group.

• Entries can be in the form of a PDF and/or URLs to videos/other formats.
The maximum file size is 1 GB.

• There is no entry fee. Successful entrants will be rewarded with the opportunity to present their work at the conference and attend the conference for free. We may also provide limited support for travel and accommodation.

• If you have any questions or trouble with uploading your work please contact: vizknowledge@aalto.fi

SELECTION • The selection of entries will take place on a rolling basis at Aalto University, Finland.

• The jury will comprise practitioners and academics in the field of information design and data visualisation.

• No member of the jury will be allowed to evaluate their own entries.

• Entries are selected based on the use of data, conceptual strength, aesthetic quality and innovation in interaction and use of media.

NOTIFICATION • The entrants of the selected entries will be notified by Mid-April.

• We will contact successful entrants individually to discuss the speaker requirements, time-slot, and potential travel support in more detail.

[ELIGIBILITY & CONTACT]

Eligibility:

Entries must be from the field of information design or data visualization. Entries must be the original work of entrants.

Legal:

Each entrant has the responsibility to ensure that they have the right to submit their entry and that no contracts are infringed upon by the submission of that entry. Copyright and all other intellectual property rights in all entries submitted for this speaker call remain with the respective owner. However, each entrant grants Visualizing Knowledge/Aalto University the right to feature any of the submitted entries on social media channels, websites and publications. Entrants will not receive remittance or notification for such publication, though each work will be credited adequately.