Dear friends, Alberto here.
First, an update on the Open Visualization Academy. We launched last Friday and it’s received a lot of attention. To give you an idea, in just six days nearly 800 people have registered, even if doing so isn’t necessary to watch any of the free video courses (I can’t give you page view figures, as we don’t track you when you visit our website). Moreover, this newsletter is quickly approaching 4,000 subscribers.
That’s impressive.
If we are already way beyond our most optimistic expectations, I can’t imagine how much we’ll grow as we keep releasing new courses every month. In fact, next Friday we’ll publish Rodolfo Almeida’s ‘Figma for Data Visualization’, and it’s likely that we’ll release another course at the end of February.
I feel happy and humbled. Thanks so much for your interest in the OVA. Let’s keep learning together.
Visualising Climate
Through the Open Visualization Academy, I’m also sponsoring and co-organizing several visualization and data-related conferences. The first one is Visualising Climate, which will be hosted by Copernicus, in Bologna, Italy, on November 4-6 this year.
Here’s some information:
Visualising Climate 2026 is the first global conference dedicated to data visualisation and climate change. Bologna, Italy 🇮🇹 | 4–6 November 2026
WHAT is this conference about?
In a time of accelerating climate crisis, clear, compelling, and responsible visual communication is no longer optional, it is essential. Visualising Climate will offer a space for scientists, artists, communicators, and journalists to connect, get inspired, share ideas, and start collaborations in the field of data visualisation for climate and environmental sciences.
WHY bring science, media, design and art together?
Because they are powerful tools to understand complexity, engage broader audiences, and bring science closer to people. Beauty and clarity can open space for dialogue, support informed decisions, and help people use science to imagine pathways where humanity can thrive with fairness and justice.
HOW can you join?
This first edition is in-person only, with the aim of starting to build a community, creating meaningful connections, and sharing experiences. If you are a scientist, journalist, artist, or communicator working with climate and environmental data, join us in Bologna for three days of learning, exchange, and collaboration.
Proceedings and selected talks will be available after the event.
👉 To secure a seat or submit an abstract or idea for a talk or workshop:
🗓️ Call for contributions
🟢 Submissions open: 28 January 2026
⏰ Submission deadline: 30 April 2026
✅ Decisions announced by: 30 June 2026
I hope you’ll join us in Bologna!
I like to end my posts with music that matches my current mood. Today I leave you with Bruce Springsteen’s Street of Minneapolis; we'll remember the names of those who died:
