This week we embark on yet another class in the module- infographics and data visualisation. As I prepared for the lecture and workshop on thursday, I received communication from Professor Lewis informing us the guest lecturer for the lecture would not be available as he had to self isolate due to a recent exposure to COVID-19 virus. Now, I must say since the outbreak of the COVID-19 last year, this was the first time a developed a sense of concern of how much the virus could do. Clearly, the information all over the news should have swayed me to be a bit worried but no. It was like my mind was shielding me from worry, fear and uncertainty of the future with the virus. It was till then that I put myself into the lecturers shoes and realised it could be me the next day. It was not a good feeling. Worry and fear began to creep in.

Anyway, now that the lecturer would not be available we did not totally miss out on class. Professor Lewis stepped in and delivered the lecture. I could not help but relate the topic to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic reports on various outlets. Graphical representation of data speaks louder than the words themselves. Today were are in a state of frenzy and panic because of how information regarding the disease is being manipulated and reported. It goes to say, there are positive and negative consequences to data representation and we have to be careful how we report and perceive it. I also began to realise how I do not ever discern infographics on media outlets I visit for information. It is easy to just assume any information out there is true but whoever is reporting it has a motive on how they want the information to be perceived or they just did not use better tools to represent their data.

Moving forward, this was yet another productive lecture and I love how I always leave class feeling like I have really learnt something new. And as I prepare to undertake my research project, data analysis and representation will be absolutely key in validating my research. I will be applying lessons from this lecture to correctly represent data as well as evaluating data from other articles.

As for the growing pandemic, let’s just say, I am begging my brain to keep calm.