Catherine D’Ignazio

Catherine D’Ignazio, a.k.a. kanarinka, is a researcher, artist and software developer who investigates how data visualization, technology and new forms of storytelling can be used for civic engagement. She is an Assistant Professor of Data Visualization and Civic Media at Emerson College. Professor D’Ignazio has conducted research on geographic bias in the news media, developed custom software to geolocate news articles and designed an application, “Terra Incognita”, to promote global news discovery. She is currently working with the Public Laboratory for Technology and Science to create an open source water sensing toolkit for journalists. Her art and design projects have won awards from the Tanne Foundation, Turbulence.org, the LEF Foundation, and Dream It, Code It, Win It.

In 2009, she was a finalist for the Foster Prize at the ICA Boston. Her work has been exhibited at the Eyebeam Center for Art & Technology, Museo d’Antiochia of Medellin, and the Venice Biennial. Professor D’Ignazio is currently a fellow at the Emerson Engagement Lab and a research affiliate at the MIT Center for Civic Media.