NIH-NSF Visualization Research Challenges Report Summary

Tamara Munzner, Chris R. Johnson, Robert J. Moorhead, Hanspeter Pfister, Penny Rheingans, Terry S. Yoo

Abstract: The US National Science Foundation (NSF) convened a panel to report on the potential of visualization as a new technology. The NSF and US National Institutes of Health (NIH) convened the Visualization Research Challenges (VRC) Executive Committee to write a new report. Here, we summarize that new VRC report. We explore the state of the field, examine the potential impact of visualization on areas of national and international importance, and present our findings and recommendations for the future of our growing discipline. Our audience is twofold: the supporters, sponsors, and application users of visualization research on the one hand, and researchers and practitioners in visualization on the other. We direct our discussion toward solving key problems of national interest and helping this work's sponsors to concentrate resources to the greatest effect. Our findings and recommendations reflect information gathered from visualization and applications scientists during two workshops on VRC, as well as input from the larger visualization community.