Alex Kale
@kalealex.bsky.social
Assistant Prof of Computer Science and Data Science at UChicago. Research on visualization, HCI, statistics, data cognition. Moonlighting as a musician 🎺 https://people.cs.uchicago.edu/~kalea/
Pinned
Alex Kale
@kalealex.bsky.social
· Sep 19
With the influx of dataviz people, let's do some re-intros. 📊
— What's your claim to fame? ✨ —
How might we know you already?
What have you done that we might have seen or read before?
What would help us remember how we came across you?
Don't be shy: it's helping us reconnect and remember you 💡
— What's your claim to fame? ✨ —
How might we know you already?
What have you done that we might have seen or read before?
What would help us remember how we came across you?
Don't be shy: it's helping us reconnect and remember you 💡
I believe I’m known for:
- visual reasoning strategies as a lens for visualization eval arxiv.org/abs/2007.14516
- cognitive modeling of data interpretation arxiv.org/abs/2107.13485
- tools for meta-analysis arxiv.org/abs/2302.04739
- tools for modeling + visual EDA arxiv.org/abs/2308.13024
- visual reasoning strategies as a lens for visualization eval arxiv.org/abs/2007.14516
- cognitive modeling of data interpretation arxiv.org/abs/2107.13485
- tools for meta-analysis arxiv.org/abs/2302.04739
- tools for modeling + visual EDA arxiv.org/abs/2308.13024
This paper is being honored with a Best Short Paper Award at IEEE VIS 2025! I'm truly grateful for the recognition and looking forward to discussing this work at the conference. #ieeevis
Announcing my forthcoming short paper at #ieeevis! In this solo-author work, I examine and critique the logic of generalization about decision support in visualization research. arxiv.org/abs/2508.06751
Toward a Logic of Generalization about Visualization as a Decision Aid
Visualization as a discipline often grapples with generalization by reasoning about how study results on the efficacy of a tool in one context might apply to another context. This work offers an accou...
arxiv.org
October 23, 2025 at 8:39 PM
This paper is being honored with a Best Short Paper Award at IEEE VIS 2025! I'm truly grateful for the recognition and looking forward to discussing this work at the conference. #ieeevis
Announcing my forthcoming short paper at #ieeevis! In this solo-author work, I examine and critique the logic of generalization about decision support in visualization research. arxiv.org/abs/2508.06751
Toward a Logic of Generalization about Visualization as a Decision Aid
Visualization as a discipline often grapples with generalization by reasoning about how study results on the efficacy of a tool in one context might apply to another context. This work offers an accou...
arxiv.org
August 13, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Announcing my forthcoming short paper at #ieeevis! In this solo-author work, I examine and critique the logic of generalization about decision support in visualization research. arxiv.org/abs/2508.06751
I'm extremely excited to share this new paper out of the Data Cognition Lab! In it @krisha-mehta.bsky.social, Gordon Kindlmann, and I reframe visualization as a mechanism for data disclosure and develop a vocabulary for how visualization design induces loss on underlying data signals.
I am excited to share a new paper titled “Designing for Disclosure in Data Visualizations” set to appear at IEEE VIS 2025 (link below). 1/n
August 13, 2025 at 2:44 PM
I'm extremely excited to share this new paper out of the Data Cognition Lab! In it @krisha-mehta.bsky.social, Gordon Kindlmann, and I reframe visualization as a mechanism for data disclosure and develop a vocabulary for how visualization design induces loss on underlying data signals.
Reposted by Alex Kale
Today, along with 2,000 other NIH employees, I had to clear out my office 😭
It was truly the honor of my life to work with such incredibly passionate people focused on improving human health. I’ve never experienced a more positive culture where *everyone* cared about their job and serving others.
It was truly the honor of my life to work with such incredibly passionate people focused on improving human health. I’ve never experienced a more positive culture where *everyone* cared about their job and serving others.
February 14, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Today, along with 2,000 other NIH employees, I had to clear out my office 😭
It was truly the honor of my life to work with such incredibly passionate people focused on improving human health. I’ve never experienced a more positive culture where *everyone* cared about their job and serving others.
It was truly the honor of my life to work with such incredibly passionate people focused on improving human health. I’ve never experienced a more positive culture where *everyone* cared about their job and serving others.
I wish more HCI research was this careful about measurement. If we do turn the corner, I think we’re gonna find out that a lot of our study results don’t mean what the authors originally said they meant.
A new working paper with Daniel Banki, @urisohn.bsky.social and Robert Walatka, just submitted to SSRN.
The paper is comment on Ryan Oprea's recent AER paper.
The paper is processing, but you, my friends, get early entry.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The paper is comment on Ryan Oprea's recent AER paper.
The paper is processing, but you, my friends, get early entry.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
February 7, 2025 at 1:23 AM
I wish more HCI research was this careful about measurement. If we do turn the corner, I think we’re gonna find out that a lot of our study results don’t mean what the authors originally said they meant.
Thanks to the wonderful folks at @dsi-uchicago.bsky.social for making this video!
How can helping people think with data benefit society?
Explore the research of Alex Kale (@kalealex.bsky.social), Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Data Science at the University of Chicago!
www.youtube.com/shorts/8SkXI...
Explore the research of Alex Kale (@kalealex.bsky.social), Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Data Science at the University of Chicago!
www.youtube.com/shorts/8SkXI...
Can thinking with data benefit society? @UChicago #datascience #ai #airesearch
YouTube video by UChicago Data Science Institute
www.youtube.com
February 6, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Thanks to the wonderful folks at @dsi-uchicago.bsky.social for making this video!
Reposted by Alex Kale
What tech company will be the first to stand up and say that gutting the NSF is bad actually?
The economic argument seems pretty clear
Less NSF --> fewer PhD students --> fewer researchers --> smaller AI tech pipeline --> slower progress --> less competitive globally
The economic argument seems pretty clear
Less NSF --> fewer PhD students --> fewer researchers --> smaller AI tech pipeline --> slower progress --> less competitive globally
February 5, 2025 at 2:23 AM
What tech company will be the first to stand up and say that gutting the NSF is bad actually?
The economic argument seems pretty clear
Less NSF --> fewer PhD students --> fewer researchers --> smaller AI tech pipeline --> slower progress --> less competitive globally
The economic argument seems pretty clear
Less NSF --> fewer PhD students --> fewer researchers --> smaller AI tech pipeline --> slower progress --> less competitive globally
Most of your life won’t go as planned. Stop placing your happiness, health, and self-actualization on the horizon.
people over 30 quote this with some life advice for the rest of us?
February 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Most of your life won’t go as planned. Stop placing your happiness, health, and self-actualization on the horizon.
“The executive orders make it quite clear that certain DEI activities are considered to violate current law, and we cannot fund anything that includes activities deemed unlawful.” Okay, but until a few weeks ago, promises about DEI were required. Idk how any of our grants survive this litmus test.
January 31, 2025 at 12:36 AM
“The executive orders make it quite clear that certain DEI activities are considered to violate current law, and we cannot fund anything that includes activities deemed unlawful.” Okay, but until a few weeks ago, promises about DEI were required. Idk how any of our grants survive this litmus test.
Reposted by Alex Kale
Somewhere in the U.S., there’s a scientist staring at their NSF/NIH grant application wondering why they bother. This post is for you. Science and society both need you. Hang in there and know there is a whole community supporting you.
January 29, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Somewhere in the U.S., there’s a scientist staring at their NSF/NIH grant application wondering why they bother. This post is for you. Science and society both need you. Hang in there and know there is a whole community supporting you.
A great thread if you’re into visualization for model interpretability and Bayesian stats!
Problems arise, however, when we try to communicate the structure of p( theta | tilde{y} ) when the parameter space contains more than a few dimensions.
January 30, 2025 at 3:23 AM
A great thread if you’re into visualization for model interpretability and Bayesian stats!
Anyone know how to turn off the AI assistance feature in Overleaf? I didn’t want this. I didn’t consent to this. I find the suggestions distracting in a way that basically makes the tool unusable for deep work. Am I alone in feeling this way?
January 29, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Anyone know how to turn off the AI assistance feature in Overleaf? I didn’t want this. I didn’t consent to this. I find the suggestions distracting in a way that basically makes the tool unusable for deep work. Am I alone in feeling this way?
This is so upsetting. I have two grants out for review, basically my whole summer worth of effort scuttled. Multiply this by thousands of scientists whose time and ideas are being thrown away. It’s especially concerning for early career researchers whose futures depend on securing funding.
I don’t have a definitive source on this yet but it looks like NSF review panels have been canceled.
Sixty-some years ago, Eisenhower transformed higher education because he viewed a science education gap as the single greatest threat to national security.
This is absolutely an act of sabotage.
Sixty-some years ago, Eisenhower transformed higher education because he viewed a science education gap as the single greatest threat to national security.
This is absolutely an act of sabotage.
January 28, 2025 at 1:02 AM
This is so upsetting. I have two grants out for review, basically my whole summer worth of effort scuttled. Multiply this by thousands of scientists whose time and ideas are being thrown away. It’s especially concerning for early career researchers whose futures depend on securing funding.
I’m feeling for the researchers who are losing access to funding.
The academic research environment felt stacked against us even before the new administration. My early career friends and colleagues are disheartened about our prospects and the downstream effects of less support on our careers and science.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Trump hits NIH with ‘devastating’ freezes on meetings, travel, communications, and hiring
Researchers facing
www.science.org
January 23, 2025 at 1:35 AM
I’m feeling for the researchers who are losing access to funding.
“Universal fruitstuff magnitudes” is now a term of art
“A lot of psychology is refusing to admit we can’t measure something. Instead, we calculate a standardized effect size and claim we turned the apples and oranges into universal fruitstuff magnitudes that can be directly compared.” - me, trying to teach statistics to a research student here
January 23, 2025 at 1:27 AM
“Universal fruitstuff magnitudes” is now a term of art
Reposted by Alex Kale
Professors, don't be mean to job candidates, they remember it the rest of their lives. Source: remembered it the rest of my life.
January 11, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Professors, don't be mean to job candidates, they remember it the rest of their lives. Source: remembered it the rest of my life.
Reposted by Alex Kale
📊 #dataviz #map Very cool interactive Voronoi diagram tessellation of the globe partitioned by nearest major airport
www.jasondavies.com/maps/voronoi...
www.jasondavies.com/maps/voronoi...
World Airports Voronoi
The major airports of the world and their closest regions.
www.jasondavies.com
January 11, 2025 at 5:48 PM
📊 #dataviz #map Very cool interactive Voronoi diagram tessellation of the globe partitioned by nearest major airport
www.jasondavies.com/maps/voronoi...
www.jasondavies.com/maps/voronoi...
Reposted by Alex Kale
L Station ridership in October compared to pre-pandemic levels, the Forest Park branch is doing abysmal but it's great to see the West Loop boom leading to robust ridership growth for Morgan station
January 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
L Station ridership in October compared to pre-pandemic levels, the Forest Park branch is doing abysmal but it's great to see the West Loop boom leading to robust ridership growth for Morgan station
Reposted by Alex Kale
Just because I keep seeing the "replications show which effects are real" or "effects that didn't replicate once are flukes" heuristics repeatedly showing up on my TL today, I'm re-upping this thread. I beg everyone to please stop searching for quick and conclusive judgments on what's "true".
1. Reproducibility is not a generally reliable indicator of particular issues in a field. The problem as we understand is to expect high levels of reproducibility unconditionally, regardless of the specifics of the scientific field. We need to calibrate our expectations.
January 3, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Just because I keep seeing the "replications show which effects are real" or "effects that didn't replicate once are flukes" heuristics repeatedly showing up on my TL today, I'm re-upping this thread. I beg everyone to please stop searching for quick and conclusive judgments on what's "true".
The distinction @jessicahullman.bsky.social makes between 1st and 2nd order uncertainty is important to understanding prediction vs inference. Conditional predictive performance (1st order) can be checked, but whether we’ve learned the right distribution (2nd order) is what we need to generalize.
Calibration “resolves” epistemic uncertainty by giving predictions that are indistinguishable from the true probabilities. Why is this still unsatisfying?
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2024/12/31/c...
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2024/12/31/c...
Calibration “resolves” epistemic uncertainty by giving predictions that are indistinguishable from the true probabilities. Why is this still unsatisfying? | Statistical Modeling, Causal Inference, an...
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu
January 1, 2025 at 8:44 AM
The distinction @jessicahullman.bsky.social makes between 1st and 2nd order uncertainty is important to understanding prediction vs inference. Conditional predictive performance (1st order) can be checked, but whether we’ve learned the right distribution (2nd order) is what we need to generalize.
This made me laugh.
One of the proposed new Illinois flag designs, out of thousands submitted
December 31, 2024 at 6:31 AM
This made me laugh.
How wrongheaded to think that “engagement” without communicative intent will keep actual people on a dying platform. Meta is phoning it in at this point. This bit about appealing to younger audiences is either wishful thinking or a blatant lie to assuage nervous investors.
“We expect these AIs to actually, over time, exist on our platforms, kind of in the same way that accounts do"
They think this and other AI products they are rolling out will help attract and retain a younger audience
www.ft.com/content/9118...
They think this and other AI products they are rolling out will help attract and retain a younger audience
www.ft.com/content/9118...
December 30, 2024 at 6:26 AM
How wrongheaded to think that “engagement” without communicative intent will keep actual people on a dying platform. Meta is phoning it in at this point. This bit about appealing to younger audiences is either wishful thinking or a blatant lie to assuage nervous investors.
Reposted by Alex Kale
Check out the earthquakes over the past year with this interactive globe:
observablehq.com/@joewdavies/...
You can toggle between country borders and tectonic plates. I quite like being able to gauge the depth of them.
#earthquakes #seismology #cartography #globe #dataviz
observablehq.com/@joewdavies/...
You can toggle between country borders and tectonic plates. I quite like being able to gauge the depth of them.
#earthquakes #seismology #cartography #globe #dataviz
December 23, 2024 at 4:19 PM
Check out the earthquakes over the past year with this interactive globe:
observablehq.com/@joewdavies/...
You can toggle between country borders and tectonic plates. I quite like being able to gauge the depth of them.
#earthquakes #seismology #cartography #globe #dataviz
observablehq.com/@joewdavies/...
You can toggle between country borders and tectonic plates. I quite like being able to gauge the depth of them.
#earthquakes #seismology #cartography #globe #dataviz
Reposted by Alex Kale
“Where are the findings? You only provide quotes.”
New article considers qualitative researchers’ experiences of methodologically incongruent peer review feedback
Open Access: dx.doi.org/10.1037/qup0...
Few quotes follow 🧵
New article considers qualitative researchers’ experiences of methodologically incongruent peer review feedback
Open Access: dx.doi.org/10.1037/qup0...
Few quotes follow 🧵
December 18, 2024 at 11:19 PM
“Where are the findings? You only provide quotes.”
New article considers qualitative researchers’ experiences of methodologically incongruent peer review feedback
Open Access: dx.doi.org/10.1037/qup0...
Few quotes follow 🧵
New article considers qualitative researchers’ experiences of methodologically incongruent peer review feedback
Open Access: dx.doi.org/10.1037/qup0...
Few quotes follow 🧵
Reposted by Alex Kale
