Amanda Makulec
@abmakulec.bsky.social
Independent health data visualization designer, speaker, and teacher | Data Viz Society Founding Board Member & Advisory Council, Exec Director 2021-2024
Reposted by Amanda Makulec
Read the whole thing. You won’t be surprised, but you should be outraged.
May 13, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Read the whole thing. You won’t be surprised, but you should be outraged.
Reposted by Amanda Makulec
This is disturbing… a single ChatGPT query uses 10x more energy than using a search engine. One 100-word email drafted by ChatGPT-4 uses about a water bottle’s worth of H2O, and enough electricity to power 14 LED lightbulbs for an hour.
yes, ChatGPT is in schools; there are K-12 school districts and DOEs entering into AI contracts, too. so rather than panicking over the death of academia as a foregone conclusion—particularly when LLMs are frequently wrong—why don't we talk about the climate costs of AI?
my latest @teenvogue.com
my latest @teenvogue.com
ChatGPT Is Everywhere — Why Aren't We Talking About Its Environmental Costs?
One estimate found that a single ChatGPT search uses 10 times the energy of a normal Google search.
www.teenvogue.com
May 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM
This is disturbing… a single ChatGPT query uses 10x more energy than using a search engine. One 100-word email drafted by ChatGPT-4 uses about a water bottle’s worth of H2O, and enough electricity to power 14 LED lightbulbs for an hour.
This loss the year that @USAID was dismantled feels like an extra gut punch.
RIP Joe Nye, the dean of American political scientists who coined the term “soft power” — the idea that America’s global influence was more than its military might. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/u...
Joseph Nye, Political Scientist Who Extolled ‘Soft Power,’ Dies at 88
www.nytimes.com
May 9, 2025 at 8:36 PM
This loss the year that @USAID was dismantled feels like an extra gut punch.
Coming up to mother's day, I've been thinking a lot about parenting and the intersections with my work.
So, here are five ways for kids to learn to love data (with book recs, activities, and even a show!) that we've used with our littles. #dataviz
vizresponsibly.substack.com/p/five-ways-...
So, here are five ways for kids to learn to love data (with book recs, activities, and even a show!) that we've used with our littles. #dataviz
vizresponsibly.substack.com/p/five-ways-...
May 9, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Coming up to mother's day, I've been thinking a lot about parenting and the intersections with my work.
So, here are five ways for kids to learn to love data (with book recs, activities, and even a show!) that we've used with our littles. #dataviz
vizresponsibly.substack.com/p/five-ways-...
So, here are five ways for kids to learn to love data (with book recs, activities, and even a show!) that we've used with our littles. #dataviz
vizresponsibly.substack.com/p/five-ways-...
Reposted by Amanda Makulec
BILL GATES: “The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one.”
@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/bdd9...
@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/bdd9...
May 8, 2025 at 12:27 PM
BILL GATES: “The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one.”
@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/bdd9...
@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/bdd9...
@frank.computer's "Minimalism and the Absurdity of the Data-to-Ink Ratio" will make you chuckle if you're a #dataviz designer, but also challenges us in a good way: how has minimalism become a way for some “intellectuals” in our field to enforce aesthetics as law?
www.frank.computer/blog/2025/04...
www.frank.computer/blog/2025/04...
April 30, 2025 at 3:22 PM
@frank.computer's "Minimalism and the Absurdity of the Data-to-Ink Ratio" will make you chuckle if you're a #dataviz designer, but also challenges us in a good way: how has minimalism become a way for some “intellectuals” in our field to enforce aesthetics as law?
www.frank.computer/blog/2025/04...
www.frank.computer/blog/2025/04...
Nothing surprises me these days, but the absolute childishness and entitlement of "just say yes!" is painful.
This exchange is so very telling.
Trump repeatedly claims the photoshopped MS-13 on Kilmar Abrego Garcia's knuckles is real, Terry Moran keeps telling him it isn't, prompting Trump to say this:
"I never heard of you. I picked you. You’re not being very nice. He had MS-13 tattooed... Just say yes!"
Trump repeatedly claims the photoshopped MS-13 on Kilmar Abrego Garcia's knuckles is real, Terry Moran keeps telling him it isn't, prompting Trump to say this:
"I never heard of you. I picked you. You’re not being very nice. He had MS-13 tattooed... Just say yes!"
April 30, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Nothing surprises me these days, but the absolute childishness and entitlement of "just say yes!" is painful.
Come work with me! Looking for a skilled content creator / Visual storyteller in D.C.
Spread the word!
substack.com/profile/3918...
Spread the word!
substack.com/profile/3918...
Karen Attiah on Substack
Come work with me!
Seeking: Content Creator / Visual Storyteller — Washington, D.C.
I’m looking for an experienced, highly creative content creator based in Washington, D.C. to help capture and bui...
substack.com
April 30, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Reposted by Amanda Makulec
This is one of the worst violations of research ethics I've ever seen. Manipulating people in online communities using deception, without consent, is not "low risk" and, as evidenced by the discourse in this Reddit post, resulted in harm.
Great thread from Sarah, and I have additional thoughts. 🧵
Great thread from Sarah, and I have additional thoughts. 🧵
The mods of r/ChangeMyView shared the sub was the subject of a study to test the persuasiveness of LLMs & that they didn't consent. There’s a lot that went wrong, so here’s a 🧵 unpacking it, along with some ideas for how to do research with online communities ethically. tinyurl.com/59tpt988
From the changemyview community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the changemyview community
tinyurl.com
April 26, 2025 at 10:25 PM
This is one of the worst violations of research ethics I've ever seen. Manipulating people in online communities using deception, without consent, is not "low risk" and, as evidenced by the discourse in this Reddit post, resulted in harm.
Great thread from Sarah, and I have additional thoughts. 🧵
Great thread from Sarah, and I have additional thoughts. 🧵
Reposted by Amanda Makulec
First they came for USAID...now the same playbook.
This is getting fewer headlines than it should. After coming to power promising to help working people, the president is revealing his real priorities by actively making it easier for banks to rip people off.
The CFPB Has Been Gutted
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau terminated the positions of 1,406 employees at the congressionally mandated agency.
www.wired.com
April 19, 2025 at 4:29 PM
First they came for USAID...now the same playbook.
Reposted by Amanda Makulec
He wasn’t just censored. They altered his responses to NYT questions on his publication
Egregious.
www.cnn.com/2025/04/17/h...
Egregious.
www.cnn.com/2025/04/17/h...
Top researcher quits NIH, citing censorship under RFK Jr. | CNN
Dr. Kevin Hall joins The Lead
www.cnn.com
April 18, 2025 at 12:02 AM
He wasn’t just censored. They altered his responses to NYT questions on his publication
Egregious.
www.cnn.com/2025/04/17/h...
Egregious.
www.cnn.com/2025/04/17/h...
Taking the chart chat offline for the night and only spending a fraction talking about Dashboards that Deliver book things with @acotgreave.bsky.social @datarevelations.com & @jeffshaffer.bsky.social. Can't wait to see so many friendly faces at #TC25!
April 15, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Taking the chart chat offline for the night and only spending a fraction talking about Dashboards that Deliver book things with @acotgreave.bsky.social @datarevelations.com & @jeffshaffer.bsky.social. Can't wait to see so many friendly faces at #TC25!
In San Diego for #TC25 this week! Counting down to IronViz Wednesday and Chart Chat live on Thursday, and looking forward to seeing friends and colleagues this week.
I've got DVS, Chart Chat, and Dashboards that Deliver swag in tow too. Stop me to say hi & I'm happy to share! #dataviz
I've got DVS, Chart Chat, and Dashboards that Deliver swag in tow too. Stop me to say hi & I'm happy to share! #dataviz
April 14, 2025 at 3:25 PM
We are destroying the systems and teams who improved screening standards, in private outbreaks, collect data on population health, and more.
MAHA is an ideological joke wrapped in a fear of red food dye.
MAHA is an ideological joke wrapped in a fear of red food dye.
HHS has scrapped its Advisory Committee on Newborn Screening, which is responsible for updating a standardized list of conditions the HHS secretary recommends states screen for as part of their universal newborn screening programs.
HHS Scraps Advisory Committee on Newborn Screening
Cut comes as new conditions could have been added to a national screening panel
www.medpagetoday.com
April 12, 2025 at 12:46 PM
We are destroying the systems and teams who improved screening standards, in private outbreaks, collect data on population health, and more.
MAHA is an ideological joke wrapped in a fear of red food dye.
MAHA is an ideological joke wrapped in a fear of red food dye.
A moment of zen at sunrise for the timeline.
April 12, 2025 at 12:26 PM
A moment of zen at sunrise for the timeline.
Reposted by Amanda Makulec
I’ve never seen a tweet that more effectively communicates how we got to this current situation
April 11, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I’ve never seen a tweet that more effectively communicates how we got to this current situation
Research doesn't happen on this timeline. Plus, people with autism have been speaking out about how this kind of framing is dangerous and insulting (read the replies).
RFK Jr: "By September we will know what has caused the autism epidemic and we will be able to eliminate those exposures."
April 11, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Research doesn't happen on this timeline. Plus, people with autism have been speaking out about how this kind of framing is dangerous and insulting (read the replies).
Info+ submissions are open!
This year's theme is around ENERGY (which I personally think dovetails with Outlier's "Reimagining" theme nicely). If you have an interesting perspective to share in the world of #dataviz and information design more broadly: informationplusconference.com/2025/submiss...
This year's theme is around ENERGY (which I personally think dovetails with Outlier's "Reimagining" theme nicely). If you have an interesting perspective to share in the world of #dataviz and information design more broadly: informationplusconference.com/2025/submiss...
Information+ Conference 2025
informationplusconference.com
April 10, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Info+ submissions are open!
This year's theme is around ENERGY (which I personally think dovetails with Outlier's "Reimagining" theme nicely). If you have an interesting perspective to share in the world of #dataviz and information design more broadly: informationplusconference.com/2025/submiss...
This year's theme is around ENERGY (which I personally think dovetails with Outlier's "Reimagining" theme nicely). If you have an interesting perspective to share in the world of #dataviz and information design more broadly: informationplusconference.com/2025/submiss...
Not one public health person is surprised by this, but it's frightening nonetheless.
Dr. Peter Marks says the new health secretary’s team wants to show vaccines aren’t safe while promoting dangerous and unproven treatments 🩺 🛟
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Exclusive | Ousted Vaccine Chief Says RFK Jr.’s Team Sought Data to Justify Anti-Science Stance
Dr. Peter Marks says the new health secretary’s team wants to show vaccines aren’t safe while promoting dangerous and unproven treatments.
www.wsj.com
April 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Not one public health person is surprised by this, but it's frightening nonetheless.
Taxation was a tool used by kings to demand compliance and suppress protests. RESIST.
Those trying to understand the tariffs as economic policy are dangerously naive.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
April 3, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Taxation was a tool used by kings to demand compliance and suppress protests. RESIST.
It's election day here in Wisconsin! Vote Crawford, and prove that Musk cannot buy a seat on our Supreme Court and continue to support CHOICE here in Wisco.
#dataviz with megablocks from @motherhoodforgood.bsky.social www.instagram.com/reel/DH1GiSS...
#dataviz with megablocks from @motherhoodforgood.bsky.social www.instagram.com/reel/DH1GiSS...
April 1, 2025 at 2:19 PM
It's election day here in Wisconsin! Vote Crawford, and prove that Musk cannot buy a seat on our Supreme Court and continue to support CHOICE here in Wisco.
#dataviz with megablocks from @motherhoodforgood.bsky.social www.instagram.com/reel/DH1GiSS...
#dataviz with megablocks from @motherhoodforgood.bsky.social www.instagram.com/reel/DH1GiSS...
A reminder that spending time in nature, whether that's in the mountains or 20m under the sea, is a beautiful thing.
March 26, 2025 at 3:22 AM
A reminder that spending time in nature, whether that's in the mountains or 20m under the sea, is a beautiful thing.