Center for Neural Data Science (CNDS) Data Visualization Showcase
Celebrating outstanding neural data visualizations and the researchers behind them
Overview:
The Center for Neural Data Science (CNDS) presents the first CNDS Data Visualization Showcase. This event celebrates outstanding neural data visualizations across the Stanford community, highlighting not only compelling scientific insights but also the technical and aesthetic choices that make visualizations truly impactful.
To participate in this event, you can RSVP to attend and/or submit a data visualization to be considered for one of the finalist positions. Finalists will then compete during the showcase by giving a mini-talk about their visualization. Note: You do not need to submit an entry to attend.
Interested Stanford neuroscience researchers from any department or career stage may submit data visualizations via RSVP & Submissions form until the deadline: May 8, 2026
Criteria and Submission Process
Eligibility: All Stanford neuroscience researchers, from undergraduate students to senior faculty, from any department.
Submissions: One entry per person can be submitted via this online form. Entrants will need to provide:
- Name
- Research Position
- Lab affiliation / PI name
- Data Visualization (PDF or Image file)
- Can be a single, unannotated image, a figure panel, or a multi-panel figure.
- Title and description of what the visualization shows and how it was created
Entrants must confirm that they will be able to present the work at this Showcase event if selected as a finalist, that the visualization does not contain sensitive or restricted data, and whether the CNDS has permission to feature the visualization in internal or public outreach materials.
Finalist Selection and Competive Mini-Talks
A panel of assessors will review submissions and select a small group of finalists based on the clarity, scientific value, novelty, and aesthetic value of each visualization.
Finalists will be notified during the week of May 13 that they have been selected. Selected finalists will be invited to give a short presentation (up to 10 minutes) on the scientific question their visualization addresses, how the data were acquired, and what tools and techniques were used to create the visualizations.
Finalists will be encouraged to share their visualization code with the community via GitHub or GitLab.
Awards: All finalists will receive a monetary award and certificate. An external panel will select a winner, and an Audience Choice Award will be determined through live voting during the presentations
Deadline for Submissions: Friday May 8th.
Organized by Xander Atalay (Neuro IDP), Aditi Jha (Linderman Lab), Taiga Abe (Druckmann Lab), and Will Turner (Gwilliams Lab)
