Computer Science Seminar - Dr. Sara Bartolomeo, University of Vienna

Title: Making Sense of Networks: From Visualization to Algorithms

Abstract:

The same network can look completely different depending on how we draw it. Some representations make patterns immediately visible, while others hide them. My research explores how we can design better network visualizations, develop algorithms to produce them, and evaluate whether they actually help people understand complex information.

In this talk, I will present my research at the intersection of information visualization and graph drawing. I will explore different ways of representing networks, from traditional node-link diagrams to alternative representations such as BioFabric. I will discuss my work on developing algorithms to improve the readability of these representations, and how computational experiments and user studies can help us understand their effectiveness.

I will also discuss the open challenges that motivate my future research, particularly how we can make network visualizations more expressive, effective, and accessible.