Places & Spaces: Mapping Science at the CDC Museum

The David J. Sencer CDC Museum in Atlanta will host the “Places & Spaces: Mapping Science” exhibition from January 25 to June 17, 2016, showcasing how data visualization transforms complex scientific information into actionable insights for global health challenges.

This exhibition, developed by the Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center at Indiana University, presents over 100 examples of scientific maps and visualizations that demonstrate how visual representation of data aids in understanding and addressing critical issues in public health, environmental science, and biomedicine.

According to the CDC’s official announcement released January 26, 2016, the exhibit highlights how mapping techniques have been instrumental in tracking disease outbreaks, analyzing the spread of infectious agents, and identifying geographic patterns in health disparities—tools that have become increasingly vital in modern epidemiology and public health planning.

Among the featured works are visualizations of historical pandemics such as the 1918 influenza outbreak, contemporary disease surveillance systems like those used during the Ebola response in West Africa, and innovative models predicting the impact of climate change on vector-borne illnesses such as dengue and Zika virus.

The exhibition emphasizes that effective data visualization does more than present information—it enables scientists, policymakers, and public health officials to detect trends, allocate resources efficiently, and communicate risks clearly to diverse audiences, particularly during health emergencies where timely interpretation of data can influence intervention strategies.

Curators of the exhibit note that the selected works span multiple disciplines, including genomics, neuroscience, and social sciences, illustrating how mapping science transcends traditional boundaries to foster interdisciplinary collaboration in solving complex health-related problems.

Admission to the CDC Museum is free and open to the public, with the museum located adjacent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s main campus in Atlanta. The institution regularly hosts exhibitions that connect scientific advancement with public understanding, aiming to strengthen health literacy and awareness of CDC’s role in protecting national and global health.

While the exhibition focuses on the broader applications of scientific mapping, its relevance to public health is underscored by real-world examples where visual data tools have supported outbreak investigations, vaccination campaigns, and health equity initiatives—demonstrating how visual literacy contributes to informed decision-making in medicine and public policy.