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In a darkened room filled with gigantic computer screens, Drew Stevens '17G types on the keyboard and watches the results: A blade of kelp that appears three-dimensional begins moving as if it鈥檚 underwater, the shape morphing and flowing back and forth. Stevens points out where small crustaceans can hide in the moving kelp blades, thereby avoiding larger predators.

For Stevens, who is currently a doctoral student in computer science, this predator-prey research is fascinating. But what really intrigues him is the larger concept of data visualization 鈥� a method of showcasing information to help people more quickly assess complex patterns and trends in data. Data visualization is more than just scientific charts and graphs; it includes the complex computer codes Stevens wrote that resulted in the moving kelp on the computer screen, and it stretches as far as the virtual reality goggles he鈥檚 used to help the public learn about how computer science can improve the ways scientists study coral reefs. 听

鈥淚 came in as a music major with a science background, and CCOM provided the support I needed to focus on this new career trajectory."

Data visualization is a long way from Stevens鈥� background, though. With an undergraduate degree in music composition from and some experience working as an environmental consultant, he has a unique set of skills. But for students like Stevens who have multiple career interests and might be looking for a way to combine them, it turns out that 易胜博官网 is a good place to be.

鈥淚鈥檓 creative and I like computers, so I was looking for a way to blend those interests in graduate school,鈥� he says. Enter the , where he began working in 2014 as an M.S. student in computer science. The Vis Lab, as it鈥檚 commonly called around campus, is part of the and is directed by Colin Ware.

鈥淚 came in as a music major with a science background, and CCOM provided the support I needed to focus on this new career trajectory,鈥� Stevens says. 鈥淐COM鈥檚 interdisciplinary focus helps to keep me from getting a myopic view of computer science 鈥� I have a better idea of how to apply computer science outside of theory by working with the practical applications of technology. And I use data from a variety of scientists, so I get to contribute to the research without having to be an expert in each domain,鈥� he explains.

For example, as part of an interdisciplinary course between his M.S. and doctoral degrees, Stevens worked with the at CCOM to create an interactive map of the storm鈥檚 marine debris. That information was relayed to the public in an 鈥渋ntuitive format,鈥� Stevens says. 听More recently, Stevens ran an experiment to evaluate whether providing visuals in virtual reality which compensate for a ship鈥檚 movement on the ocean can decrease the potential for seasickness 鈥� the results were positive, he says.

Stevens has also been a fixture at outreach events like 易胜博官网鈥檚 , where he teaches students and adults about data visualization and lets them use a controller to explore a 3D coral reef model which was generated solely from video captured via a GoPro camera attached to a researcher鈥檚 dive mask.

鈥淧ublic outreach is paramount so that people learn about all the great work we do,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 hope we can inspire the next generation and then get their parents involved, too. It鈥檚 great when they become interested in the topic and you can see them light up.鈥�

Stevens is nearing the end of his doctoral program, but he credits the variety of projects, outreach opportunities and the interdisciplinary nature of the research as reasons why he鈥檚 likely to continue working with data visualization for a long time to come. 听

鈥淐COM has provided me with a unique opportunity for work, and I鈥檝e had a great experience here,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t could not have turned out better.鈥�

is 易胜博官网鈥檚 largest research enterprise, comprising six centers with a focus on interdisciplinary, high-impact research on Earth and climate systems, space science, the marine environment, seafloor mapping and environmental acoustics. With more than $43 million in external funding secured annually, EOS fosters an intellectual and scientific environment that advances visionary scholarship and leadership in world-class research and graduate education.

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