Lori Palen
@loripalen.bsky.social
Research communicator, social scientist, crafter, gardener, reader, board game enthusiast, wife, mom to humans and cats and dog, fan of social justice and the Oxford comma
datasoapbox.com
datasoapbox.com
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Lori Palen
@loripalen.bsky.social
· Nov 20
Book Review: Flip Flop Fly Ball - Data Soapbox
Sports geekery meets dataviz geekery in Flip Flop Fly Ball: An Infographic Baseball Adventure by artist and illustrator Craig Robinson. As a baseball fan and research communicator, this book has been ...
datasoapbox.com
I tend to get on my soapbox about research communication. Sometimes I blog about it. Here's a thread with my Top 10 blog posts from the past year, according to Google clicks. #SciComm #dataviz
10. A review of the great baseball infographic book, Flip Flop Fly Ball: datasoapbox.com/book-review-...
10. A review of the great baseball infographic book, Flip Flop Fly Ball: datasoapbox.com/book-review-...
Reposted by Lori Palen
Kudos to the art director at the WSJ who chose a center-line distribution to make it look like a sperm instead of a more traditional baseline distribution, which would have looked like a normal chart.
Should have used orange for the dots though.
I give it a 9-out-of-10
Should have used orange for the dots though.
I give it a 9-out-of-10
November 14, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Kudos to the art director at the WSJ who chose a center-line distribution to make it look like a sperm instead of a more traditional baseline distribution, which would have looked like a normal chart.
Should have used orange for the dots though.
I give it a 9-out-of-10
Should have used orange for the dots though.
I give it a 9-out-of-10
In this week's blog post, an only-peripherally-work-related review of a uniquely awesome book. For all the current and former 28-year-old single office workers in the crowd! datasoapbox.com/book-review-...
Book Review: Book From the Ground—From Point to Point - Data Soapbox
Strictly speaking, Book From the Ground: From Point to Point (BFG) is unrelated to research communication. Loosey-goosey speaking, I learned about it in a work-related book (Joyful Infographics by Nig...
datasoapbox.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:12 PM
In this week's blog post, an only-peripherally-work-related review of a uniquely awesome book. For all the current and former 28-year-old single office workers in the crowd! datasoapbox.com/book-review-...
Reposted by Lori Palen
When possible, use simple and familiar data visualization techniques. Complex data visualizations can be visually appealing, but they can also be more difficult to understand. If a visualization gets overly complex, consider alternate chart types for the sake of understanding.
October 25, 2025 at 8:02 PM
When possible, use simple and familiar data visualization techniques. Complex data visualizations can be visually appealing, but they can also be more difficult to understand. If a visualization gets overly complex, consider alternate chart types for the sake of understanding.
What lessons from YOUR grade school days do you still use in your job? I talk about three of mine in my latest blog post: datasoapbox.com/lessons-from...
Lessons From My Grade School Writing - Data Soapbox
As I’ve mentioned previously, when I was a kid, I liked to write. Recently, I was reflecting on the quality and kinds of writing I did as a kid, and I realized that some lessons I learned back then th...
datasoapbox.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:57 PM
What lessons from YOUR grade school days do you still use in your job? I talk about three of mine in my latest blog post: datasoapbox.com/lessons-from...
Important information about screen readers!
Screen readers are software applications that convert on-screen content into audio, reading aloud what’s displayed on your laptop or mobile screen. In this blog post, @tetralogical.com debunks common myths about screen readers.
tetralogical.com/blog/2025/10...
tetralogical.com/blog/2025/10...
Common misconceptions about screen readers - TetraLogical
Screen readers are familiar to many in digital, but how they work in practice can be less clear. In this post, we shed some light on the topic.
tetralogical.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Important information about screen readers!
Over recent years, charts and graphs in data reports have improved a LOT. But graphs in academic journals are still pretty rough. Here's my take on the two ways to improve them: datasoapbox.com/quick-journa...
A Quick Journal Graph Revamp - Data Soapbox
Recently, a colleague asked if I could provide examples of good data visualizations to share with an academic research center. Thanks to widespread education and evangelism, there are many good (or, a...
datasoapbox.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Over recent years, charts and graphs in data reports have improved a LOT. But graphs in academic journals are still pretty rough. Here's my take on the two ways to improve them: datasoapbox.com/quick-journa...
What's a data object, and why are they innovative as hell?! Check out today's blog post! datasoapbox.com/book-review-... Edited by @cybunk.bsky.social @tnagel.bsky.social Lora Oehlberg & Wesley Willett, featuring projects by @dietoff.bsky.social @flowingdata.com @kimsauve.bsky.social & many others!
Book Review: Making with Data - Data Soapbox
If you’ve been around Ye Olde Blog for a while, you may have seen me geek out about data art. So, when I heard about Making with Data (MWD), I had to check it out.* MWD features more than 25 physical ...
datasoapbox.com
October 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
What's a data object, and why are they innovative as hell?! Check out today's blog post! datasoapbox.com/book-review-... Edited by @cybunk.bsky.social @tnagel.bsky.social Lora Oehlberg & Wesley Willett, featuring projects by @dietoff.bsky.social @flowingdata.com @kimsauve.bsky.social & many others!
Reposted by Lori Palen
Related to our previous post- if you had a grant terminated, Pro Publica wants to hear from you. Your work was funded because it was good, important science meant to help Americans. Reach out, and make your voice heard.
www.propublica.org/getinvolved/...
www.propublica.org/getinvolved/...
Did You Work on a Terminated NIH Grant? ProPublica Wants to Hear From You.
The National Institutes of Health is canceling grants that are seen as conflicting with the Trump administration’s priorities. We want to hear from researchers who have been affected.
www.propublica.org
August 13, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Related to our previous post- if you had a grant terminated, Pro Publica wants to hear from you. Your work was funded because it was good, important science meant to help Americans. Reach out, and make your voice heard.
www.propublica.org/getinvolved/...
www.propublica.org/getinvolved/...
OMG, did Office implement a color accessibility checker in the past week?!?!
August 12, 2025 at 5:27 PM
OMG, did Office implement a color accessibility checker in the past week?!?!
Thanks for the feature, @boldjourney.com.web.brid.gy! boldjourney.com/meet-lori-pa...
Meet Lori Palen - Bold Journey Magazine
We recently connected with Lori Palen and have shared our conversation below. Lori, so many
boldjourney.com
July 22, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Thanks for the feature, @boldjourney.com.web.brid.gy! boldjourney.com/meet-lori-pa...
Thanks so much to @bunsenbernerbmd.bsky.social (and Dad Guy, Jason) for having me on the latest episode of the Science Pawdcast! Check it out to learn more about some cool paint, furry strategies to prevent work rage, and science communication! bunsenbernerbmd.buzzsprout.com/413041/episo...
Episode 19 Season 7: Cooling Paints, Anger Management, and Dr. Lori Palen with Data Soap Box - The Science Pawdcast
Innovations in science are making daily life better through passive cooling paint and insights into pet interactions. In the Science News section we explore technologies that could transform how ...
bunsenbernerbmd.buzzsprout.com
June 23, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Thanks so much to @bunsenbernerbmd.bsky.social (and Dad Guy, Jason) for having me on the latest episode of the Science Pawdcast! Check it out to learn more about some cool paint, furry strategies to prevent work rage, and science communication! bunsenbernerbmd.buzzsprout.com/413041/episo...
Reposted by Lori Palen
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
June 19, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
Reposted by Lori Palen
I am once again pitching my romantic comedy:
- two academics start dating
- discover they are each other's terrible reviewer
- hijinks ensue
Working title: Love is Double-Blind
- two academics start dating
- discover they are each other's terrible reviewer
- hijinks ensue
Working title: Love is Double-Blind
June 18, 2025 at 10:55 AM
I am once again pitching my romantic comedy:
- two academics start dating
- discover they are each other's terrible reviewer
- hijinks ensue
Working title: Love is Double-Blind
- two academics start dating
- discover they are each other's terrible reviewer
- hijinks ensue
Working title: Love is Double-Blind
Office assistant dozing on the job…
June 4, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Office assistant dozing on the job…
Among others, my 10-year-old needle-hater is going to be pissed!
This is absolutely terrible news.
With the shifting regulatory climate (i.e., antivax ratfuckery), Moderna has withdrawn their application for their eagerly anticipated COVID-flu combo vaccine. This vaccine offered better protection than getting each shot separately.
h/t @merz.bsky.social
With the shifting regulatory climate (i.e., antivax ratfuckery), Moderna has withdrawn their application for their eagerly anticipated COVID-flu combo vaccine. This vaccine offered better protection than getting each shot separately.
h/t @merz.bsky.social
Moderna withdraws application for COVID-flu combination vaccine
Moderna said on Wednesday it has withdrawn an application seeking approval for its flu and COVID combination vaccine candidate after discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
www.reuters.com
May 22, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Among others, my 10-year-old needle-hater is going to be pissed!
Dataviz + fashion? Love!! from @reuters.com www.reuters.com/graphics/USA...
Why Met Gala looks have gotten bigger and bolder
A look back at red carpet pictures from the mid-1990s to 2024 shows how exaggerated outfits have become a hallmark of the event.
www.reuters.com
May 14, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Dataviz + fashion? Love!! from @reuters.com www.reuters.com/graphics/USA...
Reposted by Lori Palen
It is a little weird to me countries aren’t more aggressively, formally trying to take advantage of the U.S. science brain drain. Once in a lifetime opportunity to buy low on Non-Dumbass Americans with PhDs who just wanna look into microscopes and quietly cure ass cancer as our country eats shit.
May 4, 2025 at 8:54 PM
It is a little weird to me countries aren’t more aggressively, formally trying to take advantage of the U.S. science brain drain. Once in a lifetime opportunity to buy low on Non-Dumbass Americans with PhDs who just wanna look into microscopes and quietly cure ass cancer as our country eats shit.
I enjoyed workshopping with students from UNC’s Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine (CiTEM) today! Pretty sure it was my first time with a skeleton in the audience. 💀
May 2, 2025 at 8:36 PM
I enjoyed workshopping with students from UNC’s Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine (CiTEM) today! Pretty sure it was my first time with a skeleton in the audience. 💀
Reposted by Lori Palen
Even accepting the premise that AI produces useful writing (which no one should), using AI in education is like using a forklift at the gym. The weights do not actually need to be moved from place to place. That is not the work. The work is what happens within you.
April 15, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Even accepting the premise that AI produces useful writing (which no one should), using AI in education is like using a forklift at the gym. The weights do not actually need to be moved from place to place. That is not the work. The work is what happens within you.
Reposted by Lori Palen
Sign of the day…
April 6, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Sign of the day…
Despite all of the chaos in the US right now, our native mason bee cocoons are hatching, and this is one of my favorite spring events. See the cute little bee face?! We also hung my Christmas gift in our butterfly garden, a hex bee house from @crown-bees.bsky.social. #MyBeeHouse
March 12, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Despite all of the chaos in the US right now, our native mason bee cocoons are hatching, and this is one of my favorite spring events. See the cute little bee face?! We also hung my Christmas gift in our butterfly garden, a hex bee house from @crown-bees.bsky.social. #MyBeeHouse
Today’s fascinating science facts, about hippo testicles and fat/muscle:
I have been doing entirely too much earnest posting about deep things recently, I need to do a proper thread about hippo testicles or something just to keep myself sane.
Oh by the way hippos have migratory testicles.
Oh by the way hippos have migratory testicles.
a statue of a hippopotamus with its mouth open and teeth showing .
Alt: A hippo being tossed a watermelon, which it crushes in its massive jaws.
media.tenor.com
March 12, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Today’s fascinating science facts, about hippo testicles and fat/muscle:
Human brains > ChatGPT datasoapbox.com/my-job-is-sa...
March 12, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Human brains > ChatGPT datasoapbox.com/my-job-is-sa...