# Teaching the Design of Data Visualization using Artificial Intelligence

> **NSF 04002526DB NSF STEM Education** · Pennsylvania State Univ University Park (PA) · $385,790

## Abstract

This project aims to serve the national interest by improving STEM instruction via the design of data visualizations, which is foundational to scientific communication. Effective scientific communication is crucial for both advancing of scientific fields and engaging with the general public. Although students are provided detailed instruction regarding how to collect and analyze data, the current instruction on how to best communicate these data using visualizations is comparatively light. Thus, this project addresses a growth opportunity in scientific education. The project proposes to leverage emerging artificial intelligence (AI) tools to accomplish this instruction – thereby simultaneously improving communication skills while providing guided introduction to these AI tools. This Level 1 Engaged Student Learning project seeks to improve this instruction by producing a series of resources that demonstrate how to apply the rules of graphic design to create clear and effective data visualizations and assessing these resources using a rubric designed during the project. The resources and rubric will be made publicly available.

The project will develop a suite of educational resources that will include a wiki and video tutorials, all freely accessible. These materials will provide the basis for the design of a series of workshops that will be given at universities and professional meetings. An existing university-level course will be restructured around these resources. The 

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2518899
- **Awardee organization:** Pennsylvania State Univ University Park (PA)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NPM2J7MSCF61
- **PI:** Benjamin Lear
- **Primary program:** 04002526DB NSF STEM Education
- **All programs:** AI-Supported Learning, Improv Undergrad STEM Ed(IUSE), EHR CL Opportunities (NSF 14-302), UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
- **Estimated total:** $385,790
- **Funds obligated:** $385,790
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 09/01/2025 → 08/31/2028

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2518899

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2518899, Teaching the Design of Data Visualization using Artificial Intelligence. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2518899. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NSF Awards dataset](/datasets/nsf-awards) · CC0 1.0*