Page 198 - GIS for Science, Volume 3 Preview

MAPPING BIODIVERSITY
Telling the stories of science
Jennifer Bell, Esri
Scientists traditionally publish their results in dry, dispassionate academic journals aimed at small peer communities. However, scientists are now finding new ways to share their findings with broader audiences, bringing science into mainstream media. An increasingly popular way to tell and share scientific stories is with ArcGIS StoryMaps. Using ArcGIS StoryMaps to tell digital stories—including photography, infographics, videos, and custom maps—allows scientists to enhance their narrative with increased visual appeal and a stronger sense of place.
A case in point is the Map of Biodiversity Importance by NatureServe, a nonprofit organization that provides an authoritative source of comprehensive, decision-quality biodiversity data. NatureServe works with a network of scientists across the United States to locate thousands of observations of rare species, analyze those locations against multiple factors, and identify similar landscapes and habitats. Using ArcGIS StoryMaps, NatureServe created a pair of stories about biodiversity.
he first one is an overview that explains how more precisely defined high-biodiversity areas can allow development in less-sensitive locations, while protecting the places that matter the most. The second one presents a Top Ten list of findings, including the fact that many of the most diverse areas are not where people might expect them to be, such as the coastal plains of Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.
At a time when many people are questioning the basic concepts of science, it has never been more important to tell authoritative, fact-based stories. Government agencies, onprofit organizations, universities, and research centers are turning to ArcGIS StoryMaps to inform worldwide audiences about the challenges we face as a global community and to inspire us all to work in common toward a sustainable future.
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