Joshua Stevens is an award-winning cartographer and data visualizer who served as Lead Visualizer at NASA Earth Observatory from 2015 to 2023. In this role, he created some of the most striking and widely-shared Earth science visualizations of the past decade, helping communicate complex scientific findings to global audiences.
During his tenure at NASA, Joshua developed visualizations covering topics from wildfire patterns and hurricane tracking to ice sheet dynamics and ocean temperatures. His work combined scientific rigor with exceptional design sensibility, setting standards for how Earth observation data can be communicated visually.
Joshua serves as a moderator of r/DataIsBeautiful, one of Reddit's largest communities with over 12.8 million subscribers dedicated to data visualization. This role has given him influence in shaping discourse around effective data visualization practices and highlighting exceptional work in the field.
His personal website joshuastevens.net showcases his cartographic portfolio and writings on visualization principles. Joshua's approach emphasizes that effective science communication requires both deep understanding of the underlying data and thoughtful application of design principles. His career demonstrates the impact that skilled visualizers can have in making complex Earth science accessible and engaging for diverse audiences.
