Data Scientist. Educator. Map Enthusiast.
I am Michael T. Gastner, a data scientist with a keen interest in visualization, maps, and spatial data. I am currently an Associate Professor of Information and Communication Technology at the Singapore Institute of Technology. Additionally, I serve as vice-chair of the International Cartographic Association’s Commission on Map Projections. I received my PhD in physics from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). Previously, I held academic positions at the Santa Fe Institute, the University of Oldenburg, Imperial College London, the University of Bristol, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and Yale-NUS College.
My research interests are broad, encompassing cartography, computational geometry, and spatial statistics. I have published numerous articles in leading scientific journals and worked on many interdisciplinary applications, spanning map projections, ecology, and statistical physics. I am passionate about data visualization and enabling others to create meaningful infographics. My research has been particularly influential in improving the visualization and analysis of complex data, making it more accessible and interpretable for users. In recent years, I initiated and supervised the development of the go-cart.io project, which aims to enable non-experts to turn geographic data into insightful maps.
I believe that mathematical and computational methods play an essential role in understanding our complex and interconnected world. Through my research and teaching, I aim to contribute to our understanding of real-world data through computer modeling, statistics, and visualization.
On this website, I offer a glimpse into my past and ongoing research, publications, and teaching activities. I invite you to explore my work and learn more about my contributions. I am always interested in collaborating with other researchers and practitioners. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss potential projects.