Data journalist Mona Chalabi to deliver Carleton convocation
In her presentation, “Taking the Numb Out of Numbers,” she will discuss how data can help people make informed decisions about their lives.
Mona Chalabi, a data journalist, will deliver Carleton College’s convocation address on Friday, May 13, from 10:50-11:50 a.m. in Skinner Chapel. In her presentation, “Taking the Numb Out of Numbers,” she will discuss how data can help people make informed decisions about their lives.
Chalabi is the data editor of The Guardian, where she writes articles, produces documentaries and illustrates and animates data. She advocates the importance of data journalism in working to prevent politicians from making false claims. After analyzing statistics for the United Nations, Chalabi saw how important data was, but also how easily it could be used by people for their own specific agendas. Since then, her work for organizations like Transparency International and The Guardian has had one goal: to make sure as many people as possible can find and question the data they need to make informed choices.
In addition to her work with The Guardian, Chalabi has contributed to FiveThirtyEight, The New York Times, National Public Radio and the BBC. She was nominated for a News & Documentary Emmy Award in the category New Approaches: Arts, Lifestyle & Culture in 2017 and received the 2020 Shorty Award in the category Best Journalist in Social Media.
Chalabi received her B.A. from The University of Edinburgh and her M.A. in international security from The Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po).
Carleton convocations are free and open to the public. Masks are required, and visitors are expected to be fully vaccinated and boosted (if eligible) or to have received a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 24 hours before attending an event. Find upcoming events and archived recordings on the Convocations website. For more information, including disability accommodations, call (507) 222-5461.