Tiffany Chen

I worked as a Roepke Research Scholar with Professor Brian Jefferson on the Illustrations of Communication and Control Processes project. Using Adobe Illustrator and ArcGIS, I developed approximately 30 cybernetics illustration diagrams representing globalization patterns.

My role as a research assistant primarily involved data collection, diagram design, and ensuring stylistic consistency. Additionally, I researched the geographic distribution of semiconductors to understand mineral deposits for computer minerals. The figures I worked on included cybernetics geopolitical flowcharts, ARPANET network cable maps, and logic gates with neuron connector diagrams.

Through mapping internet usage, telegraph networks, and railroad development, I gained a holistic understanding of global development. Working as a geo-visual coordinator on Dr. Jefferson’s cybernetics research deepened my understanding of geography and its connections to political, technological, and environmental fields.

My cybernetics research honed my cartographic design and data visualization skills using ArcGIS and Adobe Illustrator. Initial diagrams of cybernetic feedback loops established foundational insights into the relationship between technical and biological systems. Further techniques, such as data wrangling and visualization methods, allowed me to create choropleth density maps of internet usage and global energy consumption.

ARPANET-map
Representative map by Tiffany Chen of ARPANET network cables and network access points in 1969, 1972, 1983, and 1989.

By mapping the spread of the internet, telegraph, and transportation methods from the 1800s to the present, I could visualize the development and globalization over time. Overall, these techniques enhanced my understanding of cybernetics as the science of communication between human and AI interactions.

The hands-on experience with Professor Brian Jefferson on the Illustrations of Communication and Control Processes Project broadened my perspective on geography and its extensive applicability. Inspired by this cybernetics research, I plan to continue my work in both my career and further studies in geography and geographic information science. Additionally, I intend to pursue a Master’s in GIS. Post-graduation, I aim to apply my passion for serving my community by addressing geospatial and complex issues related to waste management, energy, and transportation.