Data storytelling in an uncertain world: when and how to communicate uncertainty
Abstract
This interactive workshop will focus on best practices for communicating uncertainty through language and visual storytelling, to explore how uncertainty can be represented in ways that are both accurate and engaging.
By the end of the session, participants will understand why it’s important to be upfront about uncertainty and be aware of best practice principles they can use to know when and how to discuss uncertainty. Participants will learn about approaches to communicating uncertainty without overwhelming or misleading audiences. They will also develop techniques for visualising uncertainty, using a variety of different chart types.
Producers of official statistics have a responsibility to “communicate the uncertainty in estimates so that the public can have confidence in using the statistics to make decisions and take actions” as part of the Code of Practice for Statistics. Through practical exercises, real world examples, and group discussion, the session will provide a toolkit for communicating complex data in a way that allows the stakeholders, including the public, to make better evidence-based decisions.
By the end of this session, participants will:
- understand how communicating uncertainty can increase trustworthiness and know when it is important and appropriate to talk about uncertainty
- have an understanding of the language used to describe and communicate uncertainty, especially for non-technical audiences *know when it is and isn’t appropriate to show uncertainty in visualisations, and which chart types are most effective at doing so
More information can be found on the conference website. This talk will be repeated online on November 4, 2026.