Bangor University’s Human-Centred Computing (HCC) research group recently welcomed distinguished visitors from Aarhus University, strengthening ongoing international collaboration in the field of data visualisation and analytics.
Dr Niklas Elmqvist and Marcel Borowski, from the Department of Computer Science at Aarhus University, spent the last week of April 2026 at Bangor as guests of Dr Panagiotis (Panos) Ritsos and Dr Peter Butcher from the School of Computer Science and Engineering.
The visit focused on advancing joint research initiatives and fostering deeper collaboration between the two institutions.
A central theme of the visit was the continued development of the forthcoming book Anytime Anywhere Analytics, a collaborative research effort exploring how analytics can be seamlessly integrated into everyday environments. Discussions throughout the week addressed emerging directions in ubiquitous, immersive, and situated analytics, key areas that are shaping the future of how people interact with data in context-rich settings.
As part of the visit, Professor Elmqvist delivered a guest lecture titled An R&D Agenda for Visualization in Human-Centered AI (HCAI). The talk attracted staff and students from across the School and highlighted critical challenges and opportunities at the intersection of visualisation and human-centred artificial intelligence. The lecture emphasized the importance of designing AI systems that are transparent, interpretable, and aligned with human needs, with visualisation playing a central role in achieving these goals.
The visit also provided an opportunity for Bangor researchers working on the SpatialStrates project to engage closely with Marcel Borowski. These discussions focused on current developments in spatially situated data analysis, enabling researchers to exchange ideas, present ongoing work, and explore new avenues for collaboration.
Beyond formal meetings and presentations, the visit offered a chance to showcase the unique cultural and natural environment of North Wales. The guests were introduced to local historical sites and landscapes, reinforcing the importance of creating a welcoming and inspiring environment for visiting scholars.
Dr Ritsos commented on the visit, noting the value of sustained international partnerships in advancing cutting-edge research.
“Collaborations like this allow us to combine expertise, challenge ideas, and accelerate innovation in human-centred computing,”
The School of Computer Science and Engineering continues to build strong global connections through its HCC research group, supporting impactful research in areas such as visualisation, human-centred AI, and immersive analytics.
For more information about the Human-Centred Computing group at Bangor University, visit: https://hccbu.github.io/
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