Join the Department of Geography for the Colloquium Series talk with Timothy Prestby from James Madison University on "Contextualizing Trust in Cartography: A Theoretical and Empirical Approach."

"Maps have long served not only as navigational aids but also as powerful rhetorical tools. Yet, the question of why and when people trust them has received limited attention by cartographic researchers. This talk presents recent advances in the emerging science of map trust. I begin by establishing a conceptual framework for understanding what “trust” in maps entails and how it can be measured in a systematic and reproducible way. Building on this foundation, I examine how specific cartographic design choices—such as color palettes and the representation of uncertainty—shape users’ trust judgments. I conclude by outlining promising directions for future research."

Prestby is an Assistant Professor of Applied GIS at James Madison University. Prestby studies the interplay between psychology and design to understand how people can make sense of geographic information. More specifically, his research centers on interactive map design, data storytelling, and trust in maps. Prestby is also the director for the JMU Map Lab where he directs mapping projects that engage students in handson work that serves communities at local and wider scales.