Author: ScrollyTeller

  • ScrollyTelling of the day: Sex Diversity Among Graduate Students Is Stagnating

    The analysis of Columbia’s graduate STEM diversity (1994-2016) lends itself to ScrollyTelling through these narrative layers:

    Contrasting Currents Beneath Stagnation

    A scrolling header would reveal the apparent flatline (female representation frozen at 1998 levels) before plunging into turbulent subsurface trends. An animated Sankey diagram could split into seven discipline streams, each pulsing with distinct energy patterns.Engineering’s Divided Journey
    Interactive sliders would let viewers:

    • Drag through years to see biomedical engineering’s female population surge 400% (2010-2016)
    • Watch mechanical engineering’s gender gap widen despite 3x enrollment growth
    • Compare Columbia’s engineering parity rate (23%→34%) against MIT’s trajectory

    Physics’ Rollercoaster

    A parallax scroll effect would simulate:

    1. Ascent (1994-2006): Molecules rising as female PhDs triple
    2. Peak (2008): Constellation of 37% female representation
    3. Collapse (2009-2016): Particles scattering downward to 29%

    Mathematics’ Quiet Revolution

    A cascading equation visualization would incrementally add:

    • Statistics’ rebound to parity after 2004 slump
    • Applied math’s 13%→42% transformation
    • Columbia emerging as Ivy leader by 2016

    Computer Science’s Stalled Engine
    Hover states on a binary scroll path would reveal:

    • 2015-2016 female cohort dropping 73 vs male 31
    • 22-year gain of just 3 percentage points

    The narrative would conclude with earth sciences’ steady climb to parity (omitted from initial analysis) emerging as viewers scroll past primary content – mimicking how some success stories remain overlooked. Throughout, annotation markers would link to Bridge to PhD program details, emphasizing interventions’ uneven impacts.


    The article employs ScrollyTelling to transform a static analysis of gender diversity trends in Columbia’s graduate programs into an engaging, interactive experience. This method combines scrolling text narratives with dynamic visual aids, enabling users to explore data trends across various fields interactively.

    Key Interactions in Storytelling:

    • Data Visualization Integration: As users scroll through the article, graphs and charts appear alongside text, visually representing trends such as the rise in female representation in mathematics or the decline in physics.
    • Field-Specific Exploration: The content is segmented by academic fields (e.g., engineering, computer science), allowing users to focus on specific areas of interest while observing broader patterns.
    • Dynamic Contrasts: The scrolling narrative highlights disparities dynamically—for instance, juxtaposing the stagnation in computer science with progress in mathematics—making complex data more digestible.

    Read here

  • ScrollyTelling of the day: The scramble to secure America’s voting machines

    The Politico article from 2019 details the urgent efforts to secure U.S. voting systems after Russian interference in the 2016 election exposed critical vulnerabilities. It highlights how approximately 90% of American counties used voting machines that were at least a decade old, with some relying on Windows XP or earlier operating systems.

    Key challenges included:

    • Outdated paperless machines in 12 states that couldn’t provide reliable audit trails
    • Insufficient federal funding for upgrades despite $380 million allocated in 2018
    • Complex certification processes slowing replacement efforts

    Notable state responses featured:

    • Pennsylvania replacing all voting machines by 2020
    • Georgia abandoning its paperless system after security concerns
    • Texas counties facing legal battles over machine purchases

    The article emphasizes lingering security concerns even with paper ballot systems, particularly around voter-marked paper ballots versus machine-printed ones. It underscores the tension between security needs and voting accessibility requirements under the Help America Vote Act.

    ScrollyTelling methods in use

    The Politico article employs scrollytelling—a hybrid of scrolling and interactive storytelling—to transform complex election security data into an immersive, user-driven narrative.

    1. Vertical Narrative Flow

    2. Data Visualization Integration

    3. Parallax and Multimedia Effects

    4. User-Controlled Exploration

    Read here

  • Welcome to ScrollyTell.ing: Where Stories Come Alive

    Welcome to ScrollyTell.ing, your new go-to destination for all things Scrollytelling!

    If you’re curious about crafting immersive online experiences, captivating your audience with dynamic narratives, and pushing the boundaries of digital storytelling, you’ve landed in the right place.

    We’re thrilled to launch this blog as a curated showcase of the most innovative and inspiring Scrollytelling content from across the web.