Program Meetings

AABPA maintains an active series of brownbag lunch programs featuring experts in public budgeting and program analysis. The programs are designed to impart specialized and highly practical knowledge on complex budget/policy issues, and to give AABPA members a chance for direct and informal contact with colleagues and with recognized authorities in the field. CPE credits are available for our monthly programs, as well as the seminars.  We welcome suggestions for future programs. Please send them to aabpa@aabpa.org.

Stan Collender, who writes the very popular Capital Gains and Games, a partner at Qorvis Communications, and someone who is always a popular attraction at AABPA symposia and conferences, will join us in February to share his thoughts about the President's 2013 budget and other fiscal developments. Stan will offer his thoughts on what the budget plan may mean for budget planners, policy-makers, and anyone interested in where America is going financially. Join us on February 15th for what will surely be an engaging and informative lunch session.

Visualizing Data

Thursday, December 15, 12 PM
Ford House Office Building, RM 483
3rd and D Streets, SW, Federal Center SW Metro

Program Materials

Part 1

Part 2

We are surrounded by more data than ever before and there are more ways to make and get it. In a single day, we create 1.5 billion pieces of content on Facebook, 140 million Tweets, and 2 million videos on YouTube. Visualizations (infographics)  are a mix of design, analysis, journalism, and statistics that are perfect for the age of big data. And infographics are a growing medium: In 2007 there were 61 infographics on Digg.com; by 2010 the number had risen to 2,745.

As analysts whose job it is to convey information to the public, infographics represent a new—and often interactive—medium to present data to the public. In this presentation, Jon will show you a variety of different websites, tools, and software packages that can help you to better present your data to your reader. He will also discuss the analysis, design, and editing process in creating these graphics.

Jonathan Schwabish is a Principal Analyst at the Congressional Budget Office. In addition to his work on data visualization, his primary responsibilities at CBO include modeling Social Security and other long-term budget issues as part of CBO’s Long-Term microsimulation model, as well as issues related to immigration, SNAP (food stamps), and the Disability Insurance program.

For links to materials from past program meetings, click here (NOTE: This content is limited to our membership.  If you are not a member, click here to become one.)