How can you create a data visualization portfolio that showcases your natural resource management expertise?

1 Choose your platform

When deciding where and how to display your data visualization portfolio, you have many options to consider. The best choice depends on your goals, audience, and preferences. Factors such as the ease of use and customization of the platform, the accessibility and visibility of your portfolio, the compatibility and interactivity of your data visualization tools, and the cost and maintenance of the platform should all be taken into account. For instance, if you want to reach a wide audience and showcase interactive dashboards, an online platform like Tableau Public or Power BI might be suitable; alternatively, if you want more control and flexibility, creating your own website or blog with WordPress or Squarespace could be a better option.

3 Tell your story

The third step is to provide some context and background information about each project in your data visualization portfolio. Explain the purpose and objectives of the project, the data sources and methods used, the challenges and solutions encountered, and the results and recommendations derived. Additionally, detail your role and contribution to the project, as well as the skills and tools used. For example, you might mention that you used ArcGIS to process spatial data, R to perform statistical analysis, or D3.js to create custom charts. Include some screenshots or links to your data visualizations, ensuring that they are clear, accurate, and engaging.

5 Update your portfolio

The final step is to update your portfolio regularly and keep it fresh and relevant. It's important to review your portfolio periodically, making sure it reflects your current skills, projects, and goals. Seeking feedback and improvement from peers, mentors, or experts in the field is also beneficial. To update your portfolio, you can add new projects that showcase your latest work and achievements, as well as remove or revise outdated or irrelevant projects that no longer represent your skills or expertise. You could also incorporate new tools or techniques that enhance your data visualization capabilities and update your introduction or bio to highlight your professional growth and development. Showcasing your involvement and engagement in the environmental community is another way to update your portfolio. For example, you might add a project using machine learning to predict forest fire risks, while removing an old project with outdated data or visualization methods. Additionally, updating your bio to include a new certification or award that you received and showcasing participation in a webinar or conference on environmental issues can help you keep your portfolio fresh.