Rahul Bhargava is an educator, researcher, designer and facilitator committed to rethinking participation and power in data processes. He works on collaborative projects that make data more accessible and equitable, developing big data tools and creating interactive exhibits.

He’s now led over 100 workshops in newsrooms, nonprofits and libraries, fostering a data culture and forging collaborations with entities like the World Food Program and the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. A member of the Center for Transformative Media at Northeastern University, Bhargava continues to push the boundaries of how we understand and interact with data in our media-saturated world.

In this interview, CTM communication research assistant, Raja Mandal, had the opportunity to sit down with Bhargava. They discussed his work at the intersection of data, community and innovation, exploring how universities and the field of community data practices are evolving in today’s changing landscape.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

CTM: Rahul, you’ve worked across different fields, from journalism to the arts. How do those intersect in your research?

Rahul Bhargava: I think of my work as happening in two main areas. One is computational journalism, where I use algorithms to understand how stories move across different platforms. The other is creative data storytelling, where I argue we need more than just charts and graphs to tell stories with data. That’s where I experiment with things like data sculptures, murals, and even theater performances. It’s about transforming how we communicate with data and, in doing so, transforming the communities around us.

CTM: What led you to join the Center for Transformative Media, and how has your experience been so far?

Rahul Bhargava: One of the reasons I joined Northeastern is the opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary environment. I’m in the School of Journalism and the Department of Art and Design, and I love that I get to bridge those two fields. But there aren’t many places where I can fully embrace that intersection. The Center for Transformative Media gives me the space to do exactly that—combine journalism, art, and design in a way that’s not just about working in parallel but truly merging those identities.

CTM: That sounds like a great fit for your work! You’ve done a lot to build a better data culture, especially in newsrooms and nonprofits. How did you get started on that path?

Rahul Bhargava: It all started about 20 years ago when data science and visualization weren’t really things yet. Back then, there were no professional programs for this, and people like me, who now work in this field, were mostly self-taught. I studied computer engineering but didn’t want to stay in that field.

As I saw the world becoming more data-driven—across nonprofits, libraries, newsrooms, and even civic governance—I realized that it was important for more people to be part of those conversations. We couldn’t just leave it up to statisticians to make the decisions. So, I started working to make data more accessible to people who didn’t identify as “math people.”

CTM: That’s awesome. You’ve also been focusing on rethinking participation and power in data processes. What sparked that interest?

Rahul Bhargava: Data is often seen as the ultimate truth, especially when you see a number with decimals like 2047.723. People believe that data is precise and objective. But that representation of data carries a lot of power. It’s why data has always been tied to questions of power and control. Just look at W.E.B. Du Bois’s work at the 1900 World’s Fair, where he used data to tell the story of formerly enslaved people’s progress. Data storytelling has always been about influence. So, I want to help communities and individuals take control of data, not just leave it to experts. It’s about finding a way to engage with data that doesn’t require being a statistician.

CTM: That’s such an important point. Can you share some examples of your creative data storytelling?

Rahul Bhargava: One of my favorite projects is our civic data theater work. Instead of having a city official stand in front of a PowerPoint with data, we bring in a theater troupe to perform short plays about issues like gentrification or green space in Boston. After the performance, we facilitate a discussion, and we do this in unconventional spaces like community parks. It’s about getting people to engage with data in a creative, informal way, and I think it opens up new opportunities for conversation.

CTM: That’s such an innovative way to engage people! How would you describe the community impact of your research?

Rahul Bhargava: Absolutely. My work isn’t about reaching millions of people. It’s about helping local communities use data as a tool for self-reflection and change. For example, in my book Community Data, I show how data storytelling can be done beyond just bar charts. It’s about creating layers of meaning and building relationships. When we paint murals or do theater, the process of working with data becomes just as valuable as the final result because it brings people together and starts a conversation.

CTM: It really sounds like you’re giving life to data.

Rahul Bhargava: Exactly! Data is just a snapshot, it doesn’t tell the whole story. But when communities engage with data, it can lead to better decision-making. The arts-based approach helps because it encourages people to ask questions. When they see a bar chart, they may just nod and accept it. But when they see data drawn by hand or made into a sculpture, they start asking, “Why is that table made of 1,600 forks?” It sparks a conversation about food security, for example. It’s a much more participatory way of using data.

CTM: That’s such a powerful approach. You’ve also worked on museum installations. What have been some of the most rewarding aspects of those projects?

Rahul Bhargava: The most rewarding part is always the process. We don’t just create something and leave. We work with the community to ensure the process is just as impactful as the installation itself. The murals, sculptures, and performances we create together are not only visually stunning but also help the community connect with data on a deeper level. It’s about fostering a sense of ownership and engagement.

CTM: Your new book Community Data sounds like an amazing resource. Can you tell us more about it?

Rahul Bhargava: Community Data is about broadening the toolkit for data storytelling. I argue that the existing methods weren’t designed with community settings in mind, and they carry historical baggage. The book provides examples of participatory work and shows how we can build data stories that involve the senses—sound, smell, touch—things that go beyond just the visual. It’s about creating experiences that are more meaningful and engaging for everyone.

CTM: That sounds fascinating. It’s clear that you’re thinking about data storytelling in a way that goes beyond traditional boundaries. So, what are you most excited about for the future?

Rahul Bhargava: I’m really excited to see more examples of creative data work, especially after the release of my book. We’re also performing Data Drums, a sound performance about climate change data, at the Media and Motion event. We’re hoping to take it to other places, including Brazil and India, to engage people in new ways and shift the conversation from doom and gloom to collective action.

CTM: How do you see the field of community data practices evolving over the next few years?

Rahul Bhargava: When I started 20 years ago, I knew everyone in the field. Now, I don’t, which is great. More people recognize the gap between dominant data methods and community-centric settings. This gap creates power imbalances and disparate outcomes that people are working to fix. Over the next five years, I hope data continues to be used as a tool to improve communities in inclusive and fun ways.

CTM: That sounds great. My last question is a bit more heavy. You recently posted about the need for universities to confront the Trump administration’s hostility toward research. What does that look like for you these days?

Rahul Bhargava: Universities are under attack, and they can’t avoid it by staying silent. We’re seeing university leaders speak out about the benefits of universities to American innovation, entrepreneurship, local community impact, education, and social betterment. Research leads to life-saving medicines, transformative technologies, and socially impactful insights.

We need to defend these by shifting the narrative about what universities are. We’re engines that create positive outcomes. Personally, I think universities need to make that argument collectively, highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships and their impact on everyone’s lives. It’s critical to stand up to attempts to wrestle control of something that should be independent.