Two New Brunswick organizations have launched the second Open Data Visualization Challenge to demonstrate the power of open data and an engaged citizenry.

The New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network and the University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Business Administration are inviting participants from across the country to enter. Applicants should use their creativity and imagination to build both a visual presentation and an infographic poster featuring data from municipal and provincial governments and other organizations. The infographic posters – which will display a visual summary of the competitors’ findings – can be used to communicate a story, recommendation, or new idea.

“Having data ranging from population data, qualitative data and even road data presented on a national scale is an amazing opportunity to showcase the open data portals of our province,” said Karina LeBlanc, interim executive director at the Social Policy Research Network.

Last year, the winner of the contest demonstrated that a moose fence had caused a dramatic drop in the number of vehicle collisions on New Brunswick’s Highway 7, the organizers said in a press release.  The infographic was used to convince industry and government officials of the effectiveness of the fence, and others like it were installed.

Those interested in forming a team to participate in this year’s challenge can register by contacting Andrew Lockhart at UNB’s Faculty of Business Administration at A.Lockhart@unb.ca. You can also find information here.

The deadline for submissions is Nov. 13, and finalists will be announced Nov. 16. The infographic posters will be presented at the 2017 GovMaker Conference in Fredericton on Nov. 20 and 21, where the finalists will pitch.