This quilt is one of a series of quilts I generated following Election Day 2024. There were so many changes to laws, funding, access – especially related to my discipline and my research – that I used my sewing machine for Processing the Policies. Explore the collection.

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Today, people are gathering at rallies across the nation to Stand Up For Science. To add my voice to the chorus speaking up for scientists, science policies, and more, I decided to complete a quilt to add to my post-election collection. This is another area where there are impacts to science, education, technology, safety and security, and so much more.

This quilt is titled Data Interrupted.

Health data, climate data, air quality data… all of these and more are suddenly not available for anyone to tap in to for research, education, risk analysis, and many other reasons that these data are so important for health, safety, and sustainability.

I intentionally created these yellow signs that are over the data. These fabric pieces are meant to show that the data still exist, but they are not accessible because of broken internet links or entire web pages/websites taken down.

I started gathering the quilt materials and cutting the fabric yesterday, and now, the quilt is completed. I’m so appreciative of my friends, colleagues, fellow scientists, and complete strangers that went out today to establish a large presence and voice for science. This quilt I will use today and beyond to generate awareness and to advocate the need for data for science and societal benefits.

The Data Interrupted quilt measures 34 inches wide and 36 inches tall. The quilt was completed March 7, 2025.