Atlas of Science: Visualizing What We Know

Katy Börner’s lavishly constructed Atlas is a visually pleasing, scholarly, and informative index of science maps. The book jacket says: “It serves as a sumptuous visual index to the evolution of modern science and as an introduction to ‘the science of science. ’” Science maps “provide guidance for navigating, understanding, and communicating the dynamic and changing structure of science and technology” (Börner, 2010, p. ix). In other words, they serve as visual representations of scientific data. Within information science, science maps are frequently utilized to illustrate bibliometric analyses visually (White & McCain, 1997). Citing examples in Börner’s book from other knowledge domains, science maps are used to understand the impact of air travel on the global spread of infectious disease or to track the patterns of patents issued worldwide. The book is not meant to serve as a stand-alone resource. It is an accompaniment to a physical exhibition called Places & Spaces: Mapping Science; Börner is the curator. The exhibition is planned to last 10 years (2005–2014), with 10 new maps added per year, and with each year’s iteration focusing on a different aspect of science maps. The Atlas includes all the maps from the first three iterations: The Power of Maps (2005), The Power of Reference Systems (2006), and The Power of Forecasts (2007). The book’s companion website, www.scimaps. org/atlas, provides more information about the exhibition as well as images and associated credits of all maps in the exhibition.At the time of this writing, the website features maps through the sixth iteration (2010). The book’s physical appearance is impressive. Even at an accessible list price of $29.95, the paper and printing qualities are very high, and its attractive presentation rivals many art books. It could almost serve as a coffee table book, but its textual and visual contents are intellectually demanding and rigorous. Weighing over 2 kilograms, and measuring 33 × 28 centimeters, it is more suitable for a bookshelf than a backpack. Despite the book’s substantial size, the maps still appear quite small because of the amount of data they provide. Nonetheless, it is important to remember that the book serves primarily as an index as well as a contextualization resource for science and science maps. To see a full-size version of a map—and, perhaps, to comprehend the information presented in a map— the reader may need to visit the exhibition in person or purchase a 60 × 72 centimeters print through the website. (Prints cost $35 for an inkjet version, or $75 for an archival-quality version, plus shipping.)All maps can be viewed for free in a high-resolution TIFF format on the website, but some of the more detailed maps still appear too small in size online for significant interaction. The Atlas comprises five parts, with each part containing several double-page spreads that individually address particular concepts or maps. An appropriate quotation introduces each part, which is a minor but enjoyable feature. Part 1, Introduction, sets the stage for modern science and its need for maps, including the considerable growth rates in the world’s population, the rapid development of technology, and the ever-increasing need for information creation and use within various groups. Börner (2010, p. 12) positions science maps within cartographic and scientific history: “[h]istorically, science maps were created to navigate, understand, and communicate the structure of scientific knowledge”.