Dr. Kimberly Kowal Arcand is a visualization scientist and science communicator for NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. As a visualization and emerging technology lead, Arcand is responsible for using the raw binary data received from the space telescope to create astronomical images and animations of Chandra's new discoveries. She then incorporates these visualizations into various multimedia platforms to use in her presentations, customized to her specific audience. One example of work includes creating a 3D model of Cassiopeia A, "How to Hold a Dead Star in your Hand" alongside a team of astronomers and astrophysicists. She is the principal investigator for the Aesthetics and Astronomy image response project at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Early life and education As a child, Arcand wanted to be an astronaut. She studied molecular biology at the University of Rhode Island and also became a developer for the University of Rhode Island Center for Vector-Borne Disease Public Health project. She was awarded a fellowship with the Rhode Island Public Health Partnership to work on lyme disease. Her efforts were recognized; she won an intellectual property invention award. She worked in the University of Rhode Island Department of Computer Science as an instructor between 1997 and 1999. She joined the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Chandra X-ray Observatory in 1998. In 2009 Arcand launched From Earth to the Universe with UNESCO, a series of large exhibitions that occurred in 1,000 locations around the world. She is Principal Investigator of the Aesthetics and Astronomy image response project at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The project launched in 2010 and looks at variations in the presentation of color and scale in astronomical images. They look at how people respond to images, and the misconceptions that non-experts have when they view them. The project began when Randall, Jeffrey, and Lisa F. Smith realized that there was a lot astrophysicists could learn from art about how to present results. The group explored the public perception of astronomical pictures using a survey linked to the NASA Astronomical Picture of the Day site, gaining almost 10,000 responses. She studied briefly at the Harvard University Department between 2000 and 2002 In 2013 Arcand earned a Master's degree in Public Humanities from Brown University, focusing on image and meaning research. She worked closely with UNESCO to celebrate the International Year of Light . It was an open-source exhibition that showcased science based on light. The celebration was supported by SPIE. Using NASA data, Arcand developed a way to 3D print a supernova remnant and virtual reality application . In 2016 the White House selected her as a changemaker at the United State of Women Summit. She wrote about the event for the HuffPost and the United State of Women blog. In 2017 she was profiled on Vinita Marwaha Madill's website Rocket Women. In 2020, Arcand completed her doctorate at the University of Otago and also became an honorary member of the science and art group. As a science advisor, Kim was welcomed as a board member for the Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art (RIMOSA). This non-profit organization takes learning to the next level by stimulating one's creativity through highly interactive exhibits instead of using conventional educational methods. As a technologist, Kim was also selected to serve on the Rhode Island's Tech Collective executive board. As a federal employee, she serves as vice president for the Federally Employed Women, Greater Boston chapter. In 2019, Arcand collaborated with the Smithsonian to launch an interactive website called *Journey through an Exploded Star” 3-D Interactive Experience* as well as producing a video on *How to Be a Scientist: Careers in Astronomy. *
 Kimberly Kowal Arcand is a data visualizer and science communicator for NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. She is also the visualization coordinator for the Aesthetics and Astronomy image response project at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Early life and education As a child, Arcand wanted to be an astronaut. She studied molecular biology at the University of Rhode Island and also became a developer for the University of Rhode Island Center for Vector-Borne Disease Public Health project. She was awarded a fellowship with the Rhode Island Public Health Partnership to work on lyme disease. Arcand studied briefly at the Harvard University Department between 2000 and 2002. In 2013 Arcand earned a Master's degree in Public Humanities from Brown University, focusing on image and meaning research. In 2020, Arcand completed her doctorate at the University of Otago in visualization science. She worked in the University of Rhode Island Department of Computer Science as an instructor between 1997 and 1999. She joined the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Chandra X-ray Observatory in 1998. In 2009 Arcand launched From Earth to the Universe with UNESCO, a series of large exhibitions that occurred in 1,000 locations around the world. She is the visualization coordinator of the Aesthetics and Astronomy image response project at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The project launched in 2010 and looks at variations in the presentation of color and scale in astronomical images. The team also studies how people respond to images, and the misconceptions that non-experts have when they view them. The project began when Randall, Jeffrey, and Lisa F. Smith realized that there was a lot astrophysicists could learn from art about how to present results. The group explored the public perception of astronomical pictures using a survey linked to the NASA Astronomical Picture of the Day site, gaining almost 10,000 responses. She worked closely with UNESCO to celebrate the International Year of Light , an open-source exhibition that showcased science based on light. The celebration was supported by SPIE. Using NASA data, Arcand developed a way to 3D print a supernova remnant . In 2016 the White House selected her as a changemaker at the United State of Women Summit. She wrote about the event for HuffPost and the United State of Women blog. In 2017 she was profiled on Vinita Marwaha Madill's website Rocket Women. Arcand also serves on the boards of Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art (RIMOSA). and Rhode Island's Tech Collective . In 2019, Arcand collaborated with the Smithsonian to launch the "Journey through an Exploded Star” 3-D Interactive Experience website.
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