David Gold is a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental and Water Resources Systems (EWRS) with the Reed Research Group at Cornell University. His research focuses on water supply planning under conditions of deep uncertainty that stem from climate change and population growth. Professor Gold has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Lafayette College and a Master of Engineering degree in EWRS from Cornell. Prior to arriving at Cornell, he worked as a design engineer for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Rhode Island. When he’s not teaching or doing research at Cornell, he likes to play the banjo.
Data Visualization with Python
Overview and Courses
The first step in developing an effective data visualization is not simply entering data points to create the graph or chart. The actual starting point is identifying what exactly you want to communicate or what specific narrative the data can provide.
This certificate program will lead you through the process of creating meaningful data visualizations and provide you with new methods to make and modify your visualizations programmatically with Python. The courses in this program equip you to use best practices in both coding and visualization — as well as human attention and perception — to find, present, and narrate an organized story behind your data clearly, accurately, and faithfully.
In organizations everywhere, professionals who hone this skillset often become some of the most in-demand and invaluable members of teams and are well positioned to experience growth in their careers.
It is recommended to only take this course if you have completed “Interpreting and Communicating Data” or have equivalent experience.In this course, you will practice making informed decisions based on statistical results. You will be introduced to the techniques you will use to view statistical tests critically and recognize the limitations of statistical conclusions. Next, you will examine statistical reports in order to identify the underlying research question. You will then use these insights to compare tests and rate their validity. Finally, you will prepare a report for stakeholders, providing recommendations based on your interpretation of statistical results.
It is recommended to only take this course if you have completed Interpreting and Communicating Data or have equivalent experience.
When giving a presentation, you want to ensure you communicate all of your critical ideas while you have your audience's attention. There are more effective ways of doing so beyond the standard large amounts of text and bullet points.
In this course, you will have the opportunity to rethink the way you design your presentations and slides. You will discover that there are straightforward ways to use your slide decks to serve two purposes: support your technical and business presentations while making your slide decks reusable and valuable resources inside your organization. You will then examine the life cycle of your presentations and begin to document who uses your slides, when they are used, and what clearances are needed to share and use them. You will also consider legal issues or proprietary concerns that may exist. Finally, you will start to build a process to help you protect proprietary information before you share it with external parties. As part of your study, you will review various selections from Dr. Traci Nathans-Kelly's book “Slide Rules,” which provides helpful insights and enlightening examples that you can apply in your own presentations.
It is recommended to only take this course if you have completed “Redesigning Slides for Impact” and “Engaging Presentation Techniques,” or have equivalent experience.
Your work in a technical field likely means that you periodically interact with colleagues, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders who live in a different part of the world, speak a primary language different from your own, or have expertise in a different or non-technical field.
As a technical expert, your ability to anticipate the needs of audiences from diverse backgrounds and communicate effectively with them is essential.
In this course, you will have an opportunity to explore how you can prepare to meet the needs of audiences with differing backgrounds, primary languages, and levels of expertise, and even varying degrees of receptivity to your message. You will examine principles of persuasion and consider how and when to apply them both effectively and ethically. As part of your studies, you will also review pertinent selections from Dr. Traci Nathans-Kelly's book “Slide Rules,” and you will look at how you can prepare for the unexpected in your talks and maintain your composure when disruptions occur.
By the end of this course, you will have gained techniques and insights that you can apply as you prepare and develop presentations for a wide range of audiences with varying needs and interests.
It is recommended to only take this course if you have completed “Redesigning Slides for Impact,” “Engaging Presentation Techniques,” and “Designing Slides for Live and Legacy Use,” or have equivalent experience.
How It Works
Faculty Author
- Determine the question you are trying to answer with data
- Determine the most salient information for your audiences
- Relate concepts in human attention and perception to best practices in visualization
- Employ coding best practices using the Matplotlib framework in Python
- Design visualizations that clearly and accurately communicate the story in your data

Download a Brochure
Not ready to enroll but want to learn more? Download the certificate brochure to review program details.
- Data Visualization With Python Certificate from Cornell of Engineering
- 74-88 Professional Development Hours (7.4-8.8 CEUs)
Who Should Enroll
- Data scientists
- Business analysts
- Engineers
- Programmers
- Technical and engineering leaders

{Anytime, anywhere.}