Rebecca Firth

Rebecca Firth is a researcher at Duke University who focuses on critical issues of representation and inclusion in how we understand and map our world. Her work examines the significant gaps that exist in traditional geographic and demographic data collection, particularly highlighting how current mapping and data systems often exclude or underrepresent large populations globally.

Through her research, Firth has brought attention to the fundamental problems with calling something a "world map" when it fails to accurately represent billions of people. Her TED 2020 talk challenged audiences to reconsider how we think about global representation and the consequences of incomplete data systems.

Her work spans the intersection of geography, data science, and social justice, examining how traditional mapping approaches can perpetuate exclusion and inequality. At Duke University, she continues to research methodologies that could lead to more comprehensive and inclusive approaches to global data collection and representation.