Remembering Legends: Hans Rosling

During a conversation earlier, I was reminded of the late Hans Rosling, someone who has continuously inspired me over the years with his timeless work at Gapminder Foundation.

Hans was a charismatic and passionate leader who, despite so much cynicism in the world, was able to demonstrate to learners and skeptics alike that global health trends have shown steady improvement over the years. His authenticity and sense of humor made listening to data analysis fun. His presentations taught me I could be myself and have work with purpose. Hans also sparked my love for ethnography.

Despite improved quality of life, it doesn't mean there isn't significant work to be done. Many challenge what Hans ascertains in his final book, Factfulness, on several topics such as population, consumption and climate change. Hans may or may not have hypothesized accurately, however, his fact-based storytelling had a way of changing minds and/or challenging them to move beyond assumptions, leading to the emergence of new perspectives.

The legacy of Hans Rosling will always remind me to have hope. He simplistically explained our interconnectedness and the importance of checking biases. By allowing ourselves to continuously learn from data and recalibrate, it's easier to see and believe that we can actually shape a better tomorrow.

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