The Pacific Dataviz Challenge is a Pacific‑led regional initiative with international reach, designed to engage young people—who represent over 50% of participants—in exploring climate change through data visualisation. Drawing participants from 27 different countries, the Challenge places Pacific data and perspectives at its core while rewarding outstanding entries with international prizes.
Built on open and official datasets from Pacific Island countries, the Challenge focuses on climate‑related issues such as sea‑level rise, climate hazards, environmental vulnerability, and adaptation. Participants work with data reflecting their own island realities, enabling them to tell situated stories about climate change in one of the regions most exposed to rising sea levels.
In 2026, climate change is the central theme of the competition, alongside a major expansion: the introduction of a dedicated schools track. The Challenge is now integrated into the national curricula of more than five Pacific countries, a number that continues to grow. This track is delivered in close collaboration with teachers and supported by classroom‑ready resources, including workshops and video materials.
This talk presents the Pacific Dataviz Challenge as a media‑driven case study, showing how visualisation translates climate science into accessible narratives for youth audiences. The initiative also promotes STEM disciplines, with strong participation from girls (60% of youth participants), and demonstrates how data visualisation brings together science, climate data, and visual expression.
As part of the first prize, the Challenge offers an entry to Visualising Climate 2026 to amplify Pacific Youth voices globally.