Work

The power of representation: why how scientists visualise the world matters

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Given growing amounts of global health data, world maps increasingly shape how scientists and policymakers perceive global disease burdens and locate solutions to critical health issues. Leading peer-reviewed health journals publish articles that use a variety of map projections, including the widely criticised Mercator projection1–3 that graphically deflates world regions where most low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) are located. In August, 2025, the African Union endorsed a campaign aimed at replacing the Mercator projection with more suitable alternatives.

Source: The Lancet Global Health

DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(25)00520-0

Authors: Felix Teufel, Erica L Kocher, Caroline A Bulstra

Institutions: Emory University, Woodruff Health Sciences Center, Harvard University, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Language: English

Topic: Historical Geography and Cartography

Subfield: Geography, Planning and Development

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $6,680