This exercise demonstrates how to take a set of maps previously targeted to a scientific community, and re-present them in a way that is accessible to the general public.

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Storymaps convey data in an interactive and engaging way, presenting smaller pieces information in a step-by-step, easy to understand fashion. They rely heavily on visualizations, often which require user input. The benefit of summarizing data in a storymap is the results are capable of reaching an audience outside of the scientific community. While typical data charts and maps may be overwhelming and confusing for those not familiar with it, the layout of a storymap is much closer to that of a blog or journal article, and gives data in small, iterative steps rather than one complex figure. Furthermore, storymaps are often web-based, and can be accessed anywhere on any connected device.