The DIAGRAMS 2024 conference was held from September 27 to October 1 at Universität Münster, Germany, bringing together researchers from around the globe to explore the role of diagrams in reasoning, communication, and learning. The event welcomed 100 participants from 31 countries, reflecting a truly international interest in this niche but impactful area of research.
The Diagrams conference series is the only one of its kind, providing a unified platform for scholars engaged in the study of diagrams from a range of disciplinary perspectives. DIAGRAMS’24 was the fourteenth such event to be held since the series commenced in 2000. The multidisciplinary nature of Diagrams encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer science, education, graphic design, history of science, human-computer interaction, linguistics, logic, mathematics, philosophy, psychology, and many more. Since 2000, the conference series has attracted a significant number of researchers from these interrelated fields, establishing Diagrams as a major international event in the field of study.
DIAGRAMS’24 featured six tracks covering diverse aspects of diagrammatic studies. These included the main track, focusing on reasoning models, aesthetics, and multimodal communication; the philosophy track, which focuses into epistemology, logic, and mathematical reasoning; and the psychology & education track, exploring the cognitive and sociocultural roles of diagrams. Complementing these were workshops, tutorials, and a graduate symposium that offered early-career researchers a platform to present their ideas in a supportive setting.
The highlights included three keynote addresses from distinguished speakers:
These exciting keynote talks sparked thoughtful discussions among participants. Coffee breaks and informal sessions proved to be just as important as the formal presentations, providing spaces for meaningful exchanges and networking.
A total of 80 submissions were reviewed for the conference, with 44 ultimately accepted across the main tracks, the philosophy track and the psychology & education Track. Seven out of ten tutorial proposals were accepted. Three workshop proposals and six student submissions were accepted. This rigorous selection process highlighted the high standards and diversity of the field, as well as the depth of engagement with specialized topics and emerging research.
Germany, the USA, and Japan contributed the majority of authors, although submissions came from as far afield as Argentina, China, and Australia, underscoring the global nature of this research community.
While DIAGRAMS 2024 may have drawn to a close, its proceedings remain accessible online (Springer Link), offering valuable insights into the evolving use of diagrams across disciplines. The conference demonstrated the enduring relevance of visual tools in tackling complex ideas and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration.
The Best Paper Award went to Can Baskent: Playing Games with Diagrams: Truth Diagrams and Game Semantics. The Best Student Paper Award went to Ran Lu (and Emmanuel Manalo): Chinese Children’ Drawing in Science Class.
Photos by Reetu Bhattacharjee