I’m Catherine D’Ignazio, Director of the Data + Feminism Lab and an Associate Professor of Urban Science and Planning at MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning.

I’m interested in creative ways to democratize data science, AI, and technology for social justice. I’m the co-author of the 2020 book Data Feminism together with Lauren F. Klein. My latest book, Counting Feminicide: Data Feminism in Action (MIT Press 2024), describes transnational, Latin American and Indigenous data activism about fatal gender-related violence. I co-lead the research and participatory design project Data Against Feminicide with Isadora Cruxên, Silvana Fumega, and Helena Suárez Val. I make public art & design projects, write software code & research papers, teach urban planning and computer science students, run data storytelling workshops (often with Rahul Bhargava) and feminist hackathons. I’m a compulsive collaborator, joiner and organizer and affiliated with the below organizations. I am also on the board of directors of Indigenous Women Rising, an amazing group of Native women, queer and non-binary innovators who are committed to honoring Native & Indigenous People’s inherent right to equitable and culturally safe health options through accessible health education, resources and advocacy. More about me…

I have a new book, Counting Feminicide, coming out April 30th from MIT Press. Join me at one of these upcoming events to learn more about it.

Or you can listen to me talk about Counting Feminicide on the below podcasts (links coming soon).

• Reimagining the Internet with Ethan Zuckerman
• Subject to Power with Elle Kamihira
• Hablemos del Futuro con Elena Estavillo