This is by far one of my favorite interactive graphics. It comes from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation. If I could embed the graphic in this post, I most certainly would.

If you haven’t done so yet, check out the informational video above.

Click on the image to visit the interactive graphic. On this graphic, you can compare geographic regions, causes and risks for death by gender, age range and much more. Where and at what ages are infectious diseases more of an issue? What about so-called lifestyle disease or accidents as a leading cause of mortality?

I promise, this is an informative place to spend your time.

How does this relate to STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Math)? Firstly, looking at the distribution of these health issues is part of a field of study called epidemiology. Creating this type of interactive resource relies on a lot of data that is collected based on GIS (geographic information systems/science) and statistics (mathematics). Understanding health issues have a basis in medical and research science, whether it is to understand the causative agents and how they affect the body or the creation of cures and palliative treatments if there are no direct cures.

One does not even have to look very far in order to see how STEM topics influence and enrich our lives.