Tim’s research concerns many different aspects of Information Visualisation and Visual Analytics – that is, visual interfaces for exploring and communicating data. An area of key interest is network visualisation, and its critical role in helping people to understand complex, interlinked data. Network visualisation is already widely used in disciplines like software engineering, biology and social network analysis. However, Tim considers it can play a greater role in many other areas of our lives if we can present complex information to people in an understandable and engaging way.

Much of his work has focused on the problem of finding high-quality layout for network diagrams. To create such diagrams automatically, we must compute positions for nodes and paths for links that are both readable and aesthetically pleasing. This computation is a significant optimisation challenge that tests the limits of current technologies. He is also interested in developing novel representations of data and all aspects of interaction design for data exploration.