announced.
Professor Rosling, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a year ago,
passed away in Uppsala in Sweden.
"Across the world, millions of people use our tools and share our
vision of a fact-based worldview that everyone can understand," his Gapminder
co-founders said.
"We know that many will be saddened by this message. Hans is no
longer alive, but he will always be with us and his dream of a fact-based
worldview, we will never let die!"
A professor of global health at Sweden's Karolinska Institute, Professor
Rosling decided to "drop out" in 2007 to devote his time to
Gapminder, which allows users to create their own data visualisations.
He co-founded the foundation with his son Ola Rosling and daughter-in-law
Anna Ronlund in 2005.
The Swede rose to fame in 2006 after showcasing his unique approach at a
conference organised by TED, the forum for new ideas.
Professor Rosling staged a 20-minute presentation that was so original
and unforgettable that he was forced to pause his lecture and wait for a round
of applause or a roar of laughter to die down. He has since garnered a
reputation as the “man in whose hands data sings”.
Bill Gates paid tribute to Professor Rosling on Twitter.
"A great friend, educator and true inspiration for our work. Melinda
and I are saddened by the loss of Hans Rosling," said the philanthropist,
who has said one of the main reasons behind his decision to donate billions of
dollars to healthcare projects in the developing world was down to a Rosling
presentation on the issue.
.
A great friend, educator and true inspiration for our work. Melinda and I are saddened by the loss of Hans Rosling: gapminder.org/news/sad-to-an…
Jens Stoltenberg, Nato Secretary general, said a "giant has passed
away". "Hans Rosling made change possible by sharing his
extraordinary knowledge. A friend that will be missed by many," he said.
.
A giant has passed away. @HansRosling made change possible by sharing his extraordinary knowledge. A friend that will be missed by many.
Carl Bildt, the former Swedish prime minister, said: "In a time of
doubt and pessimism, Hans Rosling made human progress across our world come
alive for millions."
In an
interview with The Telegraph in 2013, Professor Rosling shot
down the notion that statistics were dry.
“Statistics take up four pages in most daily newspapers – stock values
and sport [league tables]. People don’t find these boring at all, but they
don’t think of them as ‘statistics’," he said.
"If you support Man United or Arsenal, or if your stock falling
means you can’t go on holiday, you are interested. It’s only boring if you get
data you didn’t ask for, or if you don’t realise its link with the real
world.”
Melinda Gates, of the Gates Foundation, said she "adored" him
for the way he debunked myths about the changing world, including fears
of massive overpopulation due to decreasing child mortality.
"I've watched people have this 'aha' moment when Hans speaks,"
Melinda Gates of the Gates Foundation told the journal Nature last
year. "He breaks these myths in such a gentle way."
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