Jingrong Zhang | 张镜荣


Jingrong’s work explores the intersection of art, design, science, and cities, with a focus on social behavior in public spaces, racial and gender equity, and urban greenery and biodiversity. Her projects have been featured and supported by the Council for the Arts at MIT, World Economic Forum, Venice Biennale, and Shanghai Library. Trained in urban planning, she holds a master’s degree in Applied Urban Science and Informatics from New York University’s Center for Urban Science and Progress.  


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Email: jingrong.zhang@nyu.edu 

CV  


Experience  Research Fellow
MIT Senseable City Lab 
2023 - present

GIS and Mapping Specialist
Data Services, NYU Division of Libraries 
2022 - 2023
EducationNew York University
MS in Applied Urban Science and Informatics
2022

Tianjin University
BEng in Urban Planning 
2020  
ExhibitionStreet Scores
Interactive Installation & Performance, MIT Open Space  
2025 

Eyes on the Street
19th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia 2025 

Re-Leaf
19th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia 2025 

Word as Image 
Shanghai Library  
2023  

Talks   Visual Empathy in the Age of Data
Data | Art Symposium, Harvard University
2025

Visualizing Seshat: Unveiling Patterns in Human History with Seshat Databank
Complexity Science Hub
2024

The Electric Commute: Envisioning 100% Electrified Mobility in NYC
NYC Open Data Week  
2023
Services  
NYC Open Data Ambassador Trainee










 [Street Scores]




About Street Scores uses computer vision to analyze changes in pedestrian behavior over a 30-year period in four public spaces located in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Building on William Whyte’s observational work from 1980, where he manually recorded pedestrian behaviors, we employ computer vision and deep learning techniques to examine video footage from 1980 and 2010.

Explore at https://senseable.mit.edu/street-scores/

Contribution: creative direction, visualization, film editing, documentation 





Dialogue We envision this project as an ongoing dialogue between audience, art, and city.

Street Scores at Kendall/MIT Open Space 

Street Scores is an interactive performance and installation by MIT Senseable City Lab, with music by Tod Machover, supported by the Council for the Arts at MIT (CAMIT). Inspired by urbanist William Whyte’s studies of public space, researchers use computer vision to compare archival footage from the 1980s in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia with scenes from the 2010s. The findings suggest a shift—pedestrians today walk faster and linger less, raising questions about the future of social life on city streets.

In this performance, pedestrian behavior is translated into a musical score and choreographic dance, inviting you to hear and see how the rhythms of public life have changed over time. Come experience the evolving tempo of our cities and reflect on what it means for public space to be truly shared.

Team: 

MIT Senseable City Lab
Director: Carlo Ratti  
Creative direction: Jingrong Zhang, Fábio Duarte 
Music: Tod Machover  
Choreography: Izzi Waitz  
Dance: Kaelyn Dunnell, Shalini Jayarama, Caitlin Peeler, Crystal Tang 
Photography: Sabrina Tian 

MIT Open Space Programming
Jessie Smith, Rachel Watts, Anna Richardson, Noah Phoenix, Maddy Stratton

MIT Audiovisual Services 
Douglas Linford