Upcoming Workshops

Presented by John Little

[Online] Part of the Rfun series. R and the Tidyverse are a data-first coding language that enables reproducible workflows. In this two-part workshop, you’ll learn the fundamentals of R, everything you need to know to quickly get started. You’ll learn about visualization using ggplot2, how to make interactive charts for use in dashboards, how to reshape and merge data, and be introduced to models.

Part 2 requires the familiarity of part 1.  By the end of part 2 you will have a familiarity with the grammar of graphics, be introduced to interactivity techniques, be able to invoke data joins and pivots, and gain an introduction to linear regression.

This event is offered virtually. A zoom link will be sent via email to registered participants to join the workshop. We will use the flipped classroom model.  Quickstart videos will be distributed one week prior to the event.

The content of the workshop may be recorded. If you are uncomfortable with a recording being published, please contact the instructor at anytime prior to the conclusion of the workshop.

Data Science

Presented by Drew Keener

[Online] This workshop will help you get started telling stories with maps on the ArcGIS StoryMaps platform. This easy-to-use web application combines interactive maps with narrative text, images, and videos to provide a powerful communication tool for any project with a spatial component. We will explore the capabilities of the platform, share best practices for designing effective stories, and guide participants through the process of creating their own story maps.

No previous experience with GIS is necessary.

This event is offered virtually. A zoom link will be sent via email to registered participants to join the workshop.

The content of the workshop may be recorded. If you are uncomfortable with a recording being published, please contact the instructor at any time prior to the conclusion of the workshop.

Mapping & GIS

Presented by Drew Keener

[Online] Part of the DataFest workshop series. This workshop introduces the use of the R language for producing maps. We will demonstrate the advantages of a code-drive approach such as R for visualizing geospatial data. Participants will gain the skills to quickly and efficiently create a variety of map types for a website, presentation, or publication. In addition to working on hands-on coding exercises, we will also review practical guidance on designing effective maps.

This workshop is a companion to Geospatial Data in R: Processing and Analysis, which focuses on data analysis more than visualization.

Attendees will need basic familiarity with R and RStudio to follow along with the exercises. Knowledge of tidyverse packages such as ggplot2 and dplyr is also helpful.

This event is offered virtually. A zoom link will be sent via email to registered participants to join the workshop.

The content of the workshop may be recorded. If you are uncomfortable with a recording being published, please contact the instructor at any time prior to the conclusion of the workshop.

Mapping & GIS, Data Science

Presented by Mark Thomas

[Online] ArcGIS Pro is the newer alternative interface to the tried-and-true ArcGIS Desktop software (ArcMap), with essentially the same functions, but with more of a MS-Office feel. As a native 64-bit program, it also has superior performance. There are a few nice feature enhancements such as multiple layouts in a single project, and it's more fully integrated with ArcGIS Online (see schedule for workshops on ArcGIS Online or on StoryMaps).

ArcGIS Pro can help you analyze or visualize digital data that has a locational component, and we'll discuss starting points for obtaining data. Examples will focus on social science data and feature (vector) layers, but attendees are encouraged to ask questions regarding their own needs and will be welcome to make one-on-one appointments later for more focused instruction. This is an introductory class, and it's not necessary to be familiar with GIS software beforehand.

Attendees should have access to ArcGIS Pro. These are the options for Duke affiliates:

1. OIT Download: Current Duke University students, faculty, and staff can get a free copy to install on their own Windows computer, or a Mac with virtual machine software installed (e.g., VMware or Parallels).
2. Virtual Computing Manager (VCM) from Duke's Office of Information Technology (OIT) allows Duke users to check out a virtual machine with ArcGIS installed and connect via a remote connection.

This event is offered virtually. A zoom link will be sent via email to registered participants to join the workshop.

The content of the workshop may be recorded. If you are uncomfortable with a recording being published, please contact the instructor at anytime prior to the conclusion of the workshop.

Mapping & GIS

Presented by Eric Monson

[Online] Part of the DataFest workshop series. In this workshop, you will learn the basics of using Adobe Illustrator, the professional standard in vector graphics software for creating diagrams and infographics. Many people avoid using it because of its steep learning curve, but you will see that it is quite easy to combine simple shapes to create interesting and clear diagrams, and to give all your work that professional edge. There are no prerequisites.

If you are going to work along with the exercises, which is highly recommended, you will need to have a copy of Adobe Illustrator. For Duke students it is free – just download and install the Adobe Creative Cloud from Duke OIT Software. For Duke faculty and staff there is unfortunately a $150 yearly fee for the license.

This event is offered virtually. A zoom link will be sent via email to registered participants to join the workshop.

The content of the workshop may be recorded. If you are uncomfortable with a recording being published, please contact the instructor at any time prior to the conclusion of the workshop.

Data Visualization

Presented by John Little

[Online] Part of the Rfun series and DataFest workshop series. R and the Tidyverse are a data-first coding language that enables reproducible workflows. In this two-part workshop, you’ll learn the fundamentals of R, everything you need to know to quickly get started. You’ll learn about visualization using ggplot2, how to make interactive charts for use in dashboards, how to reshape and merge data, and be introduced to models.

Part 2 requires the familiarity of part 1.  By the end of part 2 you will have a familiarity with the grammar of graphics, be introduced to interactivity techniques, be able to invoke data joins and pivots, and gain an introduction to linear regression.

This event is offered virtually. A zoom link will be sent via email to registered participants to join the workshop. We will use the flipped classroom model.  Quickstart videos will be distributed one week prior to the event.

The content of the workshop may be recorded. If you are uncomfortable with a recording being published, please contact the instructor at anytime prior to the conclusion of the workshop.

Data Science

Presented by Drew Keener

[Online] Tableau is a software package that is popular for creating striking visualizations, such as charts and graphs. It also has an increasing number of capabilities to create maps. In this workshop, will introduce some of the mapping features in Tableau. Participants will learn how to create several types of maps from geospatial datasets and tabular data that include locational values, such as place names or coordinates. We will also discuss best practices for designing effective maps.

To maximize the amount of hands-on time working with Tableau, participants are expected to watch recorded instruction that we will share prior to the workshop. During the workshop time we will work together on a few assignments to practice the materiel covered in the tutorial video. This work time is designed to give you a chance to try to use Tableau Public or Desktop to create interactive maps, along with others at a similar level, in an environment where you can ask questions live.

Duke students at are eligible for a free one-year license to activate Tableau Desktop. Faculty and staff may also request a free license to use for teaching and non-commercial academic research. Be aware that it can take a few days to receive your academic license. A free Public Edition is also available to everyone. Please contact the instructor before the workshop if you have any issues installing Tableau. 

This event is offered virtually. A zoom link will be sent via email to registered participants to join the workshop.

The content of the workshop may be recorded. If you are uncomfortable with a recording being published, please contact the instructor at anytime prior to the conclusion of the workshop.

Mapping & GIS, Data Visualization

Presented by Eric Monson

[Online] Part of the DataFest workshop series. Python can be a great option for exploration, analysis and visualization of tabular data, such as spreadsheets and CSV files, if you know which tools to use and how to get started. This workshop will take you through some practical examples of using Python and specifically the Pandas module to load data from files, access that data, and start visualizing it with the Pandas built-in plotting functions. You will also get some experience working in JupyterLab, the flexible programming environment which contain Jupyter Notebooks, a file browser, and more.

Note: This is an introductory workshop on the Pandas module, but you’ll probably be more comfortable following along if you have at least a little bit of experience using the Python programming language, since I won’t be spending time on the language itself. (Feel free to sign up no matter what your experience level, but past students with no Python or programming experience have found it too confusing to be useful.)

Anaconda Python distribution (Individual Edition): 
https://www.anaconda.com/products/individual

I strongly recommend that you install the Anaconda Python Distribution to use in class. In principle, if you have something above Python 3.7 or so, plus all the necessary modules, everything should work fine. But, the Anaconda Distribution is packaged nicely, can be installed without admin privileges, and comes with everything you’ll need. If you have another version of Python already installed and you’re going to install Anaconda, it’s best to uninstall the other version first. It can get to be a mess if you have multiple versions of Python installed on one machine. 

Go to the link above, hit Download, and choose the version for your operating system. I would recommend to just install for “yourself”, not for all users of the machine, since that way it will install everything in your Users/username folder and doesn’t require admin privileges. 

If you’re on Mac and aren’t comfortable with shell scripts on the command line, choose the Graphical Installer. 

On Windows, I would choose the 64-bit installer, unless you know you’re still running a 32-bit version of Windows on an older machine. 

If you’re sticking with your non-Anaconda version of Python, make sure you have JupyterLab, Pandas, and all of their respective dependencies installed.

Please try to launch Python and JupyterLab before class to make sure they’re working! JupyterLab can be started from the Anaconda Navigator application, or from the Anaconda Prompt (Windows) or a Terminal (Mac) by typing (without quotes) “jupyter lab” and hitting return. From a Python notebook or an interactive Python prompt, you can test out the main modules you’ll need by typing this and executing the code cell:

import pandas as pd

This event is offered virtually. A zoom link will be sent via email to registered participants to join the workshop.

The content of the workshop may be recorded. If you are uncomfortable with a recording being published, please contact the instructor at any time prior to the conclusion of the workshop.

Data Visualization, Data Science

Presented by Eric Monson

[Online] Poster sessions are an incredible opportunity to share our work with a broader audience, get feedback, and network with our peers, as well as potential employers, funders and collaborators. Our careers often depend on performing well in these exciting and often chaotic venues, but few of us are trained in graphic design and visual storytelling! In this talk, I will present some principles for creating an effective academic poster, and introduce you to a group critique process that should help you tell your story more clearly and stand out from the crowd.

You don't need any software installed for this workshop – it is a talk with an interactive portion at the end.

This event is offered virtually. A zoom link will be sent via email to registered participants to join the workshop.

The content of the workshop may be recorded. If you are uncomfortable with a recording being published, please contact the instructor at anytime prior to the conclusion of the workshop.

Data Visualization