Workshops

Workshops are graciously hosted by Duke’s Center for Data and Visualization Sciences. Live workshops and information on registration will be listed here. Additionally, links to several previously recorded workshops are provided below.

Live workshops

Jan 16

Learn R: Introduction to RStudio, Importing Data, and Running Code

Location: Online
Time: 12:00 pm - 01:00 pm
Description: R is a data science and data visualization tool which, when combined with RStudio, the Tidyverse, and Quarto, provides a powerful and flexible environment for reproducible research. This workshop will introduce you to the RStudio IDE interface, coding notebooks, packages, importing data into R, and running basic code to manipulate data. This event is open to non-Duke participants.
Register: Click here to register.

Jan 20

Intro to Tableau: Easy charts and maps

Location: Online
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Description: Tableau Public (available for both Windows and Mac) is incredibly useful free software that allows individuals to quickly and easily explore their data with a wide variety of visual representations, as well as create interactive web-based visualization dashboards. This workshop will focus on using Tableau Public to create data visualizations, starting with an overview of how the program thinks about data, common data manipulation and loading, and the terminology used. Activities will include a sample data visualization and mapping project, which will give people hands-on experience using Tableau’s basic chart types and dashboard creation tools. We will also discuss publishing to the Tableau Public web server and related services and tools, like the full Tableau Desktop application (free for full-time students). This event is open to non-Duke participants.
Register: Click here to register.

Jan 23

Learn R: Data Wrangling and Tidying

Location: Online
Time: 12:00 pm - 01:00 pm
Description: R is a data science and data visualization tool which, when combined with RStudio, the Tidyverse, and Quarto, provides a powerful and flexible environment for reproducible research. This workshop will cover core data manipulation techniques including grouping, aggregating, and tidying. This event is open to non-Duke participants.
Register: Click here to register.

Jan 28

Story Maps

Location: Online
Time: 01:00 pm - 02:30 pm
Description: 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. This event is open to non-Duke participants.
Register: Click here to register.

Jan 30

Learn R: Visualizing Data using ggplot2

Location: Online
Time: 12:00 pm - 01:00 pm
Description: Learn how to produce publication-quality plots using the ggplot2 R package. We will demystify key concepts such as aesthetics, geometries, facets and themes, and show how to use the grammar of ggplot2 to create customized plots. This event is open to non-Duke participants.
Register: Click here to register.

Feb 06

Learn R: Mapping

Location: Online
Time: 12:00 pm - 01:00 pm
Description: 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 event is open to non-Duke participants.
Register: Click here to register.

Feb 06

Visualizing Data Responsibly: Communicating with accuracy, clarity, and transparency

Location: Online
Time: 03:00 pm - 04:30 pm
Description: Even well-meaning researchers can unintentionally introduce bias when visualizing their findings. In this workshop, we’ll explore how human perception shapes what audiences see, and how that can sometimes differ from what you intend to show. Through examples and discussion, we’ll cover common pitfalls to avoid and practical principles for designing visualizations that are clear, accurate, and responsibly crafted. This event is open to non-Duke participants.
Register: Click here to register.

Feb 10

Introduction to Address Geocoding

Location: Online
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Description: Projects involving location data often require geocoding: converting addresses into mappable points for visualization and analysis. This workshop will introduce the geocoding process, discuss the advantages and limitations of several geocoding tools, and review best practices for improving the quality of results. We’ll also cover approaches for more challenging cases, including historical data, international addresses, data with specific security needs, and high-volume processing. Participants will have time to practice during hands-on exercise. No prior experience with GIS software is required. This event is open to non-Duke participants.
Register: Click here to register.

Feb 13

Learn R: Interactive plots with ggplot2 and ggiraph

Location: Online
Time: 12:00 pm - 01:00 pm
Description: This workshop will cover how to easily add interactivity (i.e., hover features) to ggplot2 graphics using the ggiraph package. It is designed to give participants more opportunities to practice visualizing data using ggplot2 and to explore how interactivity can add more context to plots both in the exploratory and communication phases. This event is open to non-Duke participants.
Register: Click here to register.

Feb 18

Visualizing data with ChatGPT

Location: Online
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Description: AI has become a reasonable tool for producing data visualizations without coding or learning Excel, Tableau, or other software, but expertise is still required to guide it to an effective chart. In this introductory workshop we’ll show you an example of uploading public data to ChatGPT, prompting past the initial (usually pretty bad) first draft, then finishing by downloading the script that produced the final chart as a record for reproducibility. We’ll also discuss strategies for checking the results and things to watch out for so you can verify LLM’s output. Finally, if you have access to a LLM (e.g., ChatGPT, DukeGPT, Claude.ai, MS Copilot) that lets you upload a CSV of PDF file, we’ll give you some new data and a chance to try the process yourself. This event is open to non-Duke participants.
Register: Click here to register.

Feb 19

Feb 20

Learn R: Geospatial Data

Location: Online
Time: 12:00 pm - 01:00 pm
Description: The R language has become a popular option for working with geospatial data. Compared to traditional GIS software, the code-driven approach of R can be more reproducible and efficient. This workshop gives participants the skills to perform geospatial workflows entirely within R. We will discuss how different types of geospatial data work in R, review useful data sources, and walk through common examples of data operations. This event is open to non-Duke participants.
Register: Click here to register.

Feb 24

Intro to Power BI: Easy interactive reports

Location: Online
Time: 12:00 pm - 01:30 pm
Description: Power BI is a dynamic data visualization tool from Microsoft that allows you to connect to data sources, structure data models, and create interactive reports. Many analysts choose Power BI for its user-friendly interface, integration with other Microsoft products, and relative affordability. This workshop will cover the basics of how to import data, use simple functions to establish a data model, and build a variety of interactive visuals (e.g., bars, lines, maps, tables, and cards). You’ll also learn how to publish, export, and share your reports. This event is open to non-Duke participants.
Register: Click here to register.

Mar 05

Data Storytelling: Designing Power Point Presentations

Location: Online
Time: 12:00 pm - 01:00 pm
Description: In this session, we will explore ways to make PowerPoint slides clearer, more engaging, and easier for audiences to follow. We will cover visual design basics, how to organize information effectively, and techniques for guiding audience attention. We will also touch on simple approaches to presenting data clearly. Participants will pick up practical techniques they can use right away to strengthen their presentations. This event is open to non-Duke participants.
Register: Click here to register.