Stellenbosch University Library and Information Service - News from research support services

Category: #SmartResearcher

#SmartResearcher webinars in September

Spring feels like it is coming early this year so hopefully we’ll have a proper Spring Day on 1 September. What you can also look forward to in September is our next batch of #SmartResearcher webinars! The focus in September will be on all things data, how to manage it, how to preserve it and also, how to visualise it! We have workshops on MS Power Bi, Tableau Desktop, Flourish. In addition, if you need to preserve your data and want to learn more, have a look at our upcoming webinar about SUNScholarData. We also have our monthly EndNote for Reference Management webinar if you want to brush up on the tool, or if you are finally ready to switch over from Mendeley. We look forward to seeing you and helping you with your research!

These workshops are aimed at postgraduate students, emerging researchers and academic staff and the focus will be on the research process. The sessions vary in length depending on the subject matter, but cover a wide range of subjects related to the postgraduate research journey.
Principles of Data Visualisation

This workshop will cover the key principles to keep in mind when you are planning your visualisations, from choosing the best visualisation type for your data to the effective use of colour, narrative, etc.

Date: Tuesday, 3 September

Time: 14:00 – 15:30

Register Here

Overview of software for effective data analysis and data visualisation

An overview of tools and free software for data analysis and data visualisation will be presented. These tools are useful for statistical analysis, visualisation, mapping, data cleaning and the digital humanities.

Date: Thursday, 5 September

Time: 14:00 – 16:00

Register Here

EndNote for reference management

EndNote 21 offers various services, including reference management, organising and annotation of PDF documents and collaboration. In this session, we will show you how to download and install EndNote and how to set up your account.

Date: Wednesday, 18 September 2024

Time: 11:00 – 13:00

Register Here

Introduction to Tableau Desktop and Flourish for data visualisation

This workshop will be an introductory course to visualise your data with Tableau Desktop and Flourish. Both tools are free for students and academics and are fairly user friendly.

Date: Thursday, 19 September 2024

Time: 14:00 – 16:00

Register Here

Introduction to Microsoft Power BI

The workshop will be a hands-on introduction to Power BI, available for free through SU’s subscription to Microsoft 365.

Participants will learn the following:

·         How to install the desktop application and connect to Microsoft Excel

·         Start visualising data easily with an extensive library of data visualisations.

·         How to build reports and dashboards

Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2024

Time: 14:00 – 16:00

Register Here

Tableau for Intermediate Users

This is an intermediate-level workshop focusing on visual data analysis skills using Tableau Desktop software. Tableau stands out as one of the global leaders in business intelligence software and finds extensive application in universities for teaching and learning by academic staff.

Date: Thursday, 26 September 2024

Time: 11:00 – 13:00

Register Here

An overview of SUNScholarData – the SU institutional data repository

Many funders mandate that data collected in the process of conducting research funded by them is deposited in reputable repositories, this workshop will provide an overview of research data repositories and demonstrate the manner in which the SU’s Institutional Research Data Repository functions.

Date: Thursday, 26 September 2024

Time: 14:00 – 16:00

Register Here

 

#SmartResearcher webinars for September

September’s #SmartResearcher webinars will focus on improving your research impact and the visibility of your research, data sharing and dissemination, data visualisation with tools such as MS PowerBI, Tableau Public and RawGraphs and, finally, an introduction to ORCID and why it is such a valuable resource for researchers. Below is the list of the upcoming webinars:

 

These workshops are aimed at postgraduate students, emerging researchers and academic staff and the focus will be on the research process. The sessions vary in length depending on the subject matter, but cover a wide range of subjects related to the postgraduate research journey.

Maximise your research impact

This workshop will show how to improve your impact as a researcher. The following two sessions will be presented:

Session 1: Increase the visibility of your research (1 hour)

Participants will learn to:

  • Find and navigate social research networks (ResearchGate, Academia.edu, Mendeley, etc.)
  • Develop research profiles
  • Understand how to increase your visibility as researcher
  • Understand the role of science communication and social media

Session 2: Measure your impact (1 hour)

Participants will learn about:

  • The different citation metrics and altmetrics and where to find it
  • Awareness of methods to increase citations
  • Responsible use of metrics

Date: 21 September 2023 @ 14:00-16:00

Register Here

Enhancing the visibility of your research output through self-archiving

Stellenbosch University’s institutional policy on the self-archiving of research output is curated by the Library and Information Service. Complying with this policy, which asks researchers to deposit copies of their research output in SUNScholar, our institutional repository, can greatly increase the visibility and impact of research output. This workshop will teach participants more about the policy and how to comply with the policy in order to improve access to and visibility of their research outputs.

Date: 6 September 2023 @ 14h00 – 15h30

Register Here

Data sharing and dissemination: ethical and legal considerations

The workshop is designed to illuminate the methods and platforms of data sharing and highlights various ways in which data can be shared and disseminated within acceptable ethical and legal considerations.

Date: 7 September 2023 @ 14h00 – 16h00

Register Here

Data Visualisation with Power BI

The workshop will be a hands-on introduction to Power BI, available for free through SU’s subscription to Microsoft 365.

Participants will learn the following:

  • How to install the desktop application and connect to Microsoft Excel
  • Start visualising data easily with an extensive library of data visualisations.
  • How to build reports and dashboards

Date: 19 September 2023 @ 14h00 – 16h00

Register Here

Mendeley for reference management

Managing your references can be a daunting task. This workshop will introduce you to Mendeley, a free tool focusing mainly on reference management. Mendeley offers various services, including reference management, organising and annotation of PDF documents and collaboration.

Date: 20 September 2023 @ 11h00 – 13h00

Register Here

Introduction to Tableau Public and RawGraphs for data visualisation

This workshop will be an introductory course to visualise your data with Tableau Public and RAWGraphs. Both are free tools and fairly user friendly.

Date: 26 September 2023 @ 14h00 – 16h00

Register Here

Managing your unique author identity with ORCID

ORCID is an open, non-profit, community-driven effort to create and maintain a registry of unique researcher identifiers and a transparent method of linking research activities and outputs to these identifiers. This workshop will explain what ORCID is, how to register and populate your profiles.

Date: 28 September 2023 @ 14h00 – 15h00

Register Here

#SmartResearcher Webinars in September

#SmartResearcher webinars continue in September. Please see below more information about the webinars.

 Kindly note that you will receive a link to MS Teams for every session that you register.

These workshops are aimed at postgraduate students, emerging researchers and academic staff and the focus will be on the research process. The sessions vary in length depending on the subject matter, but cover a wide range of subjects related to the postgraduate research journey.

Tips on how to format your thesis (MS Word)

This workshop will help you work around some of the common formatting glitches most postgraduate students experience, whilst getting their document ready for submission.

Date: Tuesday, 13 September, 11h00 – 13h00

Please book here

Mendeley for reference management

Managing your references can be a daunting task. This workshop will introduce you to Mendeley, a free tool focusing mainly on reference management. Mendeley offers various services, including reference management, organising and annotation of PDF documents and collaboration.

Date: Thursday, 15 September, 11h00 – 12h30

Please book here

How to use the Institutional Research Data Repository, SUNScholarData

Many funders mandate that data collected in the process of conducting research funded by them is deposited in reputable repositories, this workshop will provide an overview of research data repositories and demonstrate the manner in which the SU’s Institutional Research Data Repository functions.

Date: Tuesday, 20 September, 14h00 – 16h00

Please book here

Making important decisions about publishing your research

This hands-on session covers important factors to help you decide where to publish your research. Making the right choices can increase readership and citations, diminish publication lag and ensure that your publication is eligible for government subsidy.

Date: Wednesday, 21 September, 10h00 – 13h00

Please book here

Enhancing the visibility of your research output through self-archiving

Stellenbosch University’s institutional policy on the self-archiving of research output is curated by the Library and Information Service. Complying with this policy, which asks researchers to deposit copies of their research output in SUNScholar, our institutional repository, can greatly increase the visibility and impact of research output. This workshop will teach participants more about the policy and how to comply with the policy in order to improve access to and visibility of their research outputs.

Date: Thursday, 22 September, 11h00 – 12h30

Please book here

Maximise your research impact

This workshop will show how to improve your impact as a researcher.

Date: Tuesday, 27 September, 14h00 – 16h00

Please book here

Data Visualisation with Power BI

The workshop will be a hands-on introduction to Power BI, available for free through SU’s subscription to Microsoft 365.

Participants will learn the following:

  • How to install the desktop application and connect to Microsoft Excel
  • Start visualising data easily with an extensive library of data visualisations.
  • How to build reports and dashboards

Date: Wednesday, 28 September, 11h00 – 13h00

Please book here

Introduction to Tableau Public and RawGraphs for data visualisation

This workshop will be an introductory course to visualise your data with Tableau Public and RAWGraphs. Both are free tools and fairly user friendly.

Date: Thursday, 29 September, 14h00 – 16h00

Please book here