Pick N Mix is a tasty selection of free, online workshops run by members of the ODM community where you get introduced to a new tool, resource or skill in a fun and friendly way.
After launching the season one in the first UK COVID-19 lockdown, we’re now on the hunt for new or former presenters to share what they know in our third series, starting in late spring 2021.
For ideas and inspiration, you can find out everything we’ve learned so far on the links below… once you’re ready get in touch!
Series 2
Tricks and Hacks for Google Sheets – Mor Rubinstein introduces some cool functionality that is unique to Google Sheets and discusses how it can be useful to your work.
Text-mining in Python – Dr Julia Kasmire, from the UK Data Service, gives use an introduction to the theory and practice of data mining, as well as some ideas for how to get started.
Data sonification – how to make a song with data using R – Jamie Whyte, one of the directors of Open Data Manchester, tells us why he “quite likes” the less-explored practice of turning data into sound.
Machine learning fundamentals in R – Nathan Khadaroo-McCheyne, from the University of Manchester, introduces the different understandings of machine learning, gives us a demo of using TinyModels using penguin data, with a final exercise to try yourself.
Series 1
An introduction to OpenStreetMap – the free, editable map of the world, created and maintained by a huge international community.
Mapping with QGIS – using this open-source GIS application, Dr Sam Langton from Manchester Metropolitan University, explored the fundamentals, including how to perform some preliminary visual explorations.
An Introduction to the UK Data Service – the UK Data Service holds the UK’s largest collection of research data, and Dr Julia Kasmire showed the different types of data the service holds and how to get access to datasets in various formats.
An Introduction to Web-Scraping – Dr Diarmuid McDonnal from the UK Data Service demonstrates step-by-step processes for capturing text-based data from websites.
An Introduction to Data Analysis using Python – Dr John Carney, from PyDataMCR and PDFTA, talked us through how to load CSV data into an interactive Python environment, showed some basic operations and explored visualisations.
An Introduction to SQL and Databases – Peter Smyth, from the Cathie Marsh Institute, covered a simple description of database systems and an introduction to SQL, which allows for the efficient extraction of data from a database.
Key Issues in Re-Using Data – Patty Doran, from the UK Data Service, covered the pros and cons of reusing data and the importance of learning about the origins of your data, including examples and issues of context, sampling and ethics.
Creating Lava Lamp Plots Using R – Jamie Whyte, from Open Data Manchester, showed us how to create the ‘Indices of Deprivation vs Political Control’ violin plots using programming language R.
An Introduction to Github – Dr Rachael Ainsworth, from Her+Data MCR and the University of Manchester, guided us through the basics of Github, including a tutorial on setting up a repository, plus version control, best practice and jargon busting.
Accessing Open Data Through APIs – Dr Reka Solymosi, from the University of Manchester, explored what an API is and how to make API calls to access open data.