BU Research Blog

Digital technologies like google maps have transformed the ways people relate to visual representations of geographic space. From zoom functionality on street view, to rainbow coloured social network graphs, people are engaging their geographical imaginations to produce visual representations that matter to them and their research.

This second Datalabs event introduces participants to mapping tools and techniques for visual analysis and storytelling with spatial data. On Day 1 you will explore open source software for mapping location-linked data, discovering how to scale, symbolise and tell stories with the maps that you make. Then on Day 2 we learn how APIs work to retrieve information from social network sites like twitter and facebook. You will explore how to turn this social media data into maps and create mashups with other data, creating stories for public engagement and finding new, collaborative research questions along the way.

Our innovative datalabs format combines Masterclasses with hands-on workshop sessions to enhance and share skills around working with data for civic and humanitarian research and public engagement. Datalabs involve students and staff from across BU’s faculties, as well as participating NGOs, journalists and digital designers.

Our popular first event was oversubscribed, so register early to take part in this exciting interdisciplinary initiative! Monday April 27th – Tuesday April 28th: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/datalabs-2-maps-and-mashups-tickets-16433088811

Datalabs is a Fusion CCCP Funded project. The project team includes: Dr. Anna Feigenbaum, Dr. Einar Thorsen, Dr. Pippa Gillingham, Professor, Dr.Hamid Bouchachia, Dr. Dan Jackson, Dr. Shelley Thompson, Dr. Nathan Farrell, Dr. Edward Apeh, Dr. Duncan Golicher, Dr. Rebecca Edwards, Robert Munday, Oz Dermirkal and stakeholder coordinator, John Horne. 

The Civic Media hub was established in 2014 and brings together a multidisciplinary, cross-Faculties team of researchers and students that work in collaboration with external stakeholders to co-create effective ways of tackling important social issues. We combine expertise from humanities, social sciences, geography, computer science and data analytics. Bios for the Datalabs team can be found at http://www.civicmedia.io/#team