CCDHHN

Research Data Management for Humanities Researchers
2026-05-05 00:00 - 2026-05-08 23:59 (America/Halifax) | St Francis Xavier University, 4130 University Ave, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, B2G 2W5, Canada
Dates: May 5th 2026 to May 8th 2026

Instructors:Shahira Khair, University of Victoria LibrariesSandra Sawchuck, Mount Saint Vincent Libraries

This intensive four-day hands-on workshop is designed for humanities researchers who want to actively apply best practices in research data management in their own research projects. Recognizing the unique and diverse nature of humanities data—from digitized texts and images, to audio recordings and cultural artifacts—the workshop provides practical, actionable strategies across the entire research data lifecycle, from initial planning to long-term preservation and reuse.

This is a “bring your own data” workshop! Participants should arrive with the research materials they are seeking help in managing. This can be from an existing project or one you are just embarking on! (And we can point you in some directions if you are looking for data!)

Participants will gain proficiency in developing comprehensive Data Management Plans (DMPs), essential for navigating funder requirements (e.g. SSHRC, NEH) and streamlining project workflows. Through practical exercises, the curriculum emphasizes effective organization and documentation of research materials, use of software for analysis and automation, and the critical role of metadata in ensuring data discoverability and long-term reusability. Sessions will cover secure storage solutions and long-term preservation techniques to safeguard valuable research materials.

A significant focus is placed on the ethical dimensions inherent in many research areas in the humanities, addressing sensitive data, informed consent, use of AI, and the crucial principles of cultural sensitivity and Indigenous data sovereignty. The workshop also guides researchers through strategic data sharing by exploring appropriate repositories (disciplinary and generalist), applying robust curation practices, and navigating licensing and persistent identifiers to maximize research impact and compliance with evolving funder and publisher requirements. Upon completion, attendees will be empowered to confidently manage, preserve, and ethically share their research, enhancing the integrity, accessibility, and scholarly impact of their work.

Max Participants: 25

Data Management Plan Bootcamp (In-Person)
2026-05-12 00:00 - 23:59 | McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada
Date: May 12 2026

Let us be your body double with this in-person bootcamp! Data Management Plans (DMPs) are both incredibly helpful research tools and increasingly required for grants but it can hard to know how to complete a Data Management Plan if it’s your first time. If you’re in the process of creating a DMP, either for a grant application or for your own research, join RDM Services for this afternoon session. The RDM services team will provide tailored guidance as you write your plan on site, and we’ll have some light snacks and refreshments to keep you going. Come away with a clear path forward or even a finished DMP!

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Identify the 5 key components of a data management plan (DMP).

Compare strong and weak responses in each section of a DMP.

Develop a tailored outline, or potentially a complete draft, of their own DMP!

This participatory session is especially relevant for researchers at all levels in the beginning stages of a research project or streamlining best practices for their research team. Pair this with our Data Deposit Bootcamp May 19, 2026 for a spring research data management intensive for graduate researchers and research staff. Come on your own, send your research staff, or bring your whole research group. Let us know if you’re joining as a research team – we’ll make sure you get a table to work together at!

Details: Any preparatory work for the session can be found on its information page. This workshop will not be recorded.

Facilitator Bio:

Isaac Pratt (he/him) is a research scientist by training and has a PhD in Anatomy & Cell Biology. He leverages nearly a decade of interdisciplinary research experience to help support students, staff, and faculty. His expertise lies in questions surrounding data storage, security, planning, archival, and sharing. Isaac also provides support and curation services for McMaster Dataverse. His other interests include reproducible research methods, open science, and data science.

Danica Evering holds expansive experience with research support, education, project management, advocacy, and knowledge translation; with fluency in social practice art, healthcare, community research, data, and systems development. Danica supports students, postdocs, faculty, and staff with RDM through the data lifecycle—Data Management Plans, storage and backup, data security, data sharing. With an MA in Media Studies from Concordia, they are interested in fostering RDM within curious scholars and disciplines.

Certificate Eligibility: This workshop is eligible for the Sherman Centre’s certificate program. For more information, visit scds.ca/certificate-program. It is also eligible for the Canadian Certificate for Digital Humanities. To learn more, visit ccdhhn.ca or contact scds@mcmaster.ca.

Credit Eligibility: This workshop counts toward credit for students in the Faculty of Science who are enrolled in SCIENCE 2SF1: Digital Skills Workshop. For any questions, please contact oursci@mcmaster.ca.

Data Deposit Bootcamp (In-Person)
2026-05-19 00:00 - 23:59 | McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada
Date: May 19 2026

Data deposit and data sharing are increasingly recognized as best practice to support open research, reproducibility, research integrity, collaboration, and more. Disciplines, funders, and journals are increasingly requiring researchers to share or deposit data. But how do you get your dataset ready for sharing? What’s the best repository to share it in? With light snacks and refreshments to sustain you and specialists on-hand to answer any questions, you’ll end this session with ready-to-submit data…or submitted or even published data!

By the end of this 3-hour session, you will be able to:

Identify the appropriate repository for their dataset.

Outline documentation and metadata best practices

Develop a README file that thoroughly describes the dataset being deposited.

Organize datasets in preparation for data deposit, including metadata entry.

If you have a dataset that’s ready for deposit or that you’d like to get deposit ready, bring it along. No dataset? No problem! We have a sample dataset you can use to go through the process and learn how to deposit data.

This session is ideal for researchers, staff, and students preparing to share data for a publication, grant, or project—and for anyone interested in open data best practices. Graduate students who have completed their thesis work are especially encouraged to attend! Pair this with our Data Management Plan Bootcamp May 12, 2026 for a spring research data management intensive for graduate researchers and research staff.

Details: Any preparatory work for the session can be found on its information page. This workshop will not be recorded.

Facilitator Bio:

Isaac Pratt (he/him) is a research scientist by training and has a PhD in Anatomy & Cell Biology. He leverages nearly a decade of interdisciplinary research experience to help support students, staff, and faculty. His expertise lies in questions surrounding data storage, security, planning, archival, and sharing. Isaac also provides support and curation services for McMaster Dataverse. His other interests include reproducible research methods, open science, and data science.

Danica Evering holds expansive experience with research support, education, project management, advocacy, and knowledge translation; with fluency in social practice art, healthcare, community research, data, and systems development. Danica supports students, postdocs, faculty, and staff with RDM through the data lifecycle—Data Management Plans, storage and backup, data security, data sharing. With an MA in Media Studies from Concordia, they are interested in fostering RDM within curious scholars and disciplines.

Certificate Eligibility: This workshop is eligible for the Sherman Centre’s certificate program. For more information, visit scds.ca/certificate-program. It is also eligible for the Canadian Certificate for Digital Humanities. To learn more, visit ccdhhn.ca or contact scds@mcmaster.ca.

Credit Eligibility: This workshop counts toward credit for students in the Faculty of Science who are enrolled in SCIENCE 2SF1: Digital Skills Workshop. For any questions, please contact oursci@mcmaster.ca.Date:
