CCDHHN

Communities Empowered by Data 101: Tools and Best Practices
2026-02-19 00:00 - 23:59 (America/Halifax) | McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada
Date: February 19 2026

Community-led data practices empower and support community-led grassroots actions and initiatives. Data are valuable and we need to work together to take care of them, from the initial planning stages of a project to where it lives after the work is complete. In this 101-level session, we’ll introduce the Community Research Data Toolkit—a new Pressbook filled with guidance and resources to support communities in taking an active role in data management. Topics include using data management plans as tools for building trust, exploring options for long-term community-held data, and more. Following an interactive overview, we’ll save some time to workshop challenges and possibilities through a set of applicable case studies.

Participants will learn to:

Summarize RDM best practices and what Data Management Plans and Data Deposit look like in community-based research

Locate available tools, training, and guidance

Appraise the tools and prepare to implement Community control for data in your work.

This session is designed for non-profits, activists, community organizations, and the researchers and data professionals who work with them!

Details: Any preparatory work for the session can be found on its information page. This virtual workshop will be recorded and shared on the same page, and discoverable via the Sherman Centre’s Online Learning Catalogue.

Facilitator Bio:

Danica Evering holds broad 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.

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.

Subhanya Sivajothy (she/her) brings a background of research in data justice, science and technology studies, and environmental humanities. She is currently thinking through participatory data design which allow for visualizations that are empowering for the end user.

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.

Who's (not) counted: finding published data about ethnic and racialized populations in Canada [Online]
2026-02-24 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: February 24 2026

Presenter: Rosa Orlandini

Are you looking for data about racialized populations and/or ethnic populations in Canada, as it relates to your research topic? It can be a challenge, and you are not alone! In the past couple of years, there have been several calls to actions from the research community calling for governments to collect more ethno-racial data, especially as it relates to social determinants of health, employment, health care, and education.

This workshop will be conduct by Rosa Orlandini from the York University Libraries’ Data Sercices Team. She will provide you with skills and strategies you can use to navigate this data ecosystem. After this workshop, participants will be able to apply search strategies & tools to find Canadian data, identify data gaps on your topic, and critique how published data are collected and disseminated.

This workshop is part of the Libraries’ programming for International Love Data Week 2026.

Makerspace Orientations: Advanced Sewing
2026-02-26 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: February 26 2026

Presenter: Jacob Turola

Ready to level up your sewing skills? This advanced orientation is perfect for those who’ve already mastered the basics and want to dive deeper into sewing machine techniques. We’ll explore more refined stitching methods, curved seams, seam finishes, and fabric control for greater precision and versatility.

Makerspace Orientation: Creating Sound-Immersive Eco-Friendly Cards
2026-03-11 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: March 11 2026

Presenter: Ted Belke & Jiaqi Yuan

Get creative in this fun and eco-friendly workshop! Patrons will design their own stencils using tools like CNC machines, 3D printers, or laser cutters. Then, print the design on cotton paper and add a QR code that links to a sound recording. Make a postcard perfect for sharing or keeping as a special memory!

Débogue tes humanités: Documentation des nouvelles pratiques liées à l’utilisation de l’IA : préconisations pour les SHS
2026-03-12 00:00 - 23:59 | Université de Montréal, 3150 Rue Jean Brillant, Montreal, Québec, H3T 1N7, Canada
Voilà maintenant quelques années que l’IA est devenue monnaie courante et l’heure est désormais à la pérennisation des guides d’utilisation et des limites définies par les institutions de recherche et d’enseignement. Cet atelier présente les lignes directrices adoptées par les institutions en SHS ainsi que les méthodes de documentation existantes de ces nouvelles pratiques de rédaction, de correction et de recherche d’information.

→ Bibliothèque des lettres et sciences humaines (15:30)

→ Alexia Schneider

Pour plus de détails, veuillez consulter https://debogue.ecrituresnumeriques.ca/

Makerspace orientations: Keychains and jewelry
2026-03-12 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: March 12 2026

Presenter: Jacob Turola

This session introduces participants to a blend of traditional and modern methods including 3D printing and laser cutting. Participants will see examples of suitable materials and get live demonstrations of our makerspace equipment. They will also be guided on selecting and attaching fittings and hooks. In a hands-on project, attendees will create unique jewelry pieces with expert assistance.

Social Media Data! Practical and Ethical Collection, Visualization, and Management
2026-03-19 00:00 - 23:59
Date: March 19 2026

From Reddit threads to TikTok trends, social media is deeply embedded in our daily lives. These platforms fuel polarization, connect queer communities, raise awareness about rare diseases, amplify both grassroots movements and gender-based violence, and even shape the new recipes we cook for dinner. With this flood of seemingly public content, it’s no surprise that researchers are increasingly turning to social media as a rich (and complicated!) source of data.

This hands-on workshop covers both practical techniques and ethical considerations for working with social media data. You’ll learn from experts across digital scholarship, research data management, and data analysis:

How to Collect to Social Media Data: Digital Scholarship Librarian John Fink will demo manual collection and scraping tools like the Digital Methods Initiative’s Zeeschuimer and 4CAT.

How to Analyze Social Media Data: Data Analysis and Visualization Librarian Subhanya Sivajothy will intro how to comb through social media data and show patterns.

How to Manage Social Media Data: Research Data Management Specialist Danica Evering will share tools and best practices for wrangling and organizing social media data.

How to Navigate Social Media Data Ethics: Digital Scholarship Coordinator Alexis-Carlota Cochrane will explore ethical considerations for researching social media, including strategies for protecting privacy and minimizing harm throughout the research and publication process.

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

Collect social media data using both manual and automated scraping tools like Zeeschuimer and 4CAT.

Analyze datasets to identify key trends and insights with introductory data exploration techniques.

Organize and manage social media data effectively by applying recommended best practices and tools.

Understand and address ethical challenges in social media research, including protecting privacy and minimizing harm at all stages.

This session is ideal for researchers, students, and practitioners across disciplines who are curious about using social media data in their work and want to approach it thoughtfully, ethically, and responsibly.

Details: Any preparatory work for the session can be found on its information page. This virtual workshop will be recorded and shared on the same page, and discoverable via the Sherman Centre’s Online Learning Catalogue.

Facilitator Bio:

Alexis-Carlota Cochrane (she/they) is the Digital Scholarship Coordinator at the Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship. In her role, she connects students, faculty, staff, and community members to resources, tools, and training that advance their digital research projects. Alexis is also PhD Candidate in the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts at McMaster University. Her research interests include critical data studies, platform studies, data feminism, online harms, data justice, and digital humanities.

Danica Evering holds broad 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.

John Fink is the Digital Scholarship Librarian in the Sherman Centre.

Subhanya Sivajothy (she/her) brings a background of research in data justice, science and technology studies, and environmental humanities. She is currently thinking through participatory data design which allow for visualizations that are empowering for the end user.

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:

Makerspace Orientations: 3D Printing
2026-03-24 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: March 24 2026

Presenter: Jacob Turola

Join us for this introduction to a staple in makerspace technology! Attendees will get started with 3D printing in the makerspace. The session will cover how to find a file, process it for printing and run the machine. All are welcome, and everyone gets to keep what they make.

Makerspace Orientations: Stamps and Print press
2026-04-02 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: April 2 2026

Presenter: Jacob Turola

This session demonstrates the creation of custom stamps using various methods. Attendees will explore techniques such as CNC machining rubber, 3D printing with TPU, and laser cutting. Each method will be demonstrated, highlighting the materials and processes involved, allowing participants to choose the best approach for their stamp-making projects.

Makerspace Orientations: Spin & Motion – Build a Kinetic Toy
2026-04-08 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: April 8 2026

Presenter: Jiaqi Yuan

Create your own moving toy using 3D printing, Arduino, and servo motors! Explore simple kinetic mechanisms to make objects spin or move back and forth. Learn how to design, print, and control motion with code. No prior experience needed—just bring your curiosity and imagination!

Students deserve Research Data Management! Teaching with the RDM Educators Kit
2026-05-05 00:00 - 23:59 | McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada
Date: May 5 2026

Your students deserve to know about Research Data Management! In this brand-new “train the trainer” session for educators, RDM Services will prepare you to prepare your graduate and undergraduate students for increasing grant and publisher requirements for Data Management Plans and Data Deposit.

“Do my students even have data to manage?” you might ask. Au contraire mon capitane, they do! If research involves biological samples or survey results, you may feel confident you’re working with research data. But what if your research is rooted in creative practice? What if you’re looking for the specific heat of a material under a magnetic field? Data have many formats: text, numbers, images, recordings, software, algorithms, workflows. Research Data Management is caring for data through the research lifecycle: planning to archiving.

We’ll discuss integrating our new RDM Educators Kit in the classroom, from 2-minute slide inserts to RDM class visits to multi-class Data Management Plan creation as an “open hand of cards.” We’ll end with a working session to imagine challenges and possibilities!

Participants will learn to:

Summarize RDM best practices and what Data Management Plans and Data Deposit look like in your field

Locate available tools from RDM Services

Prepare to implement Research Data Management tools in the classroom.

This session is great for educators from faculty to sessional instructors to graduate students ready to bring RDM into their classrooms!

Details: Any preparatory work for the session can be found on its information page. This virtual workshop will be recorded and shared on the same page, and discoverable via the Sherman Centre’s Online Learning Catalogue.

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 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:
