Data Management Plan Bootcamp (In-Person)
2025-11-25 00:00 - 23:59 (America/Halifax) | McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada
Date: November 25 2025

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. This session is carefully timed for researchers completing a CFI or Tri-Agency grant this fall. 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. 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 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.

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.

Makerspace Orientations: 3D Printing
2025-11-25 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: November 25 2025

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.

Making and Querying Databases in SQL with DuckDB
2025-11-26 00:00 - 23:59 | Québec
Date: November 26 2025

Want to work with structured data more efficiently? SQL (Structured Query Language) is a powerful tool for managing and analyzing data and it’s easier to get started than you might think.

This beginner-friendly workshop introduces SQL using DuckDB, a lightweight, cross-platform database that runs locally and requires no setup. Through hands-on practice, you’ll learn how to create a database, add data to it, and write queries to find the information you need.

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

Understand the basic structure and purpose of SQL

Create and populate a DuckDB database

Write and run basic SQL queries to explore and extract data

This session is ideal for beginners in data analysis, researchers, and students who want a gentle introduction to databases using a simple and powerful tool. No prior experience required!

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

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.

Introduction to Python: Part 3
2025-11-26 00:00 - 23:59 | The University of British Columbia, 1958 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V62 1Z2, Canada
Date: November 26th 2025

Instructor: Kendra Oudyk

This set of five workshops is an introduction to Python programming, with a focus on skills that are relevant to students and researchers who are working with data, particularly tabular data.

The five workshops cover the following:

Part 1: To understand the basics of Python syntax, variables, and data types.

Part 2: To learn how to work with tabular data in Python, including reading, manipulating, and visualizing data.

Part 3: To learn how to automate tasks in Python, including working with multiple files.

Part 4: To learn to use logic and modularity to make Python code flexible and reusable.

Part 5: To develop good habits for programming for research in Python, including handling errors, debugging, and writing reliable code.

Participants must sign up for each workshop individually. It is not necessary to sign up for the first workshop in order to do the second (and so on), but note that each workshop will build on the topics covered in previous workshops in this series.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites needed for this series; no prior programming experience is required.

Setup Instructions:

In these workshops, we will write Python code in a text editor called Visual Studio Code (VS Code).

Please follow the following steps/links to complete the setup for this workshop series before you attend:

Install a Python Interpreter

Install Visual Studio Code

Install the Python extension for VS Code. If you want more info on installing extensions for VS Code, see this page on their “Extension Marketplace”

Install this Python Debugger extension for VS Code

NOTE: You may use your own preferred text editor or Jupyter Notebooks to write code in these workshops, but keep in mind that some aspects may be unpredictably different from the way things appear on the instructor’s screen. For example, the instructor will frequently use the Python Debugger in VS Code, and other text editors may have entirely different mechanisms for debugging, and you may have to figure that out on your own. If you want to follow what the instructor is doing exactly, you should install VS Code and the extensions listed above.

Makerspace Orientations: Laser Cutting and Engraving
2025-11-27 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: November 27 2025

Presenter: Jacob Turola

Get started with the makerspace laser cutter. We’ll demonstrate how it works and how you can use the cutter to make amazing designs with wood and acrylic!

Introduction to Python: Part 4
2025-12-03 00:00 - 23:59 | The University of British Columbia, 1958 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V62 1Z2, Canada
Date: December 3rd 2025

Instructor: Kendra Oudyk

This set of five workshops is an introduction to Python programming, with a focus on skills that are relevant to students and researchers who are working with data, particularly tabular data.

The five workshops cover the following:

Part 1: To understand the basics of Python syntax, variables, and data types.

Part 2: To learn how to work with tabular data in Python, including reading, manipulating, and visualizing data.

Part 3: To learn how to automate tasks in Python, including working with multiple files.

Part 4: To learn to use logic and modularity to make Python code flexible and reusable.

Part 5: To develop good habits for programming for research in Python, including handling errors, debugging, and writing reliable code.

Participants must sign up for each workshop individually. It is not necessary to sign up for the first workshop in order to do the second (and so on), but note that each workshop will build on the topics covered in previous workshops in this series.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites needed for this series; no prior programming experience is required.

Setup Instructions:

In these workshops, we will write Python code in a text editor called Visual Studio Code (VS Code).

Please follow the following steps/links to complete the setup for this workshop series before you attend:

Install a Python Interpreter

Install Visual Studio Code

Install the Python extension for VS Code. If you want more info on installing extensions for VS Code, see this page on their “Extension Marketplace”

Install this Python Debugger extension for VS Code

NOTE: You may use your own preferred text editor or Jupyter Notebooks to write code in these workshops, but keep in mind that some aspects may be unpredictably different from the way things appear on the instructor’s screen. For example, the instructor will frequently use the Python Debugger in VS Code, and other text editors may have entirely different mechanisms for debugging, and you may have to figure that out on your own. If you want to follow what the instructor is doing exactly, you should install VS Code and the extensions listed above.

Making Images Talk: writing inside the poetic web.
2025-12-05 00:00 - 23:59 | Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3, Canada
Date: December 5 2025

Hybrid Event: Zoom and In-person at the Collaboratory

Instructor: Reg Beatty

This workshop will examine the practice of Philippine-born internet artist Chia Amisola, their approach to creating work for the web, as well as their multi-layered browser-based performances.

We will then follow a number of tutorials that Amisola has posted recently. These give unique insights into their procedures and thinking and suggest new directions for anyone interested in pursuing ‘the poetic web.’

Amisola wants us to see the internet, and our lives online, in a different way. In their own words, “Chia Amisola is an artist of agencies and ambiences. Their work is devoted to the internet’s loss, love, labor, and liberation.”

This workshop does not require previous knowledge of making web pages and can act as an introduction.

Introduction to TEI
2025-12-06 00:00 - 23:59 | University of Victoria Libraries, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Description: This workshop offers a three-hour introduction to the eXtensible Markup Language of the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI-XML). It begins by asking how we mark up historical and literary texts in order to create digital editions/archives and will cover the basics of XML terminology before diving into the specifics of TEI elements, attributes, and values. We will dig into the “TEI Guidelines,” discover how they are structured, and do some hands-on encoding of a short poem. As time permits, we will look at some TEI projects hosted by HCMC. This workshop will prepare participants for work on HCMC projects and/or for a longer TEI course offered by the DH training network.

Facilitator Bio: Janelle Jenstad is a Professor in the Department of English and Academic Director of the Humanities Computing and Media Centre. She is the founder and director of the Map of Early Modern London and Linked Early Modern Drama Online; Co-Coordinating Editor of the New Internet Shakespeare Editions, MoEML Mayoral Shows, and Digital Renaissance Editions; and former member of the TEI Technical Council.

Certificate Eligibility: This workshop is eligible for the Canadian Certificate in Digital Humanities

Number of seats: 15

To register: Contact HCMC Administrative Assistant Marla MacKinnon at hcmcadmin@uvic.ca

Making Images Talk: Writing Visual Novels with Decker.
2025-12-08 00:00 - 23:59 | Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3, Canada
Date: December 8 2025

Instructor: Jason Boyd

Decker is a multimedia platform influenced by HyperCard and created by Internet Janitor. It can be used for creating and sharing interactive documents, with sound, images, hypertext, and scripted behavior. In this workshop, participants will be introduced to two Decker libraries (Dialogizer and Puppeteer) designed to facilitate the creation of visual novels.

The Decker app can be used in-browser or be downloaded to your computer.

This workshop does not require previous knowledge of Decker and can act as an introduction.

Introduction to Python: Part 5
2025-12-10 00:00 - 23:59 | The University of British Columbia, 1958 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V62 1Z2, Canada
Date: December 10th 2025

Instructor: Kendra Oudyk

This set of five workshops is an introduction to Python programming, with a focus on skills that are relevant to students and researchers who are working with data, particularly tabular data.

The five workshops cover the following:

Part 1: To understand the basics of Python syntax, variables, and data types.

Part 2: To learn how to work with tabular data in Python, including reading, manipulating, and visualizing data.

Part 3: To learn how to automate tasks in Python, including working with multiple files.

Part 4: To learn to use logic and modularity to make Python code flexible and reusable.

Part 5: To develop good habits for programming for research in Python, including handling errors, debugging, and writing reliable code.

Participants must sign up for each workshop individually. It is not necessary to sign up for the first workshop in order to do the second (and so on), but note that each workshop will build on the topics covered in previous workshops in this series.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites needed for this series; no prior programming experience is required.

Setup Instructions:

In these workshops, we will write Python code in a text editor called Visual Studio Code (VS Code).

Please follow the following steps/links to complete the setup for this workshop series before you attend:

Install a Python Interpreter

Install Visual Studio Code

Install the Python extension for VS Code. If you want more info on installing extensions for VS Code, see this page on their “Extension Marketplace”

Install this Python Debugger extension for VS Code

NOTE: You may use your own preferred text editor or Jupyter Notebooks to write code in these workshops, but keep in mind that some aspects may be unpredictably different from the way things appear on the instructor’s screen. For example, the instructor will frequently use the Python Debugger in VS Code, and other text editors may have entirely different mechanisms for debugging, and you may have to figure that out on your own. If you want to follow what the instructor is doing exactly, you should install VS Code and the extensions listed above.

Cultural Expressions of Indigenous Knowledge
2026-01-08 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: January 8 2026

Presenter: Cora Coady

The winter is a time when Indigenous people typically tell stories. This is the perfect time to delve into cultural expressions of Indigenous Knowledge. During this 90 minute workshop we will engage with Indigenous story, art and craft. We will also discuss intellectual property, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions. During the second half of the workshop we will create simple beadwork meant to convey a message. No experience needed.

Best Practices for Managing Data in your Research
2026-01-14 00:00 - 23:59 | Québec
Date: January 14 2026

TIFU (Today I F’ed Up) by losing a ton of data for my research – Have you ever seen a description like this on Reddit? Are your desktop and downloads folders a jumble of files named Data-finalFINAL-USETHISONE? Is all of your lab’s data stored on a single drive located conveniently under a sprinkler system? Join research data management services and learn how investing a small amount of time in organizing your data now can save you a lot of time and prevent future headaches. In this introductory workshop, learn about research data management best practices. We will go over best practices for data planning, storage, organization, preservation, and sharing.

By the end of the session, participants will be empowered to:

Produce a plan for their data

Organize and document their data consistently

Store and back-up their data securely,

Select an appropriate data repository for archival and sharing.

No prior experience with data management is required! This session is perfect for anyone who wants to feel more confident organizing, storing, and sharing their data in clear and practical ways.

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.

Makerspace Orientations: Sewing Machines
2026-01-14 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: January 14 2026

Presenter: Jacob Turola

Get started with the makerspace sewing machines. We’ll demonstrate how to set up the machine and show you different stitch patterns. We’ll also go over how to make and find patterns as well as how to cut your fabric properly. Basic fabrics are provided but you’re encouraged to bring your own.

Débogue tes humanités: Synthèse des sources et Recherche d'Information
2026-01-15 00:00 - 23:59 | Université de Montréal, 3150 Rue Jean Brillant, Montreal, Québec, H3T 1N7, Canada
On vous a sûrement déjà dit que pour limiter les erreurs des IA génératives et pour s’assurer qu’une machine rende les bonnes informations, il fallait passer par un RAG. Mais qu’est-ce qu’un RAG et comment est-ce que ça fontionne exactement ? Dans cet atelier vous apprendrez à disséquer un outil de recherche d’information associé à un outil de synthèse de texte.

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

→ Alexia Schneider, Clara Grometto

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

Makerspace Orientations: Laser Cutting and Engraving
2026-01-20 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: January 20 2026

Presenter: Jacob Turola

Get started with the makerspace laser cutter. We’ll demonstrate how it works and how you can use the cutter to make amazing designs with wood and acrylic!

Tracking the Impact of Non-Traditional Research Outputs
2026-01-21 00:00 - 23:59 | Québec
Date: January 21 2026

From datasets and code to podcasts, reports, and performances, not all research outputs take the form of journal articles or books. These are known as Non-Traditional Research Outputs (NTROs)—scholarly or creative works that fall outside conventional academic publishing. While NTROs make up a significant and growing part of research activity, they are often under-recognized in systems that track and assess research impact. In this webinar, participants will explore current best practices for tracking and expressing the impact of NTROs and learn how these practices align with movements, like the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), advocating for more responsible research assessment.

Participants will learn how to:

Create persistent identifiers (e.g. DOIs) and metadata records for NTROs.

Incorporate NTROs into existing researcher profile systems (e.g. ORCiD; McMaster Experts).

Communicate the value of NTROs to responsible research assessment practices.

This session is ideal for researchers, creators, and academic staff working with non-traditional outputs who want to make their work more visible, trackable, and valued.

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: Jack Young (he/him) is McMaster’s Research Impact Librarian, supporting the use of bibliometric data to enhance the reporting and strategic planning practices of the University’s academic departments, institutes, and researchers.

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.

Introduction of VR for Wellness and World Exploration
2026-01-21 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: January 21 2026

Presenter: Jack Leong

Participants will learn the basics of virtual reality technology, and get hands-on experience with Quest headsets in this gentle introduction. Using a Quest headset, participants will immerse into sample content for education, wellness, world travel, and entertainment, and learn how to borrow VR equipment from the Library’s Media Creation Lab. Participants will also be introduced to our standalone VR Rooms, where more advanced content can be experienced using HTC Vive Pro headsets on high-powered computers.

Makerspace Orientations: 3D Printing
2026-01-26 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: January 26 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.

Streamline Your Research Materials Photos with Tropy
2026-01-27 00:00 - 23:59 | Québec
Date: January 27 2026

You’ve been there–getting home from an incredible research trip to an archive, maps collection, or gallery only to face down thousands of photos all labelled “IMG50293.png.” Join Research Data Management Specialist Danica Evering and Data Analysis and Visualization Librarian Subhanya Sivajothy for an overview of Tropy: a free and open-source solution to explore and manage research photos. In this webinar, you will learn how to use Tropy to zoom into details, tag and organize content with metadata, and begin uncovering patterns across your sources. We will also explore how Tropy connects with Zotero for reference management and Omeka for building digital exhibits, offering a full workflow from research to public presentation.

In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn to:

Use Tropy to organize, annotate, analyze and manage research materials image collections.

Select appropriate metadata and implement documentation and tagging systems.

Integrate Tropy with Zotero and Omeka to cite archival sources and enhance the impact of your research and digital exhibitions.

No prior knowledge of the software will be required but please come with a version of the software downloaded for the demo! We’ll be doing some hands-on experimentation with the software to get you familiar with these tools.

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.

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.

Makerspace Orientations: Sticker Making & Journaling
2026-01-28 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: January 28 2026

Presenter: Lana Yuan

This workshop will introduce participants to Cricut Maker 3 and its application “Cricut Design Space” in creating custom stickers for journaling, scrapbooking, and other creative projects. Through a hands-on approach, participants will learn the basics of Cricut Design Space, material selection, cutting techniques, and how to integrate their custom stickers into personal journals.

Machine: inkjet printer, Cricut Maker 3, laptop Material: sticker paper, vinyl, colored paper Tool: scissors, cutting mat, trimmer

Patrons need to bring: a journal/notebook

Débogue tes humanités: Le matériel informatique : trésor ou ordure ?
2026-01-29 00:00 - 23:59 | Université de Montréal, 3150 Rue Jean Brillant, Montreal, Québec, H3T 1N7, Canada
Rester à la fine pointe de la technologie, ça coûte cher. Mais est-ce même utile ? Est-ce que ça se fait de seulement remplacer la batterie de son ordinateur, ou un disque pour rendre sa machine plus rapide ? C’est souvent plus facile qu’on le pense ! Avec cette démo, on vous aide à garder votre machine plus longtemps, et votre argent dans vos poches !

→ Bibliothèque des lettres et sciences humaines, local à venir (15:30)

→ Louis-Olivier Brassard

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

Makerspace Orientations: Game Pieces and Figurines
2026-02-05 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: February 5 2026

Presenter: Jacob Turola

Participants work on techniques that make their expensive games more affordable and create unique twists on classics like Catan, Chess, Monopoly, Warhammer, Battletech and many more. You’ll see demonstrations of designing and creating custom game pieces, followed by post-processing and painting techniques to achieve high-quality finishes. These methods enhance both the appearance and durability of game components.

Create a Digital Exhibition with Omeka S
2026-02-06 00:00 - 23:59 | McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada
Date: February 6 2026

Have a creative project you want to showcase online? Join this hands-on bootcamp to kickstart building your own digital exhibition site using Omeka S, a free and open-source web publishing platform designed for creating and managing online archives and exhibits.

In this workshop, we will cover Omeka S fundamentals, including best practices for organizing archival item collections, adding detailed metadata, and setting up a basic website. We will also explore more advanced features like creating interactive elements and using modules to extend your site’s functionality. Whether you come with a project idea or just want to learn the platform, there will be dedicated time to develop your own site with support available throughout the session.

By the end of this bootcamp, you will:

Learn how to add and manage items in Omeka S

Understand key features that make digital exhibitions engaging and effective, and have your exhibit reviewed by the instructor.

This session is great for researchers, students, librarians, archivists, artists, and anyone interested in digital storytelling, online archiving, or building accessible web exhibitions! No prior experience with Omeka or web publishing is required.

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

Facilitator Bio: Subhanya (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.

Rethinking “Good” Data: Power, Vulnerability, and Queer Data Care
2026-02-09 00:00 - 23:59 | Québec
Date: February 9 2026

Data is never truly neutral. It is imagined, created, managed, and archived through the perspectives, values, and lived experiences of those who produce it. This workshop introduces queer data care, a feminist framework that challenges conventional understandings of “good” or “gold standard” research (Compton, 2018) and invites more ethical, accountable, and justice-oriented approaches to working with data. Together, we will explore how data practices are shaped by, and can reinforce, existing power structures. We will then examine alternative strategies for collecting, maintaining, and sharing data that center care, collaboration, and community.

Guided by questions such as: How is data maintained? Who controls access? Who is most at-risk during data collection? And how can we collect data that more effectively serves marginalized communities while remaining attentive to the ways data collection can also heighten their vulnerability? —this workshop will guide participants through a reflection on and reimagining of data practices through case studies.

In this workshop, we will:

Analyze how social, political, and disciplinary contexts might shape data practices

Identify how data practices can reinforce or resist structural power dynamics, particularly in relation to marginalized communities.

Develop ethical, accountable, and community-centered approaches to data collection, maintenance, and access.

Apply these methods and principles to your own research projects, and/or case studies.

This workshop is for anyone interested in thinking differently about data, such as graduate students, librarians, community researchers, data professionals, and others engaged in research, advocacy, or knowledge production. No formal experience with data is required. We all generate and interact with data in our everyday lives!

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.

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.

Data Discovery for your Research: Social Sciences [Online]
2026-02-10 00:00 - 23:59 | Québec
Date: February 10 2026

Presenter: Rosa Orlandini & Alexandra Wong

Do you need to find published data to use in your research projects or assignments, and you don’t know where to start? We can help!

This practical workshop will be conducted by members of the York University Libraries’ Data Services Team. It will introduce various sources of data, such as Statistics Canada and international data producers. In addition we will explore strategies to locate and evaluate relevant datasets for research in the social sciences.

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

Visualizing Bibliometric Networks with VOSviewer
2026-02-11 00:00 - 23:59 | Québec
Date: February 11 2026

Curious about how research networks form and evolve? Bibliometric visualizations can help you uncover patterns in scholarly publishing—who’s collaborating, what topics are trending, and how ideas move across disciplines. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to use VOSviewer, a free and open-source tool designed specifically for visualizing bibliometric networks. Using a large set of publication data, we’ll walk through techniques for analyzing connections at the organizational, author, and document levels, and build compelling network maps that bring bibliometric relationships to life.

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

Identify appropriate bibliometric techniques for analyzing large publication sets

Create clear, compelling network visualizations using VOSviewer

Interpret and explain bibliometric network maps to support research impact analysis and exploration

This session is ideal for researchers, librarians, and graduate students interested in research metrics, scholarly communications, or mapping academic influence. No prior experience with VOSviewer is required.

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: Jack Young (he/him) is McMaster’s Research Impact Librarian, supporting the use of bibliometric data to enhance the reporting and strategic planning practices of the University’s academic departments, institutes, and researchers.

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.

Indigenous Research - tending to a garden of information. [Online]
2026-02-11 00:00 - 23:59 | Québec
Date: February 11 2026

Presenter: Cora Coady

Researching Indigenous topics is undeniably complex. Indigenous knowledges are deeply rooted in community but identifying authentic Indigenous voices in academia among numerous colonial narratives can be a daunting task. Processing this material can take an emotional toll. By learning how to navigate these resources thoughtfully, you can respectfully and ethically incorporate Indigenous knowledge into your assignments and research.

Makerspace Orientations: Creating Miniature Worlds
2026-02-11 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: February 11 2026

Presenter: Jacob Turola

Create miniature worlds and set pieces using the tools and machines at makerspace! Participants will be introduced to methods of 3D printing, laser cutting, and resin printing to make miniature scale props and set pieces.

Makerspace Orientations: Basic electronics and circuitry
2026-02-18 00:00 - 23:59 | York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada
Date: February 18 2026

Presenter: Jacob Turola

Participants will get to make their own circuits and code by trying out Arduino control boards for the first time! Sensors and boards will be provided, alongside wires and other peripherals. This is an entry level orientation to get you started and show you what is available! No experience is required.

Communities Empowered by Data 101: Tools and Best Practices
2026-02-19 00:00 - 23:59 | 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.
