Category: Workshops

Western Libraries – May Research Skills Workshops

Did you know Western Libraries hosts Research Skills Workshops? These workshops offer an introduction to many of the research services and supports offered at Western Libraries.  Most workshops are held on Zoom, more information provided on the event pages (linked below). Follow the links to register. 

Upcoming workshops:

To find more upcoming Western Library events and workshops visit the Western Libraries Events page.  If you have questions about workshops, please email rsclib@uwo.ca.

Mitacs – Professional Development Training for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows

Mitacs offers professional development training to advanced degree graduates, supplementing their education and research experience with the tools necessary to succeed in today’s workforce.

The synchronous components are offered in an interactive learning environment consisting of small groups, with approximately 24 participants. They are facilitated by leading business and industry professionals who have undergone a competitive selection process. Facilitators are subject matter experts in their respective fields and understand what it takes to succeed professionally. Facilitators deliver hands-on, engaging, and experiential learning. 

Sessions are offered at no charge to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows currently registered at a Canadian university. 

Competencies covered: The curriculum is designed to build competencies in five key areas that are recognized as vital to professional success. Each course addresses one or more of the following competencies:

  • Professional & career fundamentals 
  • Interpersonal skills 
  • Communication 
  • Leadership & management 
  • Intrapreneuralism 

More information…

Western Libraries – Research Skills Workshops

You’re invited to join Western Libraries for these upcoming Research Skills Workshops.

March 2 (1:30-2:30): Finding and Evaluating Book Reviews (Zoom)
This session looks at the role book reviews play in academic publishing, research, and teaching. Hundreds of thousands of books are published every year, but only a small portion receive critical reviews. Thanks to the Internet, more books are being reviewed beyond magazines and journals. Learn about the importance of book reviews and how they shape what we read.

Session outcomes: 

  • Identify the role book reviews play in academic publishing
  • Incorporate book reviews into your research and teaching
  • Develop strategies for locating and evaluating book reviews

March 3 (10:30-12:00): Literature Search for Systematic/Scoping Reviews (Zoom)
This interactive workshop introduces methods for systematically searching the literature, including identifying key databases and developing a thorough search strategy. Tips and tricks in the major databases will also be demonstrated.

Session outcomes:

  • How to identify and search key research databases
  • How to apply advanced searching techniques
  • How to develop a search strategy for your own research question

To find more upcoming Western Library events and workshops visit the Western Libraries Events page.  If you have questions about workshops, please email rsclib@uwo.ca.

Research Skills Workshops Offered by Western Libraries

You are invited to sign up for Western Libraries’ upcoming Research Skills Workshops. From data collection to publishing, get expert help at all stages of the research cycle with free workshops. 

Literature Searching for Systematic/Scoping Reviews (Feb. 13 10:30AM to 12:00pm on Zoom)

This interactive workshop introduces methods for systematically searching the literature, including identifying key databases and developing a thorough search strategy. Tips and tricks in the major databases will also be demonstrated.

Basic Data Handling in Excel (Feb. 16 1:00-2:30PM on Zoom)

This session will introduce some of the basics of handling data for a research project, including planning a data project, file organization and documentation, and setting up data for analysis in Excel. We’ll also learn some tips for using Excel more easily.

Open Educational Resources Grant & Support Program (Feb. 21 10:30-11:30AM on Zoom)

Western instructors can apply for financial grants as well as in-kind supports to create, adapt, or adopt an open educational resource (OER) for use in one or more courses in 2024-25. Instructors of co-curricular learning opportunities may also apply. Join this session for an overview of the grant program, the application process, and the in-kind supports that will be available to successful applicants. The presentation will be followed by an open Q&A.

Getting Started Analyzing Data in SPSS (Feb. 22 1:00-2:30PM on Zoom)

SPSS is a popular package for analyzing data. This session will demonstrate the basics of using SPSS, including using SPSS for data entry, reading in different types of data, getting summary statistics, creating and modifying variables, creating graphs, and running simple analyses.

Finding and Evaluating Open Education Resources (Feb. 23 1:30-2:30PM on Zoom)

OER are educational materials (like textbooks, streaming media, simulations, and more) that are free of cost and access barriers for learners. They are also editable and adaptable, meaning that they can be customized to suit your course content. Let’s say that, for many reasons, you want to switch up your materials and use OER in an upcoming course. How can you find high-quality open textbooks and other OER that will work for you and your students? That’s what this workshop will cover!

To find more upcoming Western Library events and workshops visit the Western Libraries Events page.  If you have questions about workshops, please email rsclib@uwo.ca.

ICPSR Summer Program – Statistics and Research Methods – Scholarship

The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), of which Western is a member, is an international consortium that provides leadership and training in data access, curation and methods of analysis.  Benefits of being an ICPSR member include data access, repository services as well as educational activities, including the annual Summer Program in Quantitative Methods and Social Research.

ICPSR’s summer program aims to “train a diverse community of scholars in statistical techniques and research methods. We empower our program participants, from undergrads to mid-career researchers, to immediately upgrade and sharpen the skills vital in their work to address real-world problems, develop policy solutions, and positively impact the future.”

This year’s summer program is being offered in a hybrid format, with in-person, zoom, and asynchronous online formats.  The program includes both Short workshops and 4-Week Sessions  on topics in quantitative methods and data analysis. As a ICPSR member institution attendees from Western are eligible for a discount on this training plus individuals have the option of applying for scholarships from ICPSR. A number of scholarship opportunities are available from ICPSR which provide registration fee waivers.  A list of scholarship opportunities can be found at: https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/pages/sumprog/scholarships/index.html

The deadline to apply for scholarships is February 1, 2023:

Please contact Elizabeth Hill (ethill@uwo.ca), Data Librarian, Western Libraries, should you have any questions.

Western Complex Systems Conference 2022

Along with Western Research, the Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) Lab is pleased to host the inaugural Western Complex Systems Conference (WCSC) on March 30, 2022. This one-day conference highlights the application of complexity theory and systems thinking across disciplines. Across vast diversity in fields, methodologies, and domain expertise, the common thread is curiosity about the ways that nonlinear dynamics and systemic thinking invite us to understand and respond to our world.

March-30, 2022, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
via Zoom

Western Library Webinars for Research

Western Libraries is offering 2 workshops this week that may be of interest.

Finding Statistical Data Sources at Western

Date:  Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Time:  1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Location:  Zoom (register here)

This session will explore how research questions can be answered using data resources, such as secondary data collected from sources such as Statistics Canada. Resources supported by Western Libraries will be featured as will other sources.

Research Data Management: Plans, Tools, and Grants

Date: Thursday, February 17, 2022
Time: 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Location: Zoom (register here)

The Canadian Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy, released early in 2021, introduced new requirements for researchers applying for grants from CIHR, SSHRC, and NSERC. The various requirements can be intimidating, but data management doesn’t need to be a headache. This workshop will cover current and anticipated requirements, teach you about the most important elements of a data management plan, and discuss data sharing and archiving. This workshop will also introduce a new Western-customized assistant for writing Data Management Plans that will help you choose the most appropriate, locally supported technologies.

See all upcoming workshops

Western Research’s 2021 Knowledge Exchange School

Western’s third annual Knowledge Exchange School will be held virtually via Zoom, with sessions on December 1st, 8th, and 15th, 2021. Attendees are welcome to sign up for as few or as many sessions as they wish. This year’s topics are geared to providing attendees with information and tools aligned to the current research landscape.

For more information about the school, accessibility or to request accommodations, please contact Mariam Hayward, Knowledge Exchange and Impact Manager.

Check out the line-up of sessions and find more information at Western Research’s Knowledge Exchange and Research Impact website.

Asynchronous sessions will be available beginning November 29, 2021.

  • Introduction to Knowledge Exchange 
  • Writing Knowledge Exchange into Grant Applications

December 1

  • Knowledge Exchange and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

December 8

  • Six Tools to Help You Show Your Research Impact
  • Setting Up a Global Digital Identity to Track Your Research Impact (limited to 40 participants)

December 15

  • Translating Research into Policy Change: Tips & Techniques to Reach Decision-Makers
  • Media and Social Media to Enhance Research Exchange & Dissemination

Register for the KEx School

Social Media Research – Workshop by Western Libraries

Western Libraries is offering an introductory workshop on doing research using social media data.

Thursday November 11, 10:30 am
via Zoom

Want to learn how to get started with social media research? Join Western Libraries for a workshop on popular platforms for research, methods for accessing the data, and different approaches and tools for analysis.

Sign up at: http://www.events.westernu.ca/events/libraries/2021-11/social-media-data-for-research.html

Western Libraries Workshops

Western Libraries is offering several workshops next week. Slides and session recordings will be shared with registrants. 

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Introduction to Open Educational Resources
 Tuesday, November 9 at 10:30am  

Description: Open Educational Resources (OER) offer an accessible and engaging alternative to commercial textbooks and course materials. OER are educational materials (like textbooks, streaming media, simulations, and more) that are free of cost and access barriers for learners. They are also editable and adaptable, meaning that they can be customized to suit your course content. Join this workshop to learn: 

  • The basics of Open Education and Open Educational Resources, including their benefits to the teaching and learning experience 
  • How to identify Open Educational Resources with Creative Commons Licenses 
  • How to get started with finding, adapting, or creating Open Educational Resources (and where to get support with doing so) 

Register here  

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Literature Searching for Systematic and Scoping Reviews 
Tuesday, November 9 at 10:30am 

Description: This interactive workshop introduces methods for systematically searching the literature, including identifying key databases and developing a thorough search strategy. Tips and tricks in the major databases will also be demonstrated. Leave knowing: 

  • How to identify and search key research databases 
  • How to apply advanced searching techniques 
  • How to develop a search strategy for your own research question 

Register here 


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Understanding your Research Impact 
Wednesday, November 10 at 1:30pm 

 Description: Research impact refers to demonstrating how your research is contributing to your field, to the academy at large, or to the community. In this session you’ll learn about tools for demonstrating the impact and reach of your research. We will explore the benefits and pitfalls of impact metrics such as impact factors, h-index, citation counts, and altmetrics. We will also talk about how an ORCID iD profile can ensure that you receive consistent, reliable attribution for your work. Session outcomes:  

  • Understand key research metrics and altmetrics Learn about different tools to use to find metrics 
  • Be aware of the implications of using impact metrics 
  • Learn how an ORCID iD can help demonstrate research impact 

Register here