Workshops
Workshop and field trip preliminary schedule
Workshops
Several workshops will be available on Sunday July 6. Abstracts are presented in the language in which they were submitted.
Please note that participation in the workshops will incur additional fees that must be paid upon registration (see details below), and that some workshops have a participant limit. Places in these workshops will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.
Please make sure to consult the workshop and the field trip schedule to avoid booking two events at the same time.
No refunds will be issued for workshops and field trips EXCEPT in the case of cancellation by the local organizing committee. Some workshops organisers have specified a minimum number of participants. Those workshops may be cancelled if they are undersubscribed. Field trips may be cancelled in the event of extreme adverse weather. The no-refund policy also applies if you accidentally double book.
From 13:00 to 14:30, total length of 1h30
Organizer: Andrea Wishart (Canadian Science Publishing)
Abstract: Peer review is a critical component of the modern process of sharing scientific findings, yet today’s graduate students and early career researchers are rarely given formal training in how to perform peer review. This lack of training means researchers may go on to give low-quality or unhelpful reviews, or are not as effective in addressing review comments they receive as authors. This can slow down the publication process for individual authors, but more importantly, can delay advancements in research and development that benefit society more broadly. This workshop will be the second of two components, the first being a webinar prior to the conference. Led by both editors and staff of Canadian Science Publishing journals, participants will be guided through the peer review process and learn the skills to perform constructive, effective peer review themselves. Students and early career researchers will learn how they can gain peer review experience, from performing and getting credit for co-reviewing with a more established researcher, to setting themselves up to be discovered by editors as future reviewers.
Fee: 20$
From 8:30 to 12:00, total length of 3h30
Organizer: Aerin Jacob (Nature Conservancy of Canada)
Abstract: This interactive half-day workshop is meant for anyone with a background in science who is keen to learn and practice communication. It is relevant for researchers, practitioners, and science enthusiasts at all career stages. We will learn and practice foundational concepts and practical tools, including identifying key audiences, jargon and altneratives, and how to distill key messages that stick. We will address common pitfalls and solutions, how communication relates to the broader application of science, and where to go for further resources. The workshop will be taught through a combination of lecture, individual and group work (written and spoken), and Q&A. While this workshop would pair well with "Intro to Storytelling in Science", also taught by Aerin Jacob, you can take either one alone.
Fee: 20$
From 13:00 to 17:00, total length of 4h
Organizers: Computational Biodiversity Science and Services BIOS2 (Université de Sherbrooke), Andrew MacDonald (Université de Sherbrooke). Helper: Gracielle Higino.
Abstract: Shiny is free and open source web framework for developing web applications, originally in R and since 2022 in Python. In this workshop offered by the Computational Biodiversity Science and Services program is an introduction to Shinny Apps in R, where we'll find out what exactly a Shinny App is, how it works, and how to build one using shinyDashboards and Golem. The workshop will have a duration of four hours and the instructor will be our community manager and certified Carpentries instructor Andrew MacDonald.
Fee: 20$
From 8:30 to 17:30, total length of 8h
Organizers: Computational Biodiversity Science and Services BIOS2 (Université de Sherbrooke), Isabelle Lebeuf-Taylor (University of Alberta). Helpers: Francis Banville and Mobina Gholamhosseini.
Abstract: Python is a general purpose programming language that is useful for writing scripts to work effectively and reproducibly with data. In this workshop offered by the Computational Biodiversity Science and Services program is an introduction to Python designed for participants with no programming experience. It starts with some basic information about Python syntax, the Jupyter notebook interface, and move through how to import CSV files, using the pandas package to work with data frames, how to calculate summary information from a data frame, and a brief introduction to plotting. The last lesson demonstrates how to work with databases directly from Python. The workshop will have a duration of eight hours and the instructor will be our fellow and certified Carpentries instructor Isabelle Lebeuf-Taylor. The language of instruction will be English, with support in French.
Fee: 40$
From 8:30 to 12:00, total length of 3h30
Organizers: Erik Dean (Canadian Institute of Ecology and Evolution - Living Data Project), David Hunt (Canadian Institute of Ecology and Evolution - Living Data Project)
Abstract: Do you want to be more efficient in collaborating with others, and more reproducible and transparent in your own analytical workflow? Learning the popular Git protocol can help you meet these goals. Combined with a user-friendly web platform called Github, the Git protocol allows many users to work on the same code simultaneously while keeping a clear history of all changes. Versioning tools like Git are useful even if you work alone; you will never need to have a file named “code_v_23_final” again! This half-day workshop will introduce participants to the basics of using Git and Github using a variety of hands-on exercises, as well as integrations with common coding platforms such as RStudio. No prior Git experience is required; organizers will demonstrate how to install Git on Windows and MacOS (Linux tutorial available upon request). Only basic R skills are required; participants should have R and RStudio installed and ready on a computer they provide for the workshop. This CIEE-sponsored workshop will be held in English.
Fee: 20$
From 13:00 to 16:30, total length of 3h30
Organizers: Sandra Emry (Canadian Institute of Ecology and Evolution - Living Data Project), David Hunt (Canadian Institute of Ecology and Evolution - Living Data Project)
Abstract: One of the ubiquitous tasks in science is “data wrangling”: the dark art of shepherding real world data from collection to a dataset suitable for analysis. Wrangling involves reproducibly checking for errors and outliers, combining columns and rows from different datasets, and arranging datasets into tidy formats. In any analysis, data wrangling can often be the majority of a workflow, but learning the available tools and techniques can be overwhelming. This half-day workshop will introduce participants to the basics of organizing, combining, cleaning, and quality control of datasets in ecology and evolution. Using the R statistical language and RStudio, we will introduce participants to relevant packages, their capabilities, and basic examples of use. These skills are relevant for anyone not familiar with such packages, but are oriented towards new graduate students and undergrads, or those requiring a refresher. Only basic R skills are required; participants should have RStudio installed and ready on a computer they provide. The organizers will provide datasets and scripts for the participants. This CIEE-sponsored workshop will be held in English.
Fee: 20$
From 9:00 to 12:00, total length of 3h
Organizers: Benoît Leblanc (Université de Sherbrooke), Baptiste Brault (Université de Sherbrooke)
Abstract: Take part in a workshop to explore the potential of comics in scientific communication. The workshop will begin with a lecture introducing the strengths of comics as a communication tool, highlighting their ability to make complex ideas accessible to all. This introduction will be followed by a second part focused on the codes and design of comics, providing a better understanding of the essential steps in their creation. You will then move on to hands-on practice in small groups: based on your research topics or interests, you will develop a preliminary storyboard for a comic. This step will help you think about structure and narrative angle while exchanging ideas and suggestions with other participants. The goal is not to produce a finished work but to lay the groundwork for a clear and engaging story. No particular drawing skills are required, as the exercise emphasizes reflection and collaboration. An enriching moment to combine creativity and knowledge sharing. Two 90-minute sessions, one theoretical and one practical, with the option to withdraw between the two.
Fee: 20$
From 10:30 to 12:00, total length of 1h30
Organizer: Shalene Singh-Shepherd (The Royal Society)
Abstract: Royal Society Publishing would like to hold a workshop covering all aspects of the publishing process aimed at early career researchers who would like to know more about how to improve your chances of getting their research published. The workshop will cover a variety of topics including:- choosing the right journal- understanding the publishing process and journal policies- preparing your paper for submission- enhancing the visibility of your work. We will also explore other themes in publishing like the open science movement, the peer review process and the role of the editor.This will be an interactive workshop with a number of exercises where attendees will get the opportunity to discuss publishing questions with others, followed by feedback sessions. There will also be lots of opportunities for questions. The workshop will be hosted by Senior Publishing Editor, Shalene Singh-Shepherd (Proceedings B) and will run for 90 minutes. Proceedings B Editor-in-Chief Spencer Barrett and a couple of journal editors will also be present to explain the role of editors.
Fee: 20$
From 13:00 to 15:00, total length of 2h
Organizers: Bethann Garramon Merkle (University of Wyoming), Stephen Heard (University of New Brunswick)
Abstract: All of us mentor developing scientific writers. Providing feedback on draft writing is a central and powerful approach to that, but without careful design, feedback can be painfully time-consuming and ineffective to boot. How can we spend less time but provide better help for our students’ development as writers? In this 2-hour workshop, Bethann Garramon Merkle and Stephen B. Heard (authors of the forthcoming book Teaching and Mentoring Writers in the Sciences: An Evidence-Based Guide) will help you explore techniques for efficient and effective mentoring. What role (coach, gatekeeper, editor, collaborator, etc.) do you want to play as you consider a draft? How can you and your mentee agree on the stage of development a draft represents, and thus what kind of feedback it needs? How can you (and should you?) help students meet reader expectations without extinguishing their personal voices? We’ll provide both instruction and hands-on practice that will empower participants to rethink writing mentorship and to try new approaches to mentoring efficiently and effectively.
Fee: 20$
From 9:00 to 12:00, total length of 3h
Organizers: Michael Catchen (Université de Montréal), Timothée Poisot (Université de Montréal), Ariane Bussières-Fournel (Université de Montréal)
Abstract: How can we use tools from applied machine learning to make transparent, interpretable predictions about the future of biodiversity? In this workshop aimed at graduate students, postdocs, and ECRs, we will use a mix of discussions and practical case-studies to develop a big picture understanding of this question. Specifically, the workshop will be divided into (i) a 60 minutes conceptual introduction to interpretable machine learning, followed by (ii) a 120 minutes practice-based session in which participants will build a model. Using a species whose distribution is relevant to both conservation efforts and public health surveillance, the main outcome of this workshop will be to introduce tools from interpretable machine learning in the context of biodiversity modelling. At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to link tools and concepts from applied ML to ecological problems, and understand the purpose of each tool to apply them to their research. Participants will also discuss core concepts of reproducibility and transparency, and how these practices can be incorporated into their research activities.
Fee: 20$
From 13:00 to 14:30, total length of 1h30
Organizer: Aerin Jacob (Nature Conservancy of Canada)
Abstract: Storytelling is foundational to being human. People have been telling stories for thousands of years and a compelling narrative is one of our most powerful forms of communication, including in science. Effective grant proposals, presentations, and peer-reviewed papers all depend on some kind of story structure. But not everyone is a “born storyteller” … What makes one story easy to remember or emotionally moving while another one falls flat? Where do you start? That’s where this workshop comes in. Anyone can learn to tell a better story — there’s some even some science involved.
This workshop is relevant for researchers, practitioners, and science enthusiasts at all career stages. We will learn concepts and techniques to create and use narrative, ultimately helping you to inspire, inform, and build support for your science. This workshop requires 1-2h of homework ahead of time (mandatory). While this workshop would pair well with "Intro to Science Communication", also taught by Aerin Jacob, you can take either one alone.
Fee: 20$
